Susan Dey Biography

Susan Dey (born December 10, 1952) is an American actress, known primarily for her roles in film and television. Her more prominent parts came as elder daughter, Laurie Partridge, on the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family, and as Grace Van Owen, a California assistant district attorney and judge on the dramatic series, L.A. Law, a role she played from 1986 to 1992.

Early life and education

Dey was born Susan Hallock Smith in Pekin, Illinois, the daughter of Gail (née Dey), a nurse who died of pneumonia when Dey was eight years old, and Robert Smith, a newspaper editor. She adopted her mother's maiden name as her professional name. She graduated from Fox Lane High School in Bedford, New York.

Career

Dey was a model before starring as Laurie Partridge in the television series The Partridge Family from 1970"1974. She was 17 years old when she won the part and had no previous acting experience.

In a 1977 made-for-television movie, Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night, Dey portrayed a disturbed young mother with serious psychological problems, who begins to take them out on her toddler daughter. Also in 1977, Dey starred opposite William Katt in a romance film, First Love, directed by Joan Darling. The movie is based upon the story, Sentimental Education, by Harold Brodkey.

Dey co-starred with Albert Finney in a 1981 science-fiction film, Looker, written and directed by Michael Crichton. She had a leading role in 1986's Echo Park as a struggling waitress/actress who takes a job as a stripper who delivers singing telegrams.

Dey starred on the television series L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen and earned a Golden Globe Award as "Actress in a Leading Role " Drama Series" for the role in 1987. Dey was nominated four more times the following four years. She was also nominated for the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" for this role in 1987, 1988, and 1989.

She hosted a 1992 episode of Saturday Night Live. Later that year, she co-starred in the Diane English/CBS sitcom, Love & War, with Jay Thomas. Although the show ran until 1995, Dey was replaced in 1993 by Annie Potts. In 1993, she produced and starred in the ABC Movie of the Week Lies & Lullabies (later released on DVD as Sad Inheritance), where she played a pregnant cocaine addict.

Personal life

Dey was married to Lenny Hirshan from 1976"1981. They have one daughter, Sarah Hirshan (born 1978). Dey has been married to her second husband, television producer Bernard Sofronski, since 1988. She serves as a board member of the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Medical Center and co-narrated a documentary on campus rape with her L.A. Law co-star, Corbin Bernsen.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1970-1974	The Partridge Family	Laurie Partridge	96 episodes Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress " Series, Miniseries or Television Film
1972	Skyjacked	Elly Brewster
1973	Terror on the Beach	DeeDee Glynn	Television movie
1975	Hawaii Five-O	Susan Bradshaw	Episode: "Target? the Lady"
1975	S.W.A.T.	Janice	2 episodes
1975	The Quest	Charlotte Rosee	Episode: "The Captive"
1977	Loves Me, Loves Me Not	Jane Benson	6 episodes
1977	Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night	Rowena Harper	Television movie
1977	First Love	Caroline
1978	Little Women	Jo March	Television movie
1980	The Comeback Kid	Megan Barrett	Television movie
1981	Looker	Cindy Fairmont
1983	Malibu	Linda Harvey	Television movie
1983-1984	Emerald Point N.A.S.	Celia Mallory	22 episodes
1986	Echo Park	May
1986-1992	L.A. Law	Grace Van Owen	126 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Actress " Television Series Drama Nominated"?Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1987-1989) Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Actress " Television Series Drama (1989-1992)
1987	The Trouble with Dick	Diane
1992	Bed of Lies	Vicky Daniel
1992-1993	Love & War	Wallis "Wally" Porter	23 episodes
1993	Lies and Lullabies	Christina Kinsey	Television movie
1994	Beyond Betrayal	Joanna/Emily Doyle	Television movie
1995	Deadly Love	Rebecca Barnes	Television movie
1995	Blue River	Mrs. Sellers	Television movie
1997	Bridge of Time	Madeleine Armstrong	Television movie
1998	Avenged	Margo
2002	L.A. Law: The Movie	Grace Van Owen
2002	Disappearance	Patty Henley
2003	Rain	Dianna Davis
2004	Third Watch	Dr. Breene	2 episodes