Susan Lucci facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susan Lucci
Lucci in 2009
Born	Susan Victoria Lucci (1946-12-23) December 23, 1946 (age 78) Scarsdale, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Marymount College, Tarrytown (BA)
Occupation	Actress television personality
Years active	1969–present
Spouse(s)	Helmut Huber ​ ​ (m. 1969; died 2022)​
Children	2, including Liza Huber

Susan Victoria Lucci (born December 23, 1946) is a famous American actress. She is most well-known for playing the character Erica Kane on the TV show All My Children. This show was a popular daytime drama on ABC from 1970 to 2011.

Her character, Erica Kane, became very famous. TV Guide even called Susan Lucci "Daytime's Leading Lady." She was also known for being one of the highest-paid actors in daytime TV. During her time on All My Children, Lucci was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 21 times. She finally won the award in 1999, after many nominations.

Susan Lucci has also acted in other TV shows and movies. She has appeared on shows like Dallas, Hot in Cleveland, and Army Wives. She even hosted Saturday Night Live in 1990. After All My Children ended, she hosted a true crime series called Deadly Affairs. She also starred in the show Devious Maids.

In 1996, TV Guide listed her as one of the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. She was also named one of VH1's 200 Top Icons of All Time.

Early Life and Education

Susan Lucci was born in Scarsdale, New York. Her parents are Jeanette and Victor Lucci. Her father has Italian family roots, and her mother has Swedish roots.

She lived in Yonkers, New York, when she was very young. Later, her family moved to Elmont, New York, and then to Garden City, New York. Susan Lucci finished high school at Garden City High School in 1964. She then went to Marymount College, Tarrytown and earned a degree in drama in 1968.

Susan Lucci's Acting Career

Susan Lucci started her TV acting career with small roles. She appeared on daytime soap operas like Love Is a Many Splendored Thing and The Doctors. She also had small parts in movies such as Goodbye, Columbus and Me, Natalie in 1969.

Playing Erica Kane on All My Children

Susan Lucci in a commercial from 1977.

Susan Lucci is most famous for her role as Erica Kane on the ABC soap opera All My Children. She played this character from 1970 until the show ended in 2011. Many people think Erica Kane is the most popular character in American soap opera history. TV Guide called her "the most famous soap opera character in the history of daytime TV."

Lucci was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy almost every year starting in 1978. Because she was nominated so many times but didn't win, she became famous for always being a nominee. The TV show Saturday Night Live even made fun of this when she hosted. During her opening speech, the cast and crew jokingly carried their own Emmy awards around her. She also appeared in a funny commercial where she shouted, "Eleven years without an Emmy! What does a person have to do around here to get an Emmy?" Her name even became a way to describe other artists who get many nominations but don't win.

After being nominated 18 times, she finally won the Emmy in 1999. When she received the award, everyone stood up and clapped for her.

When ABC decided to cancel All My Children in 2011, Susan Lucci said she had loved playing Erica Kane. She also mentioned she was excited for new opportunities.

Other TV Shows, Movies, and Stage Roles

Lucci at the 2010 Daytime Emmy Awards

Susan Lucci has acted in many other TV shows and movies. In 1982, she had a small appearance in the comedy movie Young Doctors in Love. In the 1980s, she was a guest star on popular prime-time shows like The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. In 1984, she played a main role in the horror movie Invitation to Hell.

In 1986, Lucci played Darya Romanoff in the TV movie Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna. She also starred in the movie Mafia Princess that same year. She continued to appear in TV movies like Lady Mobster (1988) and The Bride in Black (1990). From 1990 to 1991, she had guest roles on the show Dallas. She hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live in October 1990.

In 1995, Lucci starred in the TV movie Ebbie. In this movie, she played Elizabeth 'Ebbie' Scrooge, a modern version of the character Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. She played a tough department store owner who is visited by ghosts on Christmas Eve.

In 1999, she played the main role of Annie Oakley in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. A journalist from TV Guide said she was amazing in the role. In 2004, she was a guest star on the comedy show Hope & Faith. She also appeared on That's So Raven in 2005.

Lucci competed on season 7 of Dancing with the Stars in 2008. She finished in sixth place with her dance partner Tony Dovolani.

Recent Work (2012–Present)

From 2010 to 2014, Susan Lucci appeared on the TV Land show Hot in Cleveland. She played a funny rival to another character. In 2012, she was in Gloria Estefan's music video "Hotel Nacional". She also guest-starred on the show Army Wives in 2012.

From 2012 to 2014, Lucci hosted and narrated Deadly Affairs, a true crime series. In 2013, she began starring as Geneviève Delatour in the comedy-drama series Devious Maids. Her acting in this show was praised by TV critics. The series ran for four seasons until 2016. In 2015, she appeared in the movie Joy.

In 2017, Lucci appeared in Sia's music video "Santa's Coming for Us". She also guest-starred on the show Difficult People. She was also in TV commercials for Progressive Insurance that looked like a soap opera.

In 2023, Susan Lucci received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2024, she returned to acting in the movie Outcome.

Business Ventures

Susan Lucci has her own line of products. These include hair care products, perfumes, lingerie, and skin care items. Her collection is called The Susan Lucci Collection.

Personal Life

Susan Lucci married Helmut Huber on September 13, 1969. Helmut was a chef and food-service manager from Austria. They had two children: their daughter, Liza Huber, who is also an actress, and their son, Andreas Huber. They were married for 52 years until Helmut passed away on March 28, 2022, at age 84.

Lucci wrote her autobiography, All My Life: A Memoir, which was published in 2011. She supports LGBT rights and equality. Her support grew after a storyline on All My Children in 2000 where her character's daughter, Bianca Montgomery, came out as a lesbian.

In late 2018, Susan Lucci had a heart procedure. Doctors found blocked arteries because she had chest pain. She shared her experience to help raise awareness for heart health.

Filmography

Awards and Honors

Susan Lucci has won several awards and received many honors throughout her career.

Daytime Emmy Awards

Susan Lucci was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 21 times for her role in All My Children. She finally won this prestigious award in 1999.

Soap Opera Digest Awards

Susan Lucci has also won several Soap Opera Digest Awards for her work on All My Children.

Other Recognitions

• Favorite Female Performer in a Daytime Serial, People's Choice Awards, 1992
• Women in Film Lucy Award, 1994
• New York Women in Film & Television Muse Award, 2004
• Outstanding Female Lead in a Daytime Drama, Gracie Allen Awards, 2005
• She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.
• Inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006.
• Inducted into the Ride of Fame in 2013.
• Named a Disney Legend in 2015.

See also

In Spanish: Susan Lucci para niños