Suzanne Rogers

Last updated
Suzanne Rogers
Suzanne Rogers 2014.jpg
Rogers in 2014
Born
Suzanne Crumpler
Alma mater Stella Adler Studio of Acting
OccupationActress
Years active1973–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1980;div. 1982)​

Suzanne Rogers (born Suzanne Crumpler) [1] is an American actress with film and television credits. Her stage name was inspired by Ginger Rogers, whom she cites as a personal inspiration for joining the entertainment industry. Rogers got her start as a dancer/performer at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, but she is best known for playing Maggie Horton, a role she originated and has played since 1973 on the NBC/Peacock soap opera Days of Our Lives . She is currently noted as the longest serving actress still appearing actively on an American soap opera. In August 2023 Days of Our Lives aired Rogers 50th anniversary show celebrating the milestone.

Contents

Early years

Suzanne Rogers was born Suzanne Crumpler. [1] While growing up in Colonial Heights, Virginia, she took an interest in dancing. She expressed interest in it at the age of two and started taking dancing lessons during her childhood. [1] [2]

Career

At the age of 17, Rogers left her hometown and decided to pursue a dancing career. She moved to New York City and became one of the dancers at the Radio City Music Hall. [1] [2] Along with becoming a Rockette, Rogers performed in several Broadway musicals including Coco, Hallelujah Baby and Follies , distinctly heard on the original cast album and mentioned in the book Everything Was Possible which covered the creation and history of the hit Broadway show. [1] After spending 10 years in New York City, the actress wanted to try out an acting dream and moved to California in January 1973. [1]

She attended acting classes in California with Stella Adler at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Soon after, she landed the role of Maggie Horton on NBC's Days of Our Lives. [2] Maggie was introduced as a guest character in August 1973, by scriptwriter William J. Bell and executive producer Betty Corday. [3] From the beginning, Bell considered the role ideal for her. He approached Rogers about taking the role of Maggie, and she agreed. [4] She was immediately described by critics who gave reviews of the show as being one of the most energetic girls on daytime television. The news of Rogers being cast as Maggie was a different move, taking an actress who loves to dance, to a character of a crippled farm girl. This was her first television assignment, after being the youngest girl to take the stage at Radio City Music Hall. [4]

In 1984, Rogers was diagnosed with the rare muscle disorder myasthenia gravis. [5] This disease affected her facial muscles, and the medicine the doctors put her on made her feel ill, and her face appeared swollen while also suffering hair loss. [6] She temporarily left the show after 11 years when the effects of the disease became increasingly worse. [7]

Her entire appearance changed, and she did not return to Days of Our Lives for a year. Rogers returned to the serial when her health became better. Rogers, wanting to educate viewers about the disease, encouraged executive producer Betty Corday to have her character be diagnosed with the disease. Corday agreed, and a storyline played out with Maggie learning she has myasthenia gravis. The actress went into remission in 1995, and has remained in remission since. In 2010, after her character's husband is killed off, Maggie began to notice some effects she experienced when diagnosed with the disease in 1984. [8]

In 2003, a major series of serial killings occurred on the show. Maggie was "killed off" in a "whodunnit?" murder storyline involving a serial killer. [9] Maggie's murder forced Rogers to depart from the series, although she made occasional appearances as Maggie's "spirit", appearing with all of the other victims when the apparent culprit, Marlena Evans, attacked Alice. To help with falling ratings at the time, current head writer James E. Reilly decided to bring all the characters back from the dead. They all turned up in the fictional town of Melaswen, or New Salem spelled backwards. [10] [11] This storyline sparked major controversy, and proved to be a daring move. [12]

Since the death of original cast member Frances Reid (Alice Horton) in 2010, Rogers has been the longest-running actress to appear continuously on Days of Our Lives as the new Horton family matriarch. [13] [14]

Personal life

Rogers married Sam Groom in 1980. They divorced in 1982. [15]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall StoryHerself and Maggie Horton Television film
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1973–present Days of Our Lives Maggie Horton 3000+ episodes
1977 Quincy, M.E. Elaine FarrellEpisode: "The Two Sides of Truth"
1980 Little House on the Prairie Molly ReardonEpisode: "Second Spring"
1985 Knight Rider Lydia ArkettEpisode: "The Wrong Crowd"

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryTitleResultRef.
1979
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Won

Related Research Articles

James E. Reilly was an American soap opera writer. He was the head writer of NBC's Days of Our Lives and creator/head writer of Passions. Reilly won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing as co-head writer for Guiding Light in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deidre Hall</span> American actress (born 1947)

Deidre Hall is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Marlena Evans on the NBC/Peacock daytime drama Days of Our Lives, who she has played for over 45 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Reid</span> American actress (1914–2010)

