Susan Clark (born Nora Golding; March 8, 1943) is a Canadian actress and producer renowned for her versatile performances in film, television, and stage, particularly her Emmy-winning portrayal of athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1975 television film Babe and her role as Katherine Papadopolis in the sitcom Webster (1983–1989).^[1] Born in Sarnia, Ontario, Clark began her acting career as a child, joining the Toronto Children's Players Theatre at age 12 and making her professional debut at 15 in a production of Silk Stockings. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and gained early recognition through appearances on CBC Television's Festival series, including adaptations of Heloise & Abelard. Discovered by Universal Studios, she signed a 10-year contract and debuted in Hollywood with the 1967 film Banning, followed by notable supporting roles in films such as Madigan (1968), Coogan's Bluff (1968), [Airport 1975](/page/Airport 1975) (1974), and Night Moves (1975). Her television career flourished in the 1970s with biographical roles that showcased her dramatic range, earning her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special for Babe and a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Amelia Earhart (1976).^[2] In the 1980s, Clark transitioned to producing alongside her acting, co-founding Georgian Bay Productions with her husband, actor Alex Karras, whom she met and married after co-starring in Babe. The company produced over 150 episodes of Webster, where she played the adoptive mother of the titular child character, blending comedy with themes of family. Returning to Canadian projects later in her career, she starred in stage productions like Hedda Gabler (1978), the television film Butterbox Babies (1987, earning a Gemini nomination), and the series Emily of New Moon (1996–1997). She retired from acting in the early 2000s, with her last notable stage roles in The Retreat from Moscow (2006) and The Importance of Being Earnest (2007); as of 2025, she resides in Los Angeles and was last seen in public in August 2025. Beyond entertainment, Clark has been active in advocacy, co-founding Americans for a Safe Future and working on nuclear safety issues with the Committee to Bridge the Gap, for which she received awards including the B’nai Brith Women Dove of Peace and the UN Ralph Bunche Peace Award.^[3][4][5]

Early life and education

Childhood and family

Susan Clark was born Nora Golding on March 8, 1943, in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.^[1] She was the daughter of George Raymond Golding and Eleanor Almond McNaughton, both of English descent.^[1] Her family spent her early years in Sarnia before relocating to Toronto when she was around 12 years old, where she was primarily raised.^[1] In Toronto, Clark's childhood included initial exposure to the performing arts through involvement in local community theater activities, notably joining the Toronto Children's Players Theatre shortly after the move.^[1] This early participation marked the beginning of her interest in acting, fostering her skills in a supportive youth environment.^[6] During her teenage years, she adopted the professional stage name Susan Clark, which she has used throughout her career.^[1]

Acting training

At the age of 12, Susan Clark joined the Toronto Children's Players Theatre, where she began developing her foundational skills through early involvement in stage productions and performances.^[7] This youthful ensemble provided her initial exposure to acting, fostering her passion amid supportive family encouragement for her artistic interests. She achieved her professional debut at 15 in the musical Silk Stockings, starring Don Ameche in a summer theatre production.^[7] This milestone marked her transition from amateur to paid work, honing her stage presence and musical theater abilities. In the early 1960s, Clark traveled to London to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), a prestigious institution renowned for its rigorous actor training program.^[7]

Career

Film career

Susan Clark made her feature film debut in 1967 with the Universal drama Banning, directed by Ron Winston, where she played the second female lead opposite Robert Wagner and Jill St. John, marking her entry into Hollywood as a promising dramatic actress.^[8] This role showcased her ability to handle emotional depth in a story centered on personal and professional conflicts at a country club. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Clark secured key supporting and leading roles in several notable films, often portraying intelligent, resilient women. In Don Siegel's Coogan's Bluff (1968), she portrayed Julie Roth, a probation officer entangled in a cat-and-mouse chase with Clint Eastwood's titular New York cop, earning praise for her poised performance amid the film's urban grit.^[9] She followed this with a central role as Dr. Cleo Markham, a brilliant scientist drawn into a battle against a rogue supercomputer, in Joseph Sargent's sci-fi thriller Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), where her character's vulnerability and determination anchored the film's tense exploration of artificial intelligence.^[10] Other significant appearances included Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969), directed by Abraham Polonsky, in which she brought humanity to her role as the love interest in a Western manhunt alongside Robert Redford and Robert Blake, with critics noting her emotional authenticity.^[11] Additional notable films from this period include Valdez Is Coming (1971) opposite Burt Lancaster, Showdown (1973) with Dean Martin, and Murder by Decree (1979) as Mary Kelly in a Sherlock Holmes thriller. Her work in these Universal productions highlighted her transition from ingénue parts to more layered characters.^[7] In the mid-1970s, Clark ventured into diverse genres, including disaster and neo-noir. She played Helen Patroni, the wife of a key executive, in the ensemble blockbuster Airport 1975 (1974), contributing to the film's high-stakes airborne drama with co-stars Charlton Heston and Karen Black. That same year, in Arthur Penn's Night Moves (1975), she delivered a complex portrayal of Paula, the enigmatic wife of detective Harry Moseby (Gene Hackman), in a film lauded for its psychological depth and moral ambiguity, though commercial success was modest. Her performance in Night Moves exemplified her growing range in dramatic roles.^[12] Clark's later film work shifted toward comedy and character-driven stories, culminating in her role as the sassy Cherry Forever in Bob Clark's hit sex comedy Porky's (1981), opposite her husband Alex Karras, which became a box-office success and showcased her comedic timing.^[13] Over her cinematic career from 1967 to 1981, she appeared in more than a dozen feature films, evolving into a versatile character actress known for her dramatic intensity.^[7] This was recognized with a 1971 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in Skin Game (1971), opposite James Garner, where she played a con artist's companion in a tale of racial deception.^[14] Critics often commended her elegant presence and shaded portrayals, as in her cameo in Madigan (1968), described as beautifully nuanced.^[15]

Television career

Clark began her television career in the early 1960s with guest appearances on American series such as The Virginian and Run for Your Life, following initial exposure in Canadian productions like CBC-TV's Festival. These early roles helped build her profile, leading to a long-term contract with Universal Studios in 1967 and steady work in episodic television throughout the decade.^[3] Her breakthrough in television came with made-for-TV movies, notably Babe (1975), where she portrayed pioneering athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias in a biographical drama about the golfer's life and battle with cancer.^[16] Clark's performance earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, highlighting her ability to embody resilient historical figures.^[3] This role marked a pivotal moment, solidifying her reputation in biographical programming and contributing significantly to her fame on the small screen.^[16] In 1976, Clark starred as aviator Amelia Earhart in the two-part NBC miniseries Amelia Earhart, depicting the pilot's groundbreaking flights and mysterious disappearance.^[17] The production received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Limited Series, and Clark's portrayal was praised for its depth, earning her another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series.^[3] This role further showcased her versatility in historical dramas, emphasizing themes of independence and adventure. Clark's most enduring television series role was as Katherine Papadopolis in the sitcom Webster (1983–1989), where she co-starred with her husