Susan Tyrrell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Susan Tyrrell
Publicity still for Camino Real, 1970
Born	Susan Jillian Creamer (1945-03-18)March 18, 1945 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	June 16, 2012(2012-06-16) (aged 67) Austin, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1964–2012
Notable work	Fat City, Andy Warhol's Bad, Forbidden Zone, Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker, Cry-Baby

Susan Tyrrell (born Susan Jillian Creamer; March 18, 1945 – June 16, 2012) was an American actress. She was known for playing unique and often unusual characters in movies and on TV. Susan Tyrrell started her acting career in New York City in the 1960s, performing in plays both on and off Broadway.

Her first movie was Shoot Out in 1971. She became very well-known for her role as Oma in John Huston's film Fat City (1972). For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1978, she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her part in Andy Warhol's Bad (1977). People often described her as having a "whiskey-voiced" sound and a special talent for playing characters who were a bit different or facing tough times.

Early Life and Family Background

Susan Tyrrell was born in San Francisco, California. Her mother, Gillian, was British and worked in the diplomatic corps in China and the Philippines. Her father, John Belding Creamer, was an agent for the William Morris Agency. He helped many famous actors like Loretta Young and Carole Lombard.

Susan grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut. She wasn't a great student. As a teenager, she didn't get along well with her mother. Thanks to her father's connections, Susan got a job in a play called Time Out for Ginger (1963) in New York City. Her father also arranged for Look magazine to follow her as she toured with the show. Sadly, her father passed away shortly after this.

Acting Career Highlights

Susan Tyrrell made her first appearance on Broadway in 1965 in the play Cactus Flower. In 1968, she joined the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center. There, she acted in plays like King Lear and revivals of The Time of Your Life (1969) and Camino Real (1970). She also performed in Off-Broadway plays, including The Rimers of Eldritch in 1967.

Her television debut was in Mr. Novak in 1964. Her first movie role was in Shoot Out (1971). As mentioned, she earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in Fat City (1972). In 1976, she played a character in I Never Promised You A Rose Garden. She won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1978 for her role in Bad.

Later, Susan Tyrrell played Queen Doris in the independent film Forbidden Zone (1980). She even sang a song in the movie called "Witch's Egg." The next year, she appeared in Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981). From 1981 to 1982, she was a regular on the ABC TV show Open All Night. She also had a main role in the horror film Night Warning (1981).

Susan Tyrrell also starred in the adventure movie Flesh+Blood. She was in the horror film From a Whisper to a Scream (1987). She lent her voice to the animated movie The Chipmunk Adventure (1987). She also appeared in Big Top Pee-wee (1988). In 1990, she had a supporting role in John Waters' film Cry-Baby.

In 1992, she appeared as a guest star on an episode of the TV show Wings. She also performed her own one-woman show called Susan Tyrrell: My Rotten Life, a Bitter Operetta. In the late 1990s, Tyrrell had roles in a Tales from the Crypt episode (1995) and the animated series Extreme Ghostbusters (1997). Her final film of that decade was Buddy Boy (1999).

In the 2000s, Susan Tyrrell appeared in Bob Dylan's movie Masked and Anonymous (2003). Her very last acting role was in the 2012 independent film Kid-Thing.

Personal Life and Later Years

Susan Tyrrell moved to New York City in the early 1960s to focus on her theater work. She made many artistic friends there, including people involved with Andy Warhol.

In the mid-1970s, Susan lived with actor Hervé Villechaize in Los Angeles for two years.

Susan Tyrrell had a blood disease called essential thrombocytosis. In early 2000, because of her illness, she had to have both of her legs amputated below the knee. That same year, actor Johnny Depp hosted an event to help raise money for Susan's medical bills. Many other actors, like Megan Mullally and Jack Black, attended to show their support.

In 2008, Susan Tyrrell moved to Austin, Texas, to be closer to her niece. She passed away on June 16, 2012, in Austin. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered.

Filmography

Here is a list of some of the movies Susan Tyrrell appeared in:

Television Appearances

Here is a list of some of the TV shows Susan Tyrrell appeared in:

Theatre Performances

Here is a list of some of the plays Susan Tyrrell performed in:

Awards and Nominations

Susan Tyrrell was recognized for her acting with several awards and nominations:

See also

In Spanish: Susan Tyrrell para niños