Frances Reid was an American dramatic actress. Reid acted on television for nearly all of the second half of the 20th century. Her career continued into the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Sweeney</span> American actress (born 1976)

Alison Ann Sweeney is an American actress, reality show host, director and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a role she played under contract with the show from January 6, 1993 to October 30, 2014. In this role, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, four Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Fan Voted Daytime Emmy Award. After making sporadic appearances since then, she returned as a series regular in 2021. In 2007, she became the host of The Biggest Loser in its fourth season, and left the series at the end of the 16th season in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Horton</span> Soap opera character

Sarah Horton is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by Pat Falken Smith, and introduced by Betty Corday and Al Rabin, Sarah is the daughter of Neil Curtis and Maggie Horton. In 2018, under head writer Ron Carlivati, the character was reintroduced with actress Linsey Godfrey in the role. Godfrey's performance in the role garnered her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. In March 2021, Godfrey departed the role, but returned in January 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Horton</span> Character on the soap opera Days of our Lives

Mickey Horton is a fictional character from the soap opera Days of Our Lives, played from the show's debut episode in 1965 until January 2004 by John Clarke, spanning 3,500 episodes. The role was briefly played in 2004 by Richard Voigts, then by John Ingle from 2004 through 2006. Kevin Dobson appeared as Mickey in the character's final appearances between April and October 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Horton</span> Soap opera character

Alice Horton is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, portrayed by Frances Reid from the show's debut on November 8, 1965, until December 26, 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maggie Horton</span> Fictional character from the television show Days of Our Lives

Maggie Horton Kiriakis is a fictional character from the American Peacock/NBC network soap opera Days of Our Lives played by Suzanne Rogers since 1973, the longest running role on the show, and one of the longest running in American soap operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abigail Deveraux</span> Fictional character

Abigail Deveraux is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Abigail was created by scriptwriter Sheri Anderson and executive producer Ken Corday. Abigail's storylines often focus on young love and budding romances. She is a member of the high class, core family, the Hortons. She is also the daughter of popular super couple Jack Deveraux and Jennifer Horton. Abigail was often titularized as the show's younger leading heroine when the character was portrayed by Ashley Benson, and is known for her popular fan pairing with Max Brady, which spanned from 2005 to 2007, when her character left for the United Kingdom to be with her parents. The character returned to the series in March 2011, then portrayed by Kate Mansi, but departed in June 2016. Marci Miller stepped into the role from November 2016 to November 2018. Following Miller's exit, Mansi returned to the role from November 2018 to February 2019. Mansi then appeared as Abigail that August in the spin-off, Chad and Abby in Paris, and then on the main show from November 2019 to May 2020. In September 2020, Miller returned to the role, until Abigail was killed off in July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Olson Williams</span> Soap opera character

Julie Olson Williams is a fictional character and member of the Horton family on the NBC daytime drama, Days of Our Lives, a long running serial about working class life in the fictional town of Salem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Brady</span> Fictional character from Days of Our Lives

Carrie Brady Reed is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a long-running serial set in the fictional town of Salem, Illinois. Created by head writer Margaret DePriest, the role of Carrie has been most notably portrayed by Christie Clark, who took over the role in 1986 as a teenager. Clark remained with the series from April 1986 to January 1991 and from December 1992 to November 1999. She returned in 2005, leaving in October 2006, and returned in September 2011 as part of a reboot of the series. Her character left the show the following July, and in September 2016, it was announced that Clark would return as Carrie in 2017. Carrie, a lawyer, also returned for several weeks in early 2018 when her mother, Anna, was accused of the murder of Andre DiMera. She returned in June 2019 for the funeral of Caroline Brady. In 2021, Carrie appeared in the spinoff series Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Horton</span> Fictional character

Jennifer Horton is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network, currently played by actress Cady McClain. Jennifer was created by scriptwriter Pat Falken Smith, and executive producer Betty Corday. Melissa Reeves played the role of Jennifer on and off for over 35 years, premiering on October 9, 1985. The role has also been portrayed by Maren Stephenson, Jennifer Peterson, Stephanie Cameron, and Marci Miller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Horton</span> Soap opera character

Laura Horton is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional, United States town of Salem. Created by writer Peggy Phillips, Laura's storylines focus on family troubles. She is a member of the series' Horton family. Laura's marriage to Mickey Horton was a big part of the characters' history. She was also married to his brother, Bill. Many of Laura's storylines have also revolved around her mental health issues. Laura was initially portrayed by Floy Dean from June to October 1966, before Susan Flannery stepped in, portraying Laura from November 1966 to May 1975. Susan Oliver then portrayed Laura from October 1975 to June 1976, followed by Rosemary Forsyth from August 1976 to March 1980. The character then took a hiatus until 1993, when the role was recast with Jaime Lyn Bauer, who played Laura from November 1993 to July 1999. Bauer returned as Laura for brief stints in 2003, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2021. Cady McClain also briefly portrayed the role in flashbacks in February 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Brady</span> Soap opera character

