Susan Dey

Susan Dey
Susan Dey at the 1990 Annual Emmy Awards
Born	Susan Hallock Smith

Susan Dey (born December 10, 1952 in Pekin, Illinois) is a Golden Globe winning and Emmy Award-nominated American actress, known primarily for her roles in movies, soap operas and television.

She was born as Susan Hallock Smith (), and later adopted her mother's maiden name as her professional name. She graduated from Fox Lane High School in Bedford, New York.

Dey is best known for her roles as Laurie Partridge, on the 1970s sitcom, The Partridge Family, and as a California assistant district attorney named Grace Van Owen, on the 1980s drama, L.A. Law (a role she played from 1986 to 1992).

Biography

Born to Robert Smith (a newspaper editor) and Gail Dey (a nurse), Susan was a model before starring as Laurie Partridge in the television series The Partridge Family from 1970–1974. She was 18 years old when she won the part and had no previous acting experience.

The Partridge Family

While participating in The Partridge Family, striving to be as thin as possible, Dey developed an eating disorder, a form of orthorexia nervosa, according to A&E's Biography. While suffering from this disorder, she would eat only carrot sticks. People began to worry when Dey's skin turned orange from her disorder. After a struggle, Dey overcame her disorder and regained her normal health.

Attempts at shedding her wholesome image

After the end of the television series, Dey strove to shed her wholesome image. She took several movie roles in which she was required to appear nude or semi-nude, including a supporting role in the 1981 thriller Looker. However, the new image did not significantly help her career. Dey felt that she had become too typecast, and to this day she refuses to talk about her days on The Partridge Family.

L.A. Law

She was critically hailed for her starring role in the TV series L.A. Law as Grace Van Owen. She earned a Golden Globe Award as "Actress In A Leading Role – Drama Series" for this role in 1987. She 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.

Personal life

Dey was married to Lenny Hirshan from 1976-1981. They had one daughter, Sarah Hirshan (born 1978). Dey has been married to her second husband, television producer Bernard Sofronski, since 1988.

Since the ending of L.A. Law, Dey has devoted herself to public service. 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 LA Law co-star, Corbin Bernsen.

Selected filmography

• L.A. Law: The Movie, 2002 – D.A. Grace Van Owen
• Rain (2001) – Dianne Davis
• Beyond Betrayal (1994)
• Love & War (1992)
• Bed of Lies (1992)
• The Trouble with Dick (1987) – Diane
• L.A. Law (1986) (TV) – Grace Van Owen (1986–1992)
• Echo Park (1986)
• Emerald Point N.A.S. (1983) (TV) – Celia Mallory Warren
• Looker (1981) – Cindy Fairmont
• Little Women (1978) (TV) – Josephine 'Jo' March
• First Love (1977) – Caroline
• Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night (1977) (TV) – Rowena Harper
• Loves Me, Loves Me Not (1977) (TV) – Jane
• Cage Without a Key (1975) (TV) – Valerie Smith
• S.W.A.T. (1975) (TV) – Deadly Tide, Parts 1 & 2 – Janice

References in popular culture

• In Gwyn Cready's comedic romance novel, Tumbling Through Time, Seph Pyle, the heroine, talks about Susan Dey; considers Laurie Partridge a personal hero; and wishes she could be living life "Laurie Partridge-style."
• In That 70s Show (the season three episode Red Sees Red), they parody The Brady Bunch Variety Hour: Shirley Jones, who played the mother of The Partridge Family (an opposing show made at the same time), walks in, and it is mentioned that Eric and Hyde are choosing to move out and become Partridges. At the end of this discussion, Hyde claims, "I'm pretty sure I can nail Susan Dey!".