Biography for
Susan Strasberg More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

22 May 1938, New York City, New York, USA

Date of Death

21 January 1999, New York, New York, USA (breast cancer)

Birth Name

Susan Elizabeth Strasberg

Mini Biography

Susan Strasberg was born in New York City on May 22, 1938. From the time of her birth, she was destined to be an actress. Her father was Lee Strasberg, acting coach at the famed Actor's Theater in New York. In 1953, Susan made her acting debut in an episode of the "Goodyear Television Playhouse" when she was just 15 years old. However, her true stage debut was on Broadway in the title role of "Diary of Anne Frank" in 1955. From that time on, Susan would devote part of her time to the stage and part time to the screen. Her first movie role was a fourth billing slot in 1955's _Picnic" (1955)_. That spot wasn't bad considering she was still relatively new to the screen and her co-stars were 'William Holden', Kim Novak, Rosalind Russell, Cliff Robertson and Arthur O'Connell. Not bad for starters. After The Cobweb (1955), later that same year, she went back to perform on the stage. It just wasn't the screen she starred with big names. In 1957, Susan starred with Helen Hayes and Richard Burton in "Time Remembered". In 1958, Susan returned to the big screen again in Stage Struck (1958). Although her billing wasn't anywhere near what it was with Picnic (1955), the picture turned in good reviews. For the remainder of her acting career, Susan alternated between the stage, silver screen and television. Where there was an acting role, Susan was there to appear in it. Part of the time was spent in Europe, particularly Italy, making motion pictures for the rabid fans there. During the course of her tenure, she appeared in three documentaries about her old friend, Marilyn Monroe. The first two were in 1987, entitled MARILYN MONROE: BEYOND THE LEGEND and REMEMBERING MARILYN. The third was MARILYN MONROE: LIFE AFTER DEATH (1994). On January 21, 1999, Susan lost her struggle with breast cancer in New York City. She was a youthful 60 years old.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson

Spouse

Christopher Jones

(1965 - 1968) (divorced) 1 daughter

Trivia

Daughter of Lee Strasberg.

Daughter of Lee Strasberg and stage actress Paula Strasberg. Mother of one child - daughter, Jennifer, with ex-husband Christopher Jones.

Made her debut on stage in an off-Broadway production of "Maya."

She made her off-Broadway debut in her early teens when actress Jo Van Fleet, (a member of the cast and friend of her famous parents), mentioned that the director was still looking for an ingenue.

Had a passionate affair with co-star Richard Burton while appearing in the hit Broadway play "Time Remembered" by Jean Anouilh in 1957-58. The affair was encouraged by her mother, acting coach Paula Strasberg, on the grounds that making love to a great actor would be good for her. Co-star Helen Hayes heartily disapproved of the affair. Strasberg and Burton never appeared in a film together though she did appear with Hayes on television in _Anton Chekhov''s _Cherry Orchard, The (1959) (TV)_.

Oringinated the role of Anne Frank in the original 1955 Broadway production of "The Diary of Anne Frank". Of the opening night cast members, only Joseph Schildkraut and Gusti Huber as Anne Frank's parents and Lou Jacobi as Mr. Van Daan also appeared in George Stevens' 1959 film.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1956 Tony Award as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1993

Personal Quotes

"There's no such thing as The Method. The term method-acting is so much nonsense. There are many methods, many techniques. My father merely used a method of teaching based on the ideas originally propounded by Stanislavsky - self-discipline, how to think out a role and use imagination. That's all."

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