Caroline Brady is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional United States town of Salem. Matriarch of the series' Brady family, the character has been continually featured since her debut. Created by writer Margaret DePriest, the role was originated by actress Peggy McCay on February 7, 1983. Jody Carter stepped into the role briefly in 1984, followed by Barbara Beckley from 1984 to 1985. McCay returned to portray Caroline from July 17, 1985, to December 5, 2003, when the character was seemingly murdered by a serial killer. McCay returned in 2004 when Caroline was found alive. She played Caroline for another 12 years; last appearing in August 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlena Evans</span> Fictional character from Days of Our Lives

Marlena Evans is a fictional character on the NBC/Peacock soap opera Days of Our Lives, a long-running serial about working life in the fictional town of Salem. She has been played by actress Deidre Hall since 1976, but the character was absent from the show from 1987 to August 1991 and again from January 2009 to September 2011. Marlena was created by scriptwriter Pat Falken Smith and executive producer Betty Corday, and has become one of Days of our Lives' most well-known characters. Hall made her debut on the soap on June 21, 1976, currently making her the second longest running actress on the serial, surpassed only by Suzanne Rogers.

Taylor Walker (<i>Days of Our Lives</i>) Soap opera character

Taylor Walker is a fictional character from the American NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives, a long-running series about working-class life in the fictional town of Salem. She was introduced in 1998 by head writer Sally Sussman Morina, and executive producer Ken Corday by actress Katherine Ellis. The character was reintroduced in 2011, by former General Hospital actresses Natalia Livingston and Tamara Braun, the latter of whom also portrayed the character of Ava Vitali on the same show. Taylor's last appearance was on September 22, 2011.

<i>Days of Our Lives</i> American daytime soap opera (1965–present)

Days of Our Lives is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television network NBC from 1965 to 2022, is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965. A co-production of Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television, the series was created by husband-and-wife team Ted Corday and Betty Corday. During Days of Our Lives' early years, Irna Phillips served as a story editor for the program and many of the show's earliest storylines were written by William J. Bell, who would depart the series in 1975 to focus full-time on The Young and the Restless, which he created for CBS in 1973. Following the 2007 cancellation of Passions, Days of Our Lives remained the only soap opera airing on NBC. On August 3, 2022, NBCUniversal announced that it would relocate the series exclusively to its Peacock streaming service beginning September 12 after 57 years on the network and leaving NBC as the only Big Three network without a daytime serial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theresa Donovan</span> Soap opera character

Theresa Donovan is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Introduced in September 1990, she was portrayed by several child actors until the character left the series in 1992, with further guest appearances in both 1996 and 1997. The character was reintroduced to the series in July 2013, under the portrayal of actress Jen Lilley, best known for her portrayal of Maxie Jones on General Hospital, and departed in November 2016. Lilley reprised the role in May 2018 for a three-month stint, departing again in July. Lilley briefly returned to the role in September 2023, with Emily O'Brien assuming the role in the following month.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Suzanne Rogers Biography". Soap Opera Digest . July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Days of our Lives- Bios- Suzanne Rogers". NBC . July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Suzanne Rogers Biography- Days of our Lives". Soap Opera Digest . 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  4. 1 2 "Suzanne Rogers biography" . Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  5. ↑ "Myasthenia Gravis Disease | Learn all About the Allergy and Immune System Disorders that Affect the Human Body | Read Insightful Articles to Learn More About Common Diseases & Conditions". Allergy-and-immune-system-disorders.info. Retrieved 2010-06-12.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "The Suzanne Rogers Interview, Part Three". We Love Soaps . 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  7. ↑ Jacobs, Damon L. (2009-10-16). "The Suzanne Rogers Interview, Part Two". We Love Soaps. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  8. ↑ "The Suds Report". Tvguide.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  9. ↑ "Days of Our Lives - Salem Stalker Murders - Soap Opera Digest and Weekly". Soapoperadigest.com. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  10. ↑ "Days of our Lives". Sonypictures.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  11. ↑ "TV Tidbits Shows We Love: Days of Our Lives". Sitcomboy.com. 1965-11-08. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  12. ↑ "Deidre Hall Storylines as Marlena Evans". Sn.soapnet.go.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  13. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (February 4, 2010). "Frances Reid, Days of our Lives matriarch, dies at 95". Entertainment Weekly . EW.com. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  14. ↑ Donaldson-Evans, Catherine (February 4, 2010). "Days of Our Lives Matriarch Dies at 95". People . Archived from the original on February 7, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Suzanne Rogers Archives". soapoperadigest.com. Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  16. ↑ Scheuer, Steven H. (June 1, 1979). "Daytime Emmy show". Boca Raton News . Retrieved May 18, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.