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".
Susan Harrison | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 26, 1938 |
| Died | March 5, 2019 (aged 80)[1][2] Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Boston University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1956–1963 |
| Spouses | Joel Colin (died 1976) Cassius Conger (died 1999) |
| Children | 3, including Darva Conger |
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,[4] who directed her in the role of Abigail in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.[citation needed]
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.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Sweet Smell of Success | Susan Hunsecker | |
| 1960 | Key Witness | Ruby |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Star Tonight | Dorsey Mitchell | Season 2 Episode 36: Can you Coffeepot on Skates? |
| 1956 | Matinee Theater | Episode 156: Fight the Whole World | |
| 1959 | Playhouse 90 | P.J. | Season 3 Episode 26: In Lonely Expectation by Mayo Simon |
| 1960 | Bonanza | Tirza | Season 1 Episode 31: Dark Star |
| 1961 | The Light That Failed | Maisie | TV film based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling |
| 1961 | The Twilight Zone | The Ballerina | Season 3 Episode 14: Five Characters in Search of an Exit |
| 1961 | Follow the Sun | Linda Tait | Season 1 Episode 9: The Hunters |
| 1961 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Susan Harper | Season 6 Episode 31: "The Gloating Place" |
| 1963 | Breaking Point | Martha | Season 1 Episode 12: Millions of Faces |