Susan Dey

Susan Hallock Dey (born December 10, 1952) is a retired American actress, known for her television roles as Laurie Partridge on the sitcom The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974, and as Grace Van Owen on the drama series L.A. Law from 1986 to 1992. A three-time Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee, she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for L.A. Law in 1988.

Early life and education Dey was born in Pekin, Illinois, to Ruth Pyle (née Doremus) Dey, a nurse, and Robert Smith Dey. Ruth died in 1961, when Susan was eight.

Career The Partridge Family, season 1. L-R: Shirley Jones, Jeremy Gelbwaks, Suzanne Crough, Susan Dey, Danny Bonaduce and David CassidyDey began her professional life as a model. Her first modeling break was the cover photo of a booklet by Pursettes tampons on first facts of menstruation for young girls, "Getting to Know Yourself."

She was cast as Laurie Partridge in the television series The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974. She was 17 when she won the part, and had no acting experience. She briefly reprised that role for the Hanna-Barbera animated series, Partridge Family 2200 A.D. for two episodes, before being replaced by Sherry Alberoni. She returned to weekly network television in 1977 as the co-star of the short-lived sitcom Loves Me, Loves Me Not. In a 1977 made-for-television movie, Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night, she portrayed a disturbed young mother with serious psychological problems who begins to take them out on her toddler daughter. Also in 1977, Dey starred opposite William Katt in First Love, directed by Joan Darling. She also appeared in the Barnaby Jones episode "Testament of Power" (1977).

Dey co-starred with Albert Finney in the 1981 science-fiction film Looker, written and directed by Michael Crichton. She starred on L.A. Law from 1986 through 1992 as Los Angeles County deputy district attorney Grace Van Owen, who later became a judge. She was also nominated in each of the following four years. She was also nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1987, 1988, and 1989.

She hosted a 1992 episode of Saturday Night Live. Later that year, she co-starred in the sitcom Love & War. In 1993, Dey produced and starred in Lies & Lullabies (later released on DVD as Sad Inheritance), where she played a pregnant cocaine addict.

Dey was mentioned in Shirley Jones's memoir as the only cast member who "consistently refused" to take part in Partridge Family reunions.

In 1972, Dey was credited as the author of a book titled Susan Dey's Secrets on Boys, Beauty and Popularity.

Personal life

During the production of The Partridge Family, Dey had romantic feelings for co-star David Cassidy. They eventually pursued a relationship when the show ended, but Cassidy broke it off as he did not share her feelings. In 1994, Cassidy disclosed details of his relationship with Dey in his autobiography C'mon, Get Happy ... Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus; he presumed this led to her severing contact with him.

Dey was married to Leonard "Lenny" Hirshan from 1976 to 1981. They have one daughter. Dey has been married to television producer Bernard Sofronski since 1988.

She serves as a board member of the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Medical Center, and co-narrated a documentary on campus rape with former L.A. Law co-star Corbin Bernsen. She suffered from anorexia during the run of The Partridge Family.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1972 The Candidate Girl in Crowd 1972 Skyjacked Elly Brewster 1977 First Love Caroline 1981 Looker Cindy Fairmont 1986 Echo Park May 1987 The Trouble with Dick Diane 1998 Avenged Margo 2003 Rain Dianna Davis

Television Year Title Role Notes 1970–74 The Partridge Family Laurie Partridge 96 episodesNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 1973 Circle of Fear Peggy Episode: "Doorway to Death" 1973 Goober and the Ghost Chasers Laurie Partridge (voice) 8 episodes 1973 Terror on the Beach DeeDee Glynn Television film 1974 Partridge Family 2200 A.D. Laurie Partridge (voice) 2 episodes 1975 The Rookies Angel Episode: "Angel" 1975 Hawaii Five-O Susan Bradshaw Episode: "Target? the Lady" 1975 S.W.A.T. Janice 2 episodes 1975 Cage Without a Key Valerie Smith Television film 1976 The Quest Charlotte Rosee Episode: "The Captive" 1976 The Streets of San Francisco Barbara Ross Episode: "The Thrill Killers" (filmed as a two-hour episode; aired in two parts) 1977 Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night Rowena Harper Television film 1977 Loves Me, Loves Me Not Jane Benson 6 episodes 1977 Barnaby Jones Linda Jason Episode: "Testament of Power" 1978 Little Women Jo March Television miniseries 1980 The Comeback Kid Megan Barrett Television film 1983 Sunset Limousine Julie Preston Television film 1983–84 Emerald Point N.A.S. Celia Mallory 22 episodes 1983 Malibu Linda Harvey Television film 1984 Love Leads the Way Beth Television film 1986–92 L.A. Law Grace Van Owen 110 episodesGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series DramaNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1989–92)Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1987–89)Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series1987 Angel in Green Sister Ann McKeon Television film 1992–93 Love & War Wallis "Wally" Porter 23 episodes 1992 Bed of Lies Vicky Daniel Television film 1993 Lies and Lullabies Christina Kinsey Television film (aka Sad Inheritance) 1994 Beyond Betrayal Joanna/Emily Doyle Television film 1995 Deadly Love Rebecca Barnes Television film 1995 Blue River Mrs. Sellers Television film 1997 Bridge of Time Madeleine Armstrong Television film 1999 Family Law Karen Hershey Episode: "Holt vs. Holt" 2002 L.A. Law: The Movie Grace Van Owen Television film 2002 Disappearance Patty Henley Television film 2004 Third Watch Dr. Breene 2 episodes