Biography
A. Law".
Born Susan Dunsrud in Oregon, she was only two years old when her parents divorced and she was sent to live with her paternal grandmother. Following her high school graduation, she joined her mother in Southern California and soon married Green Beret Mel Ruttan who was tragically killed in a motorcycle crash three years after the wedding. The newly widowed Ruttan managed a bar for a while and took classes in costume design before …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Acted with the Performing Garage in NYC | ||
| Adopted by her paternal grandmother after parents' divorce until she was 12; was sent to boarding school and spent holidays with father | ||
| Moved from one logging camp to another with her father while growing up | ||
| Reprised role of Arlene Reed in four TV-movie sequels aired on NBC | ||
1966 | Moved to Santa Rosa, California, to live with mother after high school graduation | |
1970 | Managed a bar after her first husband's death (date approximate) | |
1974 | Professional acting debut in the Staircase Repertory production of "Hot l Baltimore" in Santa Cruz, California; stayed with the company four years | |
1979 | Joined casting department at Universal Studios | |
1981 | Made guest appearances in episodes of the ABC sitcoms "Bosom Buddies" and "Best of the West" | |
1982 | Feature film debut, a bit role as a nurse in "Independence Day" | |
1982 | TV movie debut, small part in "Drop-Out Father" (CBS) | |
1983 | Acted in the pilots "After George" (CBS) and "Buffalo Bill" (NBC) | |
1984 | Had recurring guest role on "Buffalo Bill" | |
1984 | TV series debut as regular, the short-lived CBS comedy "Empire" | |
1985 | Cast as a judge in "Murder: By Reason of Insanity" (CBS) | |
1985 | Had supporting role in the CBS movie "Do You Remember Love" | |
1986 | Breakthrough TV role as lumpen secretary Roxanne Melman on the NBC courtroom series, "L.A. Law"; earned four Emmy nominations; role was diminished from weekly to recurring before she was dropped by the show in its eighth season | |
1987 | Co-starred in the NBC thriller "Bay Coven" | |
1991 | Portrayed the mother of a mentally challenged child in "A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story" (CBS) | |
1992 | Cast as Arlene Reed, wife of a Chicago police detective (played by Brian Dennehy) in the NBC miniseries "Deadly Matrimony" | |
1996 | Appeared on stage in Canada in "Funny Money" | |
1998 | Had featured role in the movie comedy "Krippendorf's Tribe" | |
1998 | Supported Ann-Margaret in the Lifetime movie "Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story" | |
2000 | Made memorable guest appearance as the uncaring mother of Carmen Ferrara (played by Sara Rue) in "Popular" (The WB) | |
Awards
1987 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1988 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in L.A. Law |
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1989 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in L.A. Law |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in L.A. Law |