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Suzanne Rogers

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For the Canadian socialite and philanthropist, see Suzanne A. Rogers.
Suzanne Rogers
Rogers in 2014
Born
Suzanne Crumpler

(1943-07-09) July 9, 1943 (age 81)
Alma materStella Adler Studio of Acting
OccupationActress
Years active1973–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1980; div. 1982)​

Suzanne Rogers (born Suzanne Crumpler, July 9, 1943[1])[2] is an American actress with film and television credits. Her stage name was inspired by Ginger Rogers, whom she cites as a personal inspiration for joining the entertainment industry. Rogers got her start as a dancer/performer at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, but she is best known for playing Maggie Horton, a role she originated and has played since 1973 on the NBC/Peacock soap opera Days of Our Lives. She is currently noted as the longest serving actress still appearing actively on an American soap opera. In August 2023 Days of Our Lives aired Rogers 50th anniversary show celebrating the milestone.

Early years

Suzanne Rogers was born Suzanne Crumpler.[2] While growing up in Colonial Heights, Virginia, she took an interest in dancing. She expressed interest in it at the age of two and started taking dancing lessons during her childhood.[2][3]

Career

At the age of 17, Rogers left her hometown and decided to pursue a dancing career. She moved to New York City and became one of the dancers at the Radio City Music Hall.[2][3] Along with becoming a Rockette, Rogers performed in several Broadway musicals including Coco, Hallelujah Baby and Follies, distinctly heard on the original cast album and mentioned in the book Everything Was Possible which covered the creation and history of the hit Broadway show.[2] After spending 10 years in New York City, the actress wanted to try out an acting dream and moved to California in January 1973.[2]

She attended acting classes in California with Stella Adler at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Soon after, she landed the role of Maggie Horton on NBC's Days of Our Lives.[3] Maggie was introduced as a guest character in August 1973, by scriptwriter William J. Bell and executive producer Betty Corday.[4] From the beginning, Bell considered the role ideal for her. He approached Rogers about taking the role of Maggie, and she agreed.[5] She was immediately described by critics who gave reviews of the show as being one of the most energetic girls on daytime television. The news of Rogers being cast as Maggie was a different move, taking an actress who loves to dance, to a character of a crippled farm girl. This was her first television assignment, after being the youngest girl to take the stage at Radio City Music Hall.[5]

In 1984, Rogers was diagnosed with the rare muscle disorder myasthenia gravis.[6] This disease affected her facial muscles, and the medicine the doctors put her on made her feel ill, and her face appeared swollen while also suffering hair loss.[7] She temporarily left the show after 11 years when the effects of the disease became increasingly worse.[8]

Her entire appearance changed, and she did not return to Days of Our Lives for a year. Rogers returned to the serial when her health became better. Rogers, wanting to educate viewers about the disease, encouraged executive producer Betty Corday to have her character be diagnosed with the disease. Corday agreed, and a storyline played out with Maggie learning she has myasthenia gravis. The actress went into remission in 1995, and has remained in remission since. In 2010, after her character's husband is killed off, Maggie began to notice some effects she experienced when diagnosed with the disease in 1984.[9]

In 2003, a major series of serial killings occurred on the show. Maggie was "killed off" in a "whodunnit?" murder storyline involving a serial killer.[10] Maggie's murder forced Rogers to depart from the series, although she made occasional appearances as Maggie's "spirit", appearing with all of the other victims when the apparent culprit, Marlena Evans, attacked Alice. To help with falling ratings at the time, current head writer James E. Reilly decided to bring all the characters back from the dead. They all turned up in the fictional town of Melaswen, or New Salem spelled backwards.[11][12] This storyline sparked major controversy, and proved to be a daring move.[13]

Since the death of original cast member Frances Reid (Alice Horton) in 2010, Rogers has been the longest-running actress to appear continuously on Days of Our Lives as the new Horton family matriarch.[14][15]

Personal life

Rogers married Sam Groom in 1980. They divorced in 1982.[16]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story Herself and Maggie Horton Television film
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1973–present Days of Our Lives Maggie Horton 3000+ episodes
1977 Quincy, M.E. Elaine Farrell Episode: "The Two Sides of Truth"
1980 Little House on the Prairie Molly Reardon Episode: "Second Spring"
1985 Knight Rider Lydia Arkett Episode: "The Wrong Crowd"

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1979
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Days of Our Lives
 Won
[3][17]

References

  1. ^ Waldo, Garren. "Days of our Lives Veteran Suzanne Rogers Celebrates Her Birthday". yahoo.com. Verizon. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Suzanne Rogers Biography". Soap Opera Digest. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Days of our Lives- Bios- Suzanne Rogers". NBC. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  4. ^ "Suzanne Rogers Biography- Days of our Lives". Soap Opera Digest. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  5. ^ a b "Suzanne Rogers biography". Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  6. ^ "Myasthenia Gravis Disease | Learn all About the Allergy and Immune System Disorders that Affect the Human Body | Read Insightful Articles to Learn More About Common Diseases & Conditions". Allergy-and-immune-system-disorders.info. Retrieved 2010-06-12.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "The Suzanne Rogers Interview, Part Three". We Love Soaps. 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  8. ^ Jacobs, Damon L. (2009-10-16). "The Suzanne Rogers Interview, Part Two". We Love Soaps. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  9. ^ "The Suds Report". Tvguide.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  10. ^ "Days of Our Lives - Salem Stalker Murders - Soap Opera Digest and Weekly". Soapoperadigest.com. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  11. ^ "Days of our Lives". Sonypictures.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  12. ^ "TV Tidbits Shows We Love: Days of Our Lives". Sitcomboy.com. 1965-11-08. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  13. ^ "Deidre Hall Storylines as Marlena Evans". Sn.soapnet.go.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  14. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (February 4, 2010). "Frances Reid, Days of our Lives matriarch, dies at 95". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  15. ^ Donaldson-Evans, Catherine (February 4, 2010). "Days of Our Lives Matriarch Dies at 95". People. Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  16. ^ "Suzanne Rogers Archives". soapoperadigest.com. Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  17. ^ Scheuer, Steven H. (June 1, 1979). "Daytime Emmy show". Boca Raton News. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
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