Susan Ruttan Biography (1948?-)

Original name, Susan Dunsrud; born September 16, 1948 (some sources say 1950), in Oregon City, OR; daughter of Daryl Dunsrud (a logger) and Helen Manis (anurse); married Mel Ruttan, c. 1966 (died); married Randy MacDonald (a boommicrophone operator), 1990 (divorced, 1993); children: Jackson (adopted). Addresses: Agent: Peter Young, The Gersh Agency, 232 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210-5302; Innovative Artists, 1505 Tenth St., Santa Monica, CA90401.; Manager: Opus Entertainment, 5225 Wilshire Blvd., #905, Los Angeles,CA 90036.

Nationality: American
Gender: Female
Occupation: Actress
Birth Details: September 16, 1948?; Oregon City, Oregon, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Second nurse, Independence Day (also known as Follow Your Dreams), Warner Bros., 1983
Biker, Bad Manners (also known as Growing Pains), New World, 1984
Herself, "Put It on My Bill," Funny, 1988
Miriam, Bad Dreams, 1988
Woman in bookstore, Chances Are, TriStar, 1989
Claire Raskin, Funny about Love, Paramount, 1990
Lela, Love Kills, 1998
Mrs. O'Brien, Krippendorf's Tribe, Buena Vista, 1998
Wish You Were Dead, 2002
Television Appearances
Series
Roxanne Melman, L.A. Law, NBC, 1986-1993
Pilots
Marge, After George, CBS, 1983
Roxanne Melman, L.A. Law, NBC, 1986
Melody Huck, Family Values, UPN, 1995
Dreamweavers, syndicated, 2000
Mrs. Place, The Legend of Butch & Sundance, NBC, 2004
Movies
Prudish woman, Dropout Father, CBS, 1982
Hostess, The Fighter, CBS, 1983
Mrs. Joan Estep, Packin' It In, CBS, 1983
Portsmouth nurse, Thursday's Child, CBS, 1983
Robin, Second Sight: A Love Story, CBS, 1984
Margie, Scorned and Swindled, CBS, 1984
Judge M. Tyson, Murder: By Reason of Insanity (also known as MySweet Victim), CBS, 1985
Rosemary, Kicks, ABC, 1985
Julie Meyers, Do You Remember Love?, CBS, 1985
Ms. Morgan, Under the Influence, CBS, 1986
Mrs. McGwin, Bay Coven (also known as The Devils of Bay Cove, Eye of the Demon, and Strangers in Town), NBC, 1987
Courtney Page, Take My Daughters, Please, NBC, 1988
Sandra Thompson, Fire and Rain, USA Network, 1989
Judy Hecker, A Quiet Little Neighborhood, A Perfect Little Murder(also known as Darling, Let's Kill the Neighbors, Honey, Let's Killthe Neighbors, and A Perfect Little Murder), NBC, 1990
Mrs. Zavala, Sweet 15, PBS, 1990
Genene Jones, Deadly Medicine, NBC, 1991
Carol Blankenship, A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story, CBS, 1991
Arlene Reed, Jack Reed: Badge of Honor, NBC, 1993
Anne Marie Tesoriero, Without Warning: Terror in the Towers, NBC,1993
Arlene Reed, Jack Reed: A Search for Justice, NBC, 1994
Arlene Reed, Jack Reed: One of Our Own, 1995
Helen Preston, Justice for Annie: A Moment of Truth Movie, NBC, 1996
Arlene Reed, Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance, 1996
Arlene Reed, Jack Reed: A Killer amongst Us, NBC, 1996
Madge, Touched by Evil, ABC, 1997
Janet, Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story (also known asLife of the Party: Pamela Harriman), Lifetime, 1998
Mrs. Claus, The Ultimate Christmas Present, The Disney Channel, 2000
Roxanne Melman, L.A. Law: The Movie, NBC, 2002
Mrs. Kasabian, Helter Skelter, CBS, 2004
Lucy Trotter, The Sure Hand of God (also known as Sinners NeedCompany), Lifetime, 2004

