Susan Lucci

Susan Lucci is a renowned American actress, television host, and entrepreneur, best known for her iconic role as Erica Kane on the ABC soap opera All My Children, which was created by Agnes Nixon and produced by ABC Studios. Lucci's portrayal of Erica Kane earned her numerous award nominations, including multiple Daytime Emmy Award nominations, and she won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1999, presented by Kelsey Grammer and Kathy Lee Gifford. Her career has been marked by collaborations with notable actors, such as David Canary, Julia Barr, and Vincent Irizarry, and she has appeared on various television shows, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live, and Dancing with the Stars, hosted by Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet.

Early Life and Career

Lucci was born in Scarsdale, New York, to Jean Lucci and Victor Lucci, and grew up in Garden City, New York, where she attended Garden City High School and was a cheerleader, alongside future actress Candice Bergen. She later enrolled in Marymount College, Tarrytown, where she studied drama and dance, and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, whose notable alumnae include Cloris Leachman and Florence Henderson. After college, Lucci began her career in the entertainment industry, landing small roles on television shows, such as Love Is a Many Splendored Thing and The Doctors (1963 TV series), produced by NBC and CBS, respectively.

Acting Career

Lucci's breakthrough role came in 1970 when she was cast as Erica Kane on All My Children, a character that would become synonymous with her name and earn her multiple Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, presented by Soap Opera Digest and hosted by Leeza Gibbons and Lorenzo Lamas. Her performance on the show also led to appearances on other ABC programs, including The $10,000 Pyramid and The Love Boat, which featured guest stars like Charo, Don Knotts, and Tim Conway. In addition to her work on All My Children, Lucci has appeared in numerous television movies and films, such as Ebbie, Blood on Her Hands, and Deconstructing Harry, directed by Woody Allen and starring Richard Lewis and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She has also made guest appearances on popular television shows, including Hot in Cleveland, created by Suzanne Martin and starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, and Wendie Malick, and Army Wives, produced by ABC Studios and Lifetime (TV network).

Personal Life

Lucci has been married to Helmut Huber, a Gustavus Adolphus College graduate and Atlantic Records executive, since 1969, and they have two children, Liza Huber and Andreas Huber, who have both worked in the entertainment industry, with Liza appearing on Passions and Andreas working as a producer on The View, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar. Lucci is also a grandmother to Brendan Huber and Royce Huber, and has been involved in various charity work, including supporting the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes, alongside other notable celebrities, such as Barbara Walters and Katie Couric. In her free time, Lucci enjoys yoga and pilates, and has been featured in People (magazine), US Weekly, and Entertainment Weekly, which have all covered her career and personal life, including her friendships with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

Awards and Nominations

Throughout her career, Lucci has received numerous award nominations, including multiple Daytime Emmy Award nominations, Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, and a TV Guide Award nomination, presented by TV Guide and hosted by Joan Rivers and John Larroquette. She has also won several awards, including a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1999, a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1992, and a TV Land Award in 2005, presented by TV Land and hosted by Donald Trump and Ryan Seacrest. Lucci has been recognized for her contributions to the entertainment industry, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated in 2005, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, presented by NATAS and hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.

Philanthropy

Lucci is involved with various charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes, and the Children's Miracle Network, which have all benefited from her support and fundraising efforts, alongside other notable celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey and Elton John. She has also participated in several charity events, including the Daytime Emmy Awards and the Soap Opera Digest Awards, which have raised money for various causes, including cancer research and children's health initiatives, supported by organizations like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Lucci's philanthropic work has been recognized by several organizations, including the American Red Cross and the United Service Organizations, which have both honored her for her contributions to charitable causes, alongside other notable humanitarians, such as Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana.