Ever-radiant TV and film actor Susan
Blakely found success on several paths she chose for herself over the
years -- first as a model, then as an award-winning actress, and as a jewelry designer. The trim and trendy blonde is best known for enhancing a stream of popular films during the 1970s and 1980s.
Born on September 7, 1948, in Frankfurt, Germany, Susan is the daughter of U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Blakely. While
growing up, she traveled extensively throughout the world with her
family including Korea, Hawaii and, finally, Texas. Following a year of
study at the University of Texas, Susan moved to New York and secured a place for herself as a magazine and TV ad
model for the Ford Modeling Agency.
At the same time, Susan was encouraged to try her hand at acting
and studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Married in 1969 to lawyer
and screenwriting hopeful Todd Merer, they moved to Hollywood
to seek their fame and fortune.
Billed initially as Susie Blakely, she was cast in such films as
Unter Wilden (1972) (her debut) and
So wie wir waren (1973). Her first
popular movie role came about surrounded by an all-star
cast in Irwin Allen's epic disaster
Flammendes Inferno (1974),
as the spoiled princess-like daughter of unscrupulous skyscraper
builder William Holden and wife
of callous, pretty-boy opportunist
Richard Chamberlain.
Susan willingly accepted the challenge of
proving herself in Hollywood as more than just another starlet with a
gorgeous face.
She did .. .and became a prominent name in Hollywood to boot ... by earning a Golden Globe and Emmy
nomination for her exceptional work as "Julie Prescott" in the
acclaimed TV mini-series epic
Reich & arm (1976)
with both Peter Strauss and
Nick Nolte vying for her attention. It was
star-making for all three leads.
This monumental acting opportunity kicked off a highly rewarding career
in TV mini-movies, playing an array of flawed but fascinating and
newsworthy ladies, including Hitler's mistress
Eva Braun opposite
Anthony Hopkins in
Der Führerbunker (1981); tormented
actress Frances Farmer in
Will There Really Be a Morning? (1983);
political wife Joan Bennett Kennedy in
The Ted Kennedy Jr. Story (1986);
and crime attorney Leslie Abramson in
Du sollst Vater und Mutter ehren - Doppelmord in Beverly Hills (1994). A few other interesting roles came in as well that belied Susan's glossy, pretty-girl
image -- ranging from an amphetamine addict in the TV movie A Cry for Love (1980) to a housewife who changes into a
werewolf in the movie Meine Mutter ist ein Werwolf (1989).
Into the millennium, Susan accomplished a prime, award-winning role in
Hungry Hearts (2002). Other films have included co-star/featured roles in Final Crash - Concorde in den Tod (2000), Mating Dance (2008), The Genesis Code (2010), and Displacement (2016), as well as several short films of director Marc Saltarelli -- To Comfort You (2009), Pride (2011) Remember to Breathe (2013) and Speak (2016).
Having starred on stage in the 2006 world premiere of "Diva!" at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, Susan has guest-starred on several popular TV programs including "Diagnosis Murder," "Baywatch," "Strong Medicine," "Cold Case," "Nip/Tuck," "Murder 101," "Two and a Half Men," "Brothers and Sisters," "NCIS" and "This Is Us."
In recent years, Susan has broadened her horizons once again
as a jewelry designer...and once again she has met this challenge with
great success. Divorced from her first husband in the 1970s, Susan
remarried in 1982. Her present husband, media consultant, litigation
and political adviser Steve Jaffe,
has also reaped rewards as a film and television producer. Many of his
projects have included Susan -- the afore-mentioned
Frances Farmer TV biography, the TV-movie
A Cry for Love (1980),
and the film
Russian Holiday (1993) [aka
Russian Roulette]. They reside in the Beverly Hills area.
