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Actor

1948-09-16 · Oregon City, Oregon, USA · Female

36 series in the catalog

Susan Diane Ruttan (née Dunrud; born 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, twice for a Golden Globe Award, and four times for a Viewers for Quality Television Award, winning once in 1989.

Early years

A native of Oregon City, Oregon, Ruttan is an Oregon logger's daughter, born Susan Diane Dunrud on September 16, 1948, 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.