Susan Elizabeth Strasberg

Susan Elizabeth Strasberg (May 22, 1938 – January 21, 1999)

She originated the title role in the Broadway production of The Diary of Anne Frank, directed by Garson Kanin, which ran for 717 performances from 1955 to 1957. Strasberg was nominated for a Tony Award at the age of 18 and became the youngest actress to star on Broadway with her name above the marquee title. Strasberg also starred in Time Remembered with Richard Burton and Helen Hayes in 1957. Her film credits included "Picnic," with William Holden and Kim Novak in 1954, and "Stage Struck" with Henry Fonda in 1957. Strasberg's next appearance on Broadway was in Time Remembered (1957–58) by Jean Anouilh with Richard Burton and Helen Hayes. It was another success and ran for 248 performances. Strasberg continued to guest star on TV shows like Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, Play of the Week (a production of The Cherry Orchard with Hayes), and Our American Heritage. n the late 1960s & 1970s Strasberg did mostly TV: The Big Valley; The Virginian; Bonanza; Lancer; The Name of the Game; Premiere; The F.B.I.; CBS Playhouse; Marcus Welby, M.D.; The Streets of San Francisco; and Night Gallery, among others. In the 1980s Strasberg's credits included Bloody Birthday (1981); The Love Boat; Mazes and Monsters (1982); Sweet Sixteen (1983); The Returning (1983); The New Mike Hammer; Tales of the Unexpected; Tales from the Darkside; The Delta Force (1986); Remington Steele; and more.

Strasberg wrote two best-selling books. Bittersweet was an autobiography in which she wrote about her tumultuous relationships with her parents and with actors Richard Burton and Christopher Jones, as well as with her daughter's struggles with a heart defect. She had married Jones in 1965, and gave birth to their daughter Jennifer. However, the couple divorced in 1968. Prior to her marriage, she had relationships with Bobby Driscoll, Warren Beatty, Cary Grant, and Richard Burton. Strasberg was born in New York City to theater director and drama coach Lee Strasberg of the Actors Studio and former actress Paula Strasberg. Her brother, John, is an acting coach. In the mid-1990s Strasberg was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although believed to be in remission, she died of the disease at her home in New York City on January 21, 1999, age 60.