Susan Diane Ruttan (; 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,LeBaron, Gaye (September 3, 1987). "Gaye LeBaron's Notebook: That's no victim; that's my wife". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa. 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.""Births, Marriages, Divorces, Deaths". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa. August 27, 1967. p. 10A. Retrieved April 22, 2025. "RUTTAN-DUNRUD—Vevlen [sic] Ruttan Jr., 22, and Susan Diane Dunrud, 18, both of Santa Rosa.""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 Year Title Role Notes1988Bad DreamsMiriam1990Funny About LoveClaire1998Krippendorf's TribeMrs. O'BrianLove KillsLela2004Lucy Trotter2008Half-LifeLorraine Parker2009Donna on DemandRoseDead AirMaggie2014LucyShort2015Come SimiJeannie2025The Addiction of HopeDr. Winter2026House CatMrs. MyersonShort
Television Year Title Role Notes1981Bosom BuddiesEsther Crane"What Price Glory?"Quincy, M.E.Helen"Sugar and Spice"1983Amanda'sSister Mary Elizabeth"Oh, Promise Me"Packin' It InMrs. EstepTV filmAfter GeorgeMargeTV shortAfterMASHDoris Gardena"September of '53/Together Again"1984Second Sight: A Love StoryRobinTV filmBuffalo BillKatherine Zawicki Shub"A Hero", "Have Yourself a Very Degrading Christmas"BensonRita"The Scandal"Remington SteeleMiss Livermore"Lofty Steele"Scorned and SwindledMargieTV filmNewhartSarah"Georgie's Girl"1985KicksRosemaryTV filmMrs. Cunningham"That Blasted Cunningham"Do You Remember LoveJulie MyersTV filmWhat's Happening Now!!Jane"A Horse Is Not a Home"Judge M. TysonTV filmNight CourtMrs. Blake"Wheels of Justice: Part 1"1986Under the InfluenceMs. MorganTV filmMrs. Livermore"Heavy Metal", "A Day in Mayfield"Herself5 episodes airing December 22, 1986 to December 26, 1986Herself5 episodes airing November 17, 1986 to November 21, 19861986–1993L.A. LawRoxanne MelmanMain role1987Bay CoveDebbi McGwinTV filmHerself5 episodes airing June 8, 1987 to June 12, 1987Herself10 episodes airing April 6, 1987 to April 10, 1987 and October 26, 1987 to October 30, 1987Herself5 episodes airing June 1, 1987 to June 5, 1987Super PasswordHerself5 episodes airing May 27-29 and June 1-2, 19871988Take My Daughters, PleaseCourtneyTV filmHerself20 episodes airing February 22 to February 26, 1988; June 13 to June 17, 1988; October 10 to October 14, 1988; and November 7 to November 11, 1988Herself5 episodes airing May 16, 1988 to May 20, 1988Herself5 episodes airing February 8, 1988 to February 12, 1988Super PasswordHerself5 episodes airing April 25 to April 29, 19881989Fire and RainSandra ThompsonTV filmHerself5 episodes airing May 8 to May 12, 19891990CBS Schoolbreak SpecialMs. Morales"Malcolm Takes a Shot"Judy HeckerTV filmSweet 15Mrs. ZavalaTV film1991Carol BlankenshipTV filmDeadly MedicineGenene JonesTV filmThe $100,000 PyramidHerselfEpisodes airing January 28, 1991 to February 1, 1991 and November 18, 1991 to November 22, 19911992–1996Jack ReedArlene ReedTV films1993Without Warning: Terror in the TowersAnne Marie TesorieroTV filmAnne"Much I Do About Nothing"1994Touched by an AngelJoanne Peters"Cassie's Choice"1995Sweet JusticeMarilyn Craig"Pledges"CourthouseStefanie Dale"Mitigating Circumstances"Family ValuesMelody HuckTV film1996–1997Chicago HopeLinda Fortin"Higher Powers", "Verdicts"1997Touched By EvilMadge JaynesTV film1997–1998Suddenly SusanNectarine Stites"It's My Nana and I'll Cry If I Want To", "Oh, How They Danced: Parts 1 "1 & 2"1998Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman StoryJanetTV filmDoris Werner"All Aboard"19993rd Rock from the SunCathy"Citizen Solomon"2000Gideon's CrossingDr. Grace Tarpon"The Lottery"Mrs. ClausTV filmPopularJoy Ferrara"Citizen Shame", "Ur-ine Trouble", "Are You There God? It's Me Ann-Margret"2001Judging AmyLyla Myles"Romeo and Juliet Must Die – Well, Maybe Just Juliet"Gilmore GirlsBed & Breakfast Wife"The Road Trip to Harvard"Any Day NowMarietta Pryor"Blinded by the White"Yes, DearAunt Betty"Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner"2002Buffy the Vampire SlayerDoris Kroeger"Gone"Maybe It's MeMrs. Finn"The Crazy-Girl Episode"L.A. Law: The MovieRoxanne MelmanTV filmMrs. Barnes"Home Grown"2004Mrs. Evans"Book of Memories"Helter SkelterMrs. KasabianTV filmCSI: NYMrs. Moreland"American Dreamers"2005Strong MedicineDr. Offenbach"Differentials"MonkMrs. Ledsky"Mr. Monk and Little Monk"Boston LegalJeanie Biddle"Truly, Madly, Deeply"2006Mrs. PlaceTV film2009Prayers for BobbyBetty LambertTV filmPrivate PracticeNora"Nothing to Fear"Ghost WhispererMrs. Blakelock"Thrilled to Death"CastleMrs. Pike"Ghosts"Hannah MontanaGrandma"Promma Mia"HawthorneDolores Kramer"Yielding"2009–2010Horsemama"Railroad Jane", "Patient John"2011Grey's AnatomyMrs. Swork"Disarm"2013Good Luck CharlieMrs. Dobbs"Futuredrama", "Weekend in Vegas"2015Battle CreekCarole"Heirlooms"I Didn't Do ItAda"The Bite Club"GrimmBetty Frame"Clear and Wesen Danger"2018American VandalPatricia McClainNetflix SeriesMomLucy3 episodes9-1-1"Dosed"2019Weird CityLinda Maxsome"The One"2020Bob Hearts AbisholaMrs. Clark"On a Dead Guy's Bench"2021ShamelessNurse Nun"Cancelled"2022The Good DoctorPatient "Hot and Bothered"2024A Man on the InsideGladys Montrose Recurring role
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