Susan Kohner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susan Kohner
Kohner in Imitation of Life (1959)
Born	Susanna Kohner (1936-11-11) November 11, 1936 (age 88) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Susan Weitz
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1955–1964
Known for	Imitation of Life All the Fine Young Cannibals Freud: The Secret Passion
Spouse(s)	John Weitz ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2002)​
Children	Paul Weitz Chris Weitz
Parents	Paul Kohner (father) Lupita Tovar (mother)
Awards	Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture

Susanna "Susan" Kohner (born November 11, 1936) is an American actress. She was famous for her roles in movies and on TV. One of her most well-known roles was Sarah Jane in the 1959 film Imitation of Life. In this movie, she played a young woman who was African-American but tried to live as if she were white.

For her acting in Imitation of Life, Susan Kohner was nominated for an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar). She also won two Golden Globe awards for her performance. In 1964, Susan Kohner married John Weitz, who was a designer and writer. Their two sons, Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz, grew up to become successful film directors and producers.

Early Life and Family Background

Where Was Susan Kohner Born?

Susan Kohner was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother was Lupita Tovar, an actress from Mexico who had a career in Hollywood. Her father was Paul Kohner, a film producer who was born in a region called Bohemia. Bohemia was part of Austria-Hungary at that time.

What Was Her Family's Heritage?

Susan's mother was Roman Catholic and had both Irish and Mexican family roots. Her father was from a Jewish family in Bohemia. This mix of backgrounds made her family very interesting.

Susan Kohner's Acting Career

When Did Susan Kohner Start Acting?

Most of Susan Kohner's film roles happened in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She acted alongside Sal Mineo in two movies: Dino (1957) and The Gene Krupa Story (1959).

What Was Her Most Famous Movie Role?

Her most famous role was playing Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life. In this movie, she played a light-skinned black woman who was "passing" as white. This 1959 film was the second movie made from the 1933 book of the same name. The story was changed quite a bit to fit the time it was made. The first movie version was released in 1934.

How Successful Was Imitation of Life?

The 1959 film Imitation of Life was a big success at the box office. It was directed by Douglas Sirk and starred Lana Turner. Susan Kohner was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her part. She also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and another for Best New Actress. After Imitation of Life, Susan Kohner appeared in All the Fine Young Cannibals with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.

Did Susan Kohner Act on Television?

Susan Kohner first appeared on TV on February 4, 1956. This was in an episode of The Alcoa Hour called "Long After Summer." She later had guest roles on many TV shows. These included Hong Kong, Going My Way, and Temple Houston. Her last movie role was in 1962, when she acted with Montgomery Clift in Freud: The Secret Passion. She stopped acting in 1964.

Susan Kohner's Personal Life

What Did Susan Kohner Do After Acting?

In 1964, Susan Kohner married John Weitz. He was a novelist and fashion designer from Germany. She decided to stop acting to spend more time with her family. Susan and John had two sons, Chris and Paul Weitz. Both of their sons became film directors and producers in Hollywood. They worked on movies like American Pie (1999) and About a Boy (2002). Chris Weitz also directed New Moon (2009), which is part of The Twilight Saga film series.

Recent Appearances and Recognition

On April 23, 2010, a new version of Imitation of Life (1959) was shown at the TCM Film Festival in Los Angeles. Susan Kohner and her co-star Juanita Moore were invited to attend. After the movie, they both came on stage for a question-and-answer session. The audience gave them a standing ovation, showing how much their work was appreciated.

Susan Kohner's Theater Work

• 1958: Love Me Little by John G. Fuller at Helen Hayes Theatre. This was her first time acting on Broadway.
• 1962: Pullman Car Hiawatha by Thornton Wilder at Circle in the Square Theatre.
• 1963: Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw at the Vancouver Theater Festival. She performed with Mike Nichols.

Film and Television Roles

Movies Susan Kohner Appeared In

Television Shows Susan Kohner Was In

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Susan Kohner para niños

• John Weitz
• Chris Weitz
• Paul Weitz
• Lupita Tovar
• Paul Kohner