Susan Harrison Explained

Susan Harrison
Birth Date:26 August 1938
Death Date:[1] [2]
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1956–1963
Spouses:Joel Colin (died 1976)
Cassius Conger (died 1999)
Children:3, including Darva Conger
Alma Mater:Boston University

Susan Stewart Harrison (August 26, 1938 – March 5, 2019)[3] was an American actress. She is most famous for her appearance in the 1957 film noir classic Sweet Smell of Success as the sister for whom Burt Lancaster has an unhealthy affection, and in The Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit".

Early life

Harrison was a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts in New York City.[4] She attended Boston University, studying under Peter Kass, who directed her in the role of Abigail in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

Career

Her professional debut was in the live television drama Can You Coffeepot on Skates?, presented in 1956. This was followed by television appearances on Matinee Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents and her cinematic debut in Sweet Smell of Success. On October 19, 1957, she opened on Broadway at the Bijou Theater, playing "the Girl" in William Saroyan's new play The Cave Dwellers to uniformly good reviews.[5] [6] [7] The following year she was in the Playhouse 90 production of In Lonely Expectation, which brought her to the attention of Rod Serling and led to her role as the ballerina in the iconic Twilight Zone episode. She had several later television and stage roles, most notably in an episode of the television show Bonanza, "Dark Star" in the first season, episode 31 (1960). In 1960 she played Ruby, the female lead, in the little-seen film Key Witness with Jeffrey Hunter and Dennis Hopper.

Personal life

She was the mother of Darva Conger, who starred in the reality television show Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? Harrison had two other children, D. H. Colin and Daniel Colin.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1957Sweet Smell of Success Susan Hunsecker
1960Key Witness Ruby

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1956Star TonightDorsey Mitchell Season 2 Episode 36: Can you Coffeepot on Skates?
1956Matinee TheaterEpisode 156: Fight the Whole World
1959Playhouse 90P.J.Season 3 Episode 26: In Lonely Expectation by Mayo Simon
1960Bonanza Tirza Season 1 Episode 31: Dark Star
1961The Light That FailedMaisie TV film based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling
1961The Twilight ZoneThe Ballerina Season 3 Episode 14: Five Characters in Search of an Exit
1961Follow the SunLinda Tait Season 1 Episode 9: The Hunters
1961Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSusan Harper Season 6 Episode 31: "The Gloating Place"
1963Breaking Point Martha Season 1 Episode 12: Millions of Faces

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Conger . Darva . Death announcement . Instagram.
  2. Web site: Susan HARRISON Obituary – Panorama City, CA . Dignity Memorial.
  3. Web site: Susan Harrison, 'Sweet Smell of Success' Actress, Dies at 80. Rhett. Bartlett. The Hollywood Reporter. April 15, 2019. August 18, 2022.
  4. Book: Lentz, Harris. Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2019. 181. McFarland. November 6, 2020. 9781476679785. Google Books.
  5. Atkinson, Brooks "A Sunny Tale" The New York Times, Monday, October 21, 1957
  6. Aston, Frank "Saroyan Eyes Little Lives" New York World-Telegraph and Sun, Monday, October 21, 1957
  7. Watts, Richard, Jr "William Saroyan Returns To Us" New York Post, Monday, October 21, 1957