Susan Damante

refrence content Susan Damante grew up in the Bay Area, basically surrounded by fog and opportunity. Her parents, Vincent and Marjorie, sent her off to Woodside High and then Canada College, which is pretty classic for a California kid. She wasn’t just hanging out, though—she jumped into the Miss America Pageant scene and snagged first runner-up for Miss California. Not bad, right? She took that scholarship cash and dove into classical theater at The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, training with heavy-hitter William Ball. Carnegie-Mellon wanted her, but the price tag was brutal, so instead, she scored a featured part in The Candidate (1972) with none other than Robert Redford. That’s a pretty wild pivot. Hollywood called, and Susan didn’t waste time answering. She landed at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with Milton Katselas, which is kind of a rite of passage for any serious actor in town. Early on, she snagged roles on TV shows: Bender (1979), Amy Prentiss (1974), Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (1978), and The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)—yeah, she worked with some big names, even Don Johnson before he went full Miami Vice. Her real claim to fame? Starring in The Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1975) and sticking with it for two sequels. Later, she beat an illness doctors said was “incurable” (take that, fate) and stormed the New York stage, studying at the Atlantic Theater and starring at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Now, she’s pouring her wild life and brushes with death into a solo play. Life’s never been boring for Susan, that’s for sure.