Susan Lucci Biography

Susan Lucci was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006 and garnered with her own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 28, 2005. That date will stay in memories of fans of Ms. Lucci as much as the day she won the Emmy in May of 1999. This incredible honor is the icing on the cake of an incredible career as she celebrates her 35 years as Erica Kane on “All My Children.” In fact, she has been honored with many awards over the course of her career spanning from her tireless work with children, her passionate dedication to her community and in celebration of her work as an actress.

In fact, when VH-1 named her one of their “200 Top Icons of all Time,” Susan was thrilled and honored by the reference. Her work and her contribution to the entertainment community and beyond had become timeless and any new endeavor she partakes will only continue to add dimension to her already multi-faceted and award-winning career.

As the most famous face in daytime television history, Lucci has held audiences spellbound for years as the sexy, sassy, beautiful “woman you love to hate,” Erica Kane on ABC-TV’s “All My Children.” In May 1999, all of America stood and cheered when Susan Lucci won the Emmy Award for “Best Actress”. It was an historic moment not only for Susan Lucci, but for all of television. She has hosted “Saturday Night Live” and guest-stared in a one hour special of the successful ABC series “Hope and Faith” and most recently on an episode of “Raven.” It renewed the industry’s attention and admiration as she showed a lighter side to the dramatic turns of daytime television.

Lucci’s artistic excellence allowed her the opportunity to expand to luminous careers in theater and cabaret. For the last three years, Susan’s sensational nightclub performances opening for Regis Philbin have dazzled audiences as she graced the stage to sold-out crowds and performed solo concerts across the country. In October 2001, Lucci debuted her cabaret act at “Feinstein’s at the Regency” working with director John McDaniels and Shawn Gough. In his review of Lucci, Rex Reed stated, “This is a gal that sends you home smiling.”

During her 1999 Broadway debut starring as Annie Oakley in the revival of Irving Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun,” Lucci not only received a standing ovation from the entire house, but she had lines of fans around the block, both old and new, waiting for an opportunity to catch Ms. Lucci either on stage or upon her departure from the stage door, for autographs. Said Michael Logan of TV Guide, “Susan Lucci didn’t just take Great White by storm: she took it by tornado, hurricane and tsunami, too."

Acting and singing are only two of Ms. Lucci’s many passions. She has also become a successful entrepreneur. In 1991, she launched the Susan Lucci Collection of hair care products. She created a sensual fragrance, Susan Lucci Invitation, and a fresh, sparkling fragrance, LaLucci. Both fragrances were finalists for the renowned Fifi Award. Currently “Invitation” is available at Wal-Mart. The year of 2001 brought great inspiration and success for Susan as she proudly introduced her own jewelry, shoes, and accessory lines – all inspired by offering apparel for women of all shapes and sizes. In 2003 she introduced a lingerie line for “beauty of all ages.” Her head-to-toe collection is a constant sell-out and available on the Home Shopping Network (HSN), HSN.com and through Susan Lucci’s own personal Web site, www.susanlucci.com. In June 2002, Susan also introduced a personal microdermabrasion system with Guthy-Renker, Youthful Essence® by Susan Lucci which has sold over 5 million kits since its debut and was just awarded “Best Beauty Informercial” at the 2004 Electronic Retailing Association Awards. Lucci has expanded her expertise with Guthy-Renker by presenting “Malibu Pilates®.”

Further, Susan always makes sure to find time for what she believes to be most important: children. She supports Little Flower Children & Family Services of New York, the largest child care agency in the state of New York providing foster care and adoption services to all five boroughs as well as Long Island. She has also served as the March of Dimes’ National Ambassador in 2000 and as a celebrity spokesperson for AMDeC (Academic Medicine Development Company) and The New York Cancer Project. She was the recipient of the prestigious New York City Gracie Award and the Muse Award for Women in Film & Television and in 2004 accepted an award from Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Susan Lucci has been honored by the City of New York by being presented with a “Key to the City” by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. She also received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and joined the 1,000 Broadway legends as her caricature became immortalized on the walls of New York’s famous Sardi’s Restaurant. She has been named one of E! Entertainment’s “The Top Entertainers of the Year” as well as one of Barbara Walters’ “Ten Most Fascinating People.” Her “Lifetime Intimate Portrait” aired on the Lifetime cable network in May 2003 and she recently hosted the “White House Christmas Special” for A&E. Susan’s accomplishments and contributions to the world of television and the performing arts have truly made her an icon to millions.