Susan Merson
American actress (1950)
Susan Merson (April 25, 1950) is an American actress, producer, author and playwright, known for her roles as Lorraine in Grey's Anatomy, Tammy in The Watcher and Lucy in Life Goes On, and such films as Lost in Yonkers, Tootsie and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Merson has performed in the Broadway productions of Zefirelli’s Saturday Sunday Monday and Children of a Lesser God. She has founded and co-founded several production companies such as New Dramatists, Manhattan Theatre Club, Lion Theatre and the O'Neill Theatre Center.
01Life and career
Merson was born April 25, 1950 in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from Boston University. She co-founded the Off-Broadway Lion Theatre Company while working with stage director Garland Wright.
Merson originated the role of Maria in the Broadway production of Eduardo De Filippo's play Saturday Sunday Monday, which opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 21, 1974; directed by Franco Zeffirelli. In 1976, Merson created and starred in one of the longest running Off-Broadway musicals, Vanities, alongside Kathy Bates and Jane Galloway. It opened on March 22, 1976 at Playwrights Horizons and closed May 27, 1979, running for 1,313 performances.
As an acting teacher, Merson founded the Los Angeles and New York Writers Bloc; and taught playwriting for ten years at Cal State Fullerton. She is credited in saving the 13th Street Repertory Theatre by presenting plays and workshops featuring women writers and performers.
An an actor, Merson has starred in several television shows and films, including, Lost in Yonkers, Tootsie, Grey’s Anatomy, Life Goes On, and The Watcher.
02Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Last Night in the Life of Death | Macbeth |
| 2015 | Freeheld | Harriet |
| 2009 | ‘Me, You, a Bag & Bamboo | Chun Li’s Mother |
| 2005 | The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio | Mrs. Bidlack |
| 2004 | Young Artie Feldman | Artie’s Mom |
| 2003 | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | Roadhouse Clubgoer #1 |
| 1996 | Phenomenon | nurse |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Woman with Cancer |
| 1993 | Lost in Yonkers | Gert |
| 1982 | Tootsie | Page |
| 1980 | Times Square | Nurse May |
03Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Watcher | Tammy | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Scandal | Judge Thompson | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Grey’s Anatomy | Lorraine | 2 episode |
| 2008 | True Blood | Woman in Booth | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Monk | Mrs. Sheckman | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Surface | Gov’t Panel Suit #3 | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Brenda Aronson | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Without a Trace | Sheila | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Meltdown | Attorney General Zultrow | TV Movie |
| 2002 | Six Feet Under | Realtor | 1 episode |
| 2002 | The Practice | Mrs. Green | 1 episode |
| 2001 | NYPD Blue | Pam Del Porto | 1 episode |
| 2001 | A Family in Crisis: The Elian Gonzales Story | Janet Reno | TV Movie |
| 1999 | Frasier | Woman in Cafe | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Net Force | Senator Dondridge | TV Movie |
| 1998 | Party of Five | Airplane Woman | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Judge Stoller | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Profiler | Violet Preston | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Dangerous Minds | Norma Joelson | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Murder One | Caller (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Picket Fences | EMS Leader | 1 episode |
| 1995 | ER | Mrs. Blum | 1 episode |
| 1995 | The Watched | Rulenska | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Models Inc. | Dr. Alicia Bentson | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Reasonable Doubts | Rose Stepke | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | L.A. Law | Dr. Elise Neiman | 1 episodes |
| 1991 | Absolute Strangers | Dr. Natalie Kay | TV Movie |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Catherine Abbott | 1 episode |
| 1990 | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | Harriet Meyer | 1 episode |
| 1990 | Life Goes On | Lucy | 3 episodes |
| 1990 | Gabriel's Fire | Dr. Rayne | 1 episode |
| 1990 | The Operation | Bank VP | TV Movie |
| 1989 | Family Matters | Sylvia | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Thirtysomething | Admissions Nurse | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Resident | 1 episode |
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Dr. Gail Perry | 1 episode |
04Published works
- Mersont, Susan (March 3, 2021). When They Go and You Do Not: A Blog and Plays about Dying and Coming Back to Life. Merson. ASIN B08XYJM5RK.
- Mersont, Susan (March 3, 2021). Dreaming in Daylight. Merson. ASIN B08XYK7DBQ.
- Mersont, Susan (February 1, 2021). Oh Good Now This. Merson. ASIN B08RCXVNTX.
- Mersont, Susan (February 4, 2023). How We Saw the Moon. Merson. ASIN B0BTRKN7Y4.
Sources and credits
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