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1-14 of 14
- Actress
- Director
- Writer
A fascinating aura of mystery seemed to surround the characters portrayed by blue-eyed blonde actress Susan Oliver, whose trademark high cheekbones, rosebud lips and heart-shaped face kept audiences intrigued for nearly three decades. She left a fine legacy of work in theater, motion pictures and television.
Born Charlotte Gercke on February 13, 1932 in New York City, she was the daughter of well-to-do George Gercke, a political reporter and journalist for the New York World, and his astrology practitioner wife, Ruth Oliver (aka Ruth Hale Oliver), both of whom divorced while Susan was still quite young (age 3). As a privileged adolescent, she went to various public and boarding schools. As a teenager, she lived with her father and traveled with him overseas to Japan, where he maintained a news post. While there (1948-49), she studied at the Tokyo International College and developed an interest in Japan's deep obsession with the American popular culture. Much later in her career (1977), in fact, Susan would write and direct Cowboysan (1978), a short film which told of Japanese actors performing in an American western.
In the spring of 1949, Susan briefly rejoined her mother, who was now remarried, residing in Los Angeles, and gaining a solid reputation as Hollywood's astrologer to the stars. However, by that fall, Susan was back East, studying drama at Pennsylvania's Swarthmore College (for four years). She then continued her training at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse, while finding stage work in both summer stock and regional theaters. Commercials and daytime/prime-time television work started coming Susan's way and, by that time, she had already changed her stage moniker to the more flowing name of Susan Oliver.
The year 1957 began with a debut ingénue role as a Revolutionary War-era daughter in the Broadway comedy "Small War on Murray Hill", which opened and closed at the Ethel Barrymore Theater after only nine days. A far more potent and substantial role fell her way in October of that same year, when she replaced British actress Mary Ure as Allison Porter in the superior kitchen sink drama "Look Back in Anger". Susan continued to find extensive dramatic work in live East coast television plays, with roles on The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956), The United States Steel Hour (1953), Studio 57 (1954) and Matinee Theatre (1955). At this juncture, she decided to migrate back to Los Angeles for more on-camera opportunities and attained guest roles on such popular prime-time series as Wagon Train (1957), Father Knows Best (1954), The Millionaire (1955) and The Lineup (1954).
Susan made her cinematic debut as the tough yet doomed title role in Warner Bros.' low-budget melodrama The Green-Eyed Blonde (1957). The film was shot in black and white, so it didn't matter that Susan's eyes were blue. Topbilled, she played the rebellious delinquent leader at a girls' reformatory and lent class to the rather exploitative material, which was written by blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. Two years later, Susan returned to the big screen as another tough cookie in the better-received biopic The Gene Krupa Story (1959), as a jazz singer who lures the renowned drummer (played by Sal Mineo) down the road to drugs and near ruin. A brief return to the Broadway stage, with the comedy "Patate" starring Tom Ewell and Lee Bowman, would last only four days but Susan earned great notices and won New York's Theatre World Award World for her outstanding breakout performance.
On early 1960s television, Susan continued to offer a number of striking and often showy, neurotic performances on episodes of Bonanza (1959), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958), 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Wagon Train (1957), The Virginian (1962), Adventures in Paradise (1959), Route 66 (1960), Dr. Kildare (1961) and The Fugitive (1963). Filmwise, she found a few lead and support roles in the Elizabeth Taylor-starred BUtterfield 8 (1960); as a psychiatric nurse in the all-star hospital melodrama The Caretakers (1963); in the tailored-for-the-teens romp, Looking for Love (1964), as a friend to Connie Francis; and in the hilarious Jerry Lewis slapstick vehicle The Disorderly Orderly (1964), in which she added rather heavy drama as a depressed hospital patient. During this time, her most challenging role was as the ambitious wife of doomed country music legend Hank Williams (George Hamilton, in offbeat casting) in Your Cheatin' Heart (1964).
