Susan Lucci

Soap opera icon, Susan Lucci was born on December 23, 1946, in Scarsdale, New York, to parents of Italian and Swedish descent. After graduating from New York’s Garden City High School in 1964, Lucci went on to attend Marymount College at Fordham University, where the Pi Beta Phi sorority sister graduated with a BFA in theater arts in 1968.

After getting her degree, Lucci moved to The Big Apple to pursue a career in acting. She worked as an Off-Broadway understudy, an extra, and a stand-in, before she got her big break at age 23, landing a role on ABC soap opera All My Children as the illustrious Erica Cane. Lucci’s role would grow to become integral to the show, and make Lucci one of the most recognizable stars on daytime TV. Despite this, an Emmy award eluded the actress. Although she received nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy for18 consecutive years, she did not actually win until 1999. The audience applauded Lucci with a four-minute standing ovation when she finally took home the Emmy that year.

In addition to soaps, Lucci has also acted in a variety of shows and movies on the small-screen. In 1990, she began guest starring on Aaron Spelling’s popular nighttime drama, Dallas, alongside Larry Hagman. That same year, Lucci also hosted Saturday Night Live.

In 1995, Lucci starred in the made-for-TV movie Ebbie, a modern-day version of Charles Dickens's classic, A Christmas Carol. Lucci filled the Scrooge role as a sour department store owner who receives a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. She received praise from many critics for her performance, and the movie has since become a holiday TV tradition.

In 1999, Lucci found the big lights of Broadway, taking the stage to star in a revival of Annie Get Your Gun. She took over the role where Broadway beauty, Bernadette Peters left off, and stayed with the stage production for one year.

In addition to acting, Lucci has also marketed various lucrative skin care and makeup products which are sold on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Lucci has also endorsed Ford motors, appearing in commercials for Ford dealerships in the New York City area.

Since 1969, Lucci has been married to Austrian restaurant owner, Helmut Huber. The couple have two children – their daughter, soap actress, Liza Huber; and son, Andreas Huber. Lucci will soon be taking on the new role of "grandmother" – her daughter has announced that she is pregnant with her first child, and is expected to give birth in late 2006/early 2007.

In 2005, Lucci’s contributions to television were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She remains a star staple on All My Children, as one of only two remaining original cast members.