Miniseries
Arlene Reed, Deadly Matrimony (also known as Shattered Promises), NBC, 1992
Specials
Marian, "Gwendolyn," NBC Presents the AFI Comedy Special, NBC, 1987
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Special, NBC, 1987
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1988
55th Annual King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1988
Judge, The Miss Universe Pageant 1988, CBS, 1988
Host, All-American Sports Nuts, NBC, 1988
The Valvoline National Driving Test, CBS, 1989
Cohost, Thanks for Giving, USA Network, 1989
The Test Tube, ABC, 1990
Rich and Famous: 1990 World's Best, syndicated, 1990
Ms. Morales, "Malcolm Takes a Shot," CBS Schoolbreak Special, CBS,1990
The "L.A. Law" 100th Episode Special, NBC, 1991
Soap Opera Digest Awards, NBC, 1992
In Search of the Oregon Trail, PBS, 1996
Story First: Behind the Unabomber, Lifetime, 1996
Interviewee, L.A. Law: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary),E! Entertainment Television, 2001
NBC 75th Annual Special (also known as NBC 75th Annual Celebration), NBC, 2002
Episodic
Ester, "What Price Glory?," Bosom Buddies, 1981
"The New Jail," Best of the West, ABC, 1981
Waitress, "Our Man Barry," It's a Living, 1981
Helen, "Sugar and Spice," Quincy, 1981
Bus driver, "Jackal," The Powers of Matthew Star, NBC, 1982
"Where's My Paycheck," Night Court, NBC, 1984
"The Scandal," Benson, ABC, 1984
"Adventure in Hong Kong," Benson, ABC, 1984
Katherine Zawicki Shrub, "Have Yourself a Very Degrading Christmas," Buffalo Bill, NBC, 1984
Katherine Zawicki Shub, "A Hero," Buffalo Bill, NBC, 1984
Sarah, "Georgie's Girl," Newhart, CBS, 1984
Miss Livermore, "Lofty Steele," Remington Steele, NBC, 1984
Mrs. Cunningham, "That Blasted Cunningham," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1985
Mrs. Blake, "Wheels of Justice: Parts 1 & 2," Night Court, NBC, 1986
"A Day in Mayfield," The New Leave It to Beaver, TBS, 1986
Late Night with David Letterman, 1987
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, syndicated, 1988
Improv Tonight, 1988
Joanne Peters, "Cassie's Choice," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1994
Stefanie Dale, "Mitigating Circumstances," Courthouse, 1995
Linda Fortin, "Higher Powers," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1996
Linda Fortin, "Verdicts," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1997
Nectarine, "It's My Nana and I'll Cry If I Want To," Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1997
Nectarine, "Oh, How They Danced: Parts 1 & 2," Suddenly Susan,NBC, 1998
Doris Warner, "All Aboard," Love Boat: The Next Wave, UPN, 1998
Kathy, "Citizen Solomon," 3rd Rock from the Sun, NBC, 1998
"Older Women, Younger Men," Safe Harbor, The WB, 1999
Mother, "Nobody Knows the Difference," Chicken Soup for the Soul,PAX, 1999
"Angels Once and a While/Carrie's Gift/A Secret Promise," Chicken Soupfor the Soul, PAX, 1999
Hairstylist's angry client, "Stealing Home," Family Law, CBS, 2000
Pooh's mother, "Well Solved Sherlock," Brutally Normal, The WB, 2000
Mrs. Donovan, "A Clown's Prayer," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2000
Joy Ferrara, "Citizen Shame," Popular, The WB, 2000
Joy Ferrara, "Ur-ine Trouble: Part 2," Popular, The WB, 2000
Joy Ferrara, "Are You There God? It's Me, Ann-Margaret," Popular,The WB, 2000
Dr. Grace Tarpon, "The Lottery," Gideon's Crossing, ABC, 2000
Lyla Myles, "Romeo and Juliet Must Die--Well, Maybe Just Juliet," Judging Amy, CBS, 2001
Bed & Breakfast wife, "The Road Trip to Harvard," Gilmore Girls, The WB, 2001
Marietta Pryor, "Blinded by the White," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 2001
Aunt Betty, "Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner," Yes, Dear, CBS, 2001
Mrs. Irene Rafferty, "When Irish Eyes Are Smilin'," The Fighting Fitzgeralds, NBC, 2001
Doris Kroeger, "Gone," Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, UPN, 2002
Mrs. Finn, "The Crazy-Girl Episode," Maybe It's Me, The WB, 2002
"Home Grown," The Agency, CBS, 2002
"Book of Memories," The Division, Lifetime, 2004
Also appeared in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (also known asLobo), NBC; "Oh, Promise Me," Amanda's; as Marilyn Craig, Sweet Justice; Anne, The Mommies; Marge, Empire, CBS.
Stage Appearances
Appeared in Hot L Baltimore, Staircase Repertory Productions, Santa Cruz, CA.
RECORDINGS
Taped Readings; Contributor
American Rhapsody by Joe Eszterhas, New Millennium, 2000
Video Games
Voice of Carolyn Drake, Code Blue, 2000

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

People Weekly, November 18, 1991; November 29, 1993, p. 91
Weight Watchers Magazine, May, 1989, p. 41

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