Susan Stewart Harrison (August 26, 1938 – March 5, 2019) was an American actress, most famous for her appearance in the 1957 film noir classic Sweet Smell of Success as the sister for whom Burt Lancaster has an unhealthy affection, and in The Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit".
Early life Harrison was a graduate of the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. She attended Boston University, studying under Peter Kass, who directed her in the role of Abigail in Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
Career Her professional debut was in the live television drama Can You Coffeepot on Skates?, presented in 1956. This was followed by television appearances on Matinee Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents and her cinematic debut in Sweet Smell of Success opposite Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. Harrison said in 2011 that Kass had introduced her to writer Clifford Odets which she believed factored into her casting as well as well ans all her training and added of shooting: "Everyone was always there. There were constant, daily around-the-table discussions, revisions, changes. Everyone was welcome to their input. It was the most democratic... and even I was invited and even asked what I thought... it was a good way to work. I'd never seen it done that way."Susan Harrison Eddie Muller 2011 interview
On October 19, 1957, she opened on Broadway at the Bijou Theater, playing "the Girl" in William Saroyan's new play The Cave Dwellers to uniformly good reviews.Atkinson, Brooks "A Sunny Tale" The New York Times, Monday, October 21, 1957Aston, Frank "Saroyan Eyes Little Lives" New York World-Telegraph and Sun, Monday, October 21, 1957Watts, Richard, Jr "William Saroyan Returns To Us" New York Post, Monday, October 21, 1957 The following year she was in the Playhouse 90 production of In Lonely Expectation, which brought her to the attention of Rod Serling and led to her role as the ballerina in the iconic Twilight Zone episode. She had several later television and stage roles, most notably in an episode of the television show Bonanza, "Dark Star" in the first season, episode 31 (1960). In 1960 she played Ruby, the female lead, in the little-seen film Key Witness with Jeffrey Hunter and Dennis Hopper.
Personal life She was the mother of Darva Conger, who starred in the reality television show Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? Harrison had two other children, D. H. Colin and Daniel Colin. She died in a nursing facility in North Hills, California, on March 5, 2019 at the age of 80.Susan Harrison, ‘Sweet Smell of Success’ Actress, Dies at 80
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1957 Sweet Smell of Success Susan Hunsecker 1960 Key Witness Ruby Television Year Title Role Notes1956Star Tonight Dorsey Mitchell Season 2 Episode 36: Can you Coffeepot on Skates?1956 Matinee Theater Episode 156: Fight the Whole World1959 Playhouse 90 P.J. Season 3 Episode 26: In Lonely Expectation by Mayo Simon1960 Bonanza Tirza Season 1 Episode 31: Dark Star1961 The Light That Failed Maisie TV film based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling1961 The Twilight Zone The Ballerina Season 3 Episode 14: Five Characters in Search of an Exit1961 Follow the Sun Linda Tait Season 1 Episode 9: The Hunters1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Susan Harper Season 6 Episode 31: "The Gloating Place"1963 Breaking Point Martha Season 1 Episode 12: Millions of Faces
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