Susan Ruttan

Susan Ruttan (Born Susan Diane Dunrud; September 16, 1948) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Roxanne Melman on ''L.A. Law'' (1986–1993), for which she was nominated four times for a Primetime Emmy Award.

Early years

A native of Oregon City, Oregon, Ruttan is an Oregon logger's daughter, born Susan Diane Dunrud on September 16, 1948,LeBaron, Gaye (September 3, 1987)
"Gaye LeBaron's Notebook: That's no victim; that's my wife"
'' The Press Democrat''. p. 2. Retrieved April 22, 2025. "Susan Ruttan lived in Santa Rosa until her husband died in a motorcycle accident ..She was Susan Dunrud when she came to Santa Rosa from Oregon in the late '60s to live with her family. Her mother, Helen Manis, is a retired Memorial Hospital employee who still lives in Santa Rosa. ..Susan is the widow of Mel Ruttan Jr., the Vietnam vet son of the late Santa Rosa insurance adjuster Mel Ruttan. They were living in Novato when Mel was killed in 1970 or '71.""Look Who Shares Your Birthday"
'' New York Sunday News Spotlight''. June 25, 1995. p. 20. Retrieved April 22, 2025. "Marie Osmond October 13, 1959. Gene Wilder June 11, 1935. Susan Ruttan September 16, 1948. Boomer Esiason April 17, 1961. Vanessa Williams May 18, 1963." Her mother worked for a hospital, and she has a brother, Her education included five years at a boarding school. She graduated from University of Oregon and University of California, Santa Cruz.

Career

Before Ruttan found success in acting she worked in casting at Universal Studios.

Ruttan played Roxanne Melman on ''L.A. Law'' from 1986 to 1993. She reprised the role in 2002 for a TV reunion, '' L.A. Law: The Movie''. She earned four nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in show.

Ruttan first attracted significant attention playing the scheming wife of George Jefferson's dry-cleaning archrival, Gil Cunningham, on ''The Jeffersons''. Other television appearances included episodes of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', '' AfterMash'', '' Bosom Buddies'', ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', '' Remington Steele'', '' Yes, Dear'', ''Newhart'' and ''Gilmore Girls''. ''Buffy'' creator Joss Whedon cast numerous show alumni in 2008's '' Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog'', including Ruttan who appeared briefly in a non-speaking role.

Ruttan had a small comedic role in the teen comedy feature film ''Bad Manners'' (aka: ''Growing Pains'') (1984), and the 1990 romantic comedy '' Funny About Love'' starring Gene Wilder. She played convicted killer Genene Jones in the television movie ''Deadly Medicine'' (1991). She has also appeared in an episode of ''Hannah Montana'' ( "Promma Mia"). Her most dramatic role to date was in the 2004 remake of '' Helter Skelter'', in which she played the mother of Linda Kasabian. In 2009, she appeared in the movie, '' Prayers for Bobby''.

Personal life

Ruttan was married to Mel Ruttan Jr. when she was 18 years old and widowed when she was 22.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruttan, Susan

1948 births
Living people
Actresses from Oregon
American film actresses
American television actresses
20th-century American actresses
21st-century American actresses
University of Oregon alumni
University of California, Santa Cruz alumni