Susan's name remained active particularly on television, where she graced such series as The Andy Griffith Show (1960), The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963), Burke's Law (1963), Dr. Kildare (1961), Ben Casey (1961), Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964), My Three Sons (1960), The Invaders (1967) and Mannix (1967). Classic television showcases includes the episode, People Are Alike All Over (1960), in which she plays the beautiful martian Teenya, who encounters astronaut Roddy McDowall, and the unsold pilot episode The Cage (1966), as Vina, the sole survivor of a crashed spaceship who charms Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter, the captain subsequently replaced by William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, when the show became a series). Footage from that pilot was later incorporated into the two-part episode "The Menagerie". In 1966, Susan made bittersweet news, when her regular role as Ann Howard in the prime-time soap opera Peyton Place (1964), was pushed off a cliff to her death. Written out after only five months of a year-long planned role, audiences (as well as Susan) were saddened by the loss of a character they had grown to care about. Subsequently, Susan starred in her own pilot for a new series, "Apartment in Rome", but that didn't sell.
Unfortunately, Susan's late 1960s work in a variety of film genres and opposite a number of formidable leading men were ultimately too few and did not help to advance her career. These included the LSD-induced drama The Love-Ins (1967) with Richard Todd and James MacArthur; the western A Man Called Gannon (1968) starring Anthony Franciosa; and the sci-fiers Change of Mind (1969) with Raymond St. Jacques and The Monitors (1969) with Guy Stockwell. The 1970s also hardly fared better with standard roles in Ginger in the Morning (1974) (donning a black wig), the Spanish-made drama Nido de viudas (1977), and Hardly Working (1980), in which she reunited with Jerry Lewis in what was supposed to be his comeback attempt. That film was ultimately shelved, before earning scant release a couple of years later.
Susan appeared as a regular for one season (1975-76) on Days of Our Lives (1965) and received a "Supporting Actress" Emmy nomination for the made-for-TV movie Amelia Earhart (1976), playing aviatrix Neta "Snookie" Snook, friend and mentor to the title character, played by Emmy-nominated Susan Clark. The role of "Snookie" was tailor-made for Susan, who, by this time, had merited attention as a licensed commercial pilot.
Susan's passion for flying had been compromised a decade earlier after a dramatic 1966 commercial plane scare. The near-death experience kept the actress on solid ground for well over a year, before she managed to overcome her paralyzing fear. In 1970, fully recovered, she co-piloted a single-engine Piper Comanche to victory in the Powder Puff Derby racing event, a victory that earned her the name, "Pilot of the Year". [Amelia Mary Earhart was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean]. However, in her attempt to fly to Moscow, the Soviet government denied her entrance to their air space and she was forced to end her journey in Denmark. Susan would later write about her flying exploits in her autobiography "Odyssey: A Daring Transatlantic Journey" (1983).
Susan's last years were focused on the small screen, with roles in the made-for-TV movies Tomorrow's Child (1982) and International Airport (1985), and standard guest-starring on The Love Boat (1977), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Simon & Simon (1981) and Freddy's Nightmares (1988). She also moved behind the camera a few times, directing episodes of M*A*S*H (1972) and Trapper John, M.D. (1979). A longtime smoker, the never-married Susan was diagnosed with lung cancer and died with quiet dignity at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California at age 58 -- an untimely death for such a beautiful lady and strong talent.- Actress
- Writer
- Executive
Canadian born, award- winning actress Susan Carol Oliver, also known as 'Susie'... hosted one of Canada's biggest LIVE Comedy venues "Yuk Yuks" before arriving to LA in 2004. Under management of Ed Smeal, Susan worked with live audiences and great Canadian comics like Wayne Flemming, Jim McAleese and Glen Foster. Alongside hosting, Susan performed stand-up in such places as the infamous Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd, Hollywood.
It was Toronto, that Susan studied with the renowned Second City Troupe on Lombard St. and in her graduate year from Fulcher Toronto School of Dramatic Arts was honored "Best Actress of the Year". Susan continued to win a remarkable 3 out of 6 awards for acting in New York, NY at the international model and talent awards.
Raised in the quaint Victorian-style town of Cobourg Ontario, with two older brothers Susan grew up in the country with the privilege of a stay-at-home Mom, Carol Ann Oliver; a lover of nature and art who became a notable artist in Northumberland and North Fort Myers, Fla. Communities. Susie's Dad, Robert Samuel Oliver (Sam) a comedic and charismatic policeman in the community turned entrepreneur and award winning Realtor.
Oliver switched from theater to film in 2005 and 2006 starring as lead lady in the feature film "Virginia". In 2007, Ms. Oliver became an American Citizen. After a two year intensive with D.W. Brown and Joanne Baron at the prestigious Baron Brown Studios in Santa Monica, Ca she was honored in 2008 as an alumni master Meisner graduate. A form also studied amongst the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks. During this time Ms. Oliver's interest in psychology, behavioral science, and the integrity of motivation tenet led her to also achieve accreditation by HMI College as an American Certified Hypnotist.
Susan's career took off publicly when the press started to take appeal to her. As an entertainment celebrity talk show host Ms. Oliver has interviewed fellow actors as Anne Heche, Sammi Rotibi (Django Unchained), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Scream Queens), Dreama Walker (The Good Wife) and Dennis Haysbert (Heat) and many more for the film company, Real TV Films. The actress also hosted film industry venues such as an hour-and-a-half Live-Stream show for AFM, The American Film Market among others. In the 2012 award winning romantic comedy pilot series "Get a Job", episode five, Susan played the comedic role of 'Vanessa', a mischievous, but good- hearted, overly-tanned and heavy drinking best friend of the lead character played by Danielle Artigo.
The actress stepped away in 2013 to take a two month spiritual sabbatical. As fate had it, two months was destined to be a two and a half year sabbatical journey. Upon Susan's return to her career in early 2015, Oliver's public speaking history brought her into the world of broadcasting as she DJ'd the 9:30a.m. Friday morning show on KCLA FM, an affiliate with XM satellite radio with engineer Lolly Waterman, tunein.com. An opportunity in Brazil arose and Susan left the show for a couple of months to pursue spiritual work in Abadiania, . Although the station voiced they'd welcome Susan back it was her thespian roots and a Peace org. she focused on, booking 40 feature film/television shows at major studios like Fox, WB, Universal, ABC and Raleigh in a short five months when she returned back to the United States in 2015. Due to Susan's lengthy leave of absence she accepted unaccredited roles but gained experience working with such talent as Annette Benning, Helen Hunt, Kerry Washington, Colin Hanks and comedians like Adam Conover and Earnest Adams (Baskets). Susan has performed with notable directors such as Ken Whittingham (Grandfathered, The Office), Andy Ackerman (Seinfeld), Ryan Murphy (Glee, Eat Pray Love), Ben Affleck , and Debbie Allen to name a few.
A former graduate of UCLA for screenwriting, Ms. Oliver has a library of projects evolving pre-production. As a screenwriter, she's been fortunate to contract and work with heroic people. For example, Dr. Shirley McGreal of whom Susan's co-written a feature film drama. Shirley was honored the O.B.E., Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 for her selfless service saving the lives of innocent primates against the dangers of illegal poachers and labs. It is common that the repertoire of Oliver's story-lines involve a suggestive movement inspiring peace.
Susan C. Oliver is an honorary member of Toastmasters; an elite 111 year old non-profit organization for public speakers that focuses on leadership, integrity and service. A passion project for the filmmaker is a Peace Energy Foundation she's begun called "Fearless Freedom" that she aspires to parent and assist through its evolution.- Producer
- Director
Susan Oliver is known for Amazing Grace (2018) and Shattering Sacred Ground (2020).- Susan Oliver is known for Freakshow (1995).
- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Oliver is known for The Notebook (2004), Southern Belles (2005) and The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams (2005).- Additional Crew
Susan Oliver is known for Out of Control (1984).- Producer
- Susan Oliver is known for Corwin (1969).
- Susan Oliver is known for La casa de las sombras (1976).
- Producer
Susan Oliver is known for Christina (2010).- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Susan Oliver is known for Bambaloo (2003), The Three Worlds of Flipper and Lopaka (2000) and Hotel Bordemer (2005).- Costume Designer
- Editor
- Make-Up Department
- Producer
- Director
Susan Oliver is known for Kids vs Film (2013), Mr. Midnight: Beware the Monsters (2022) and Wondernesia (2015).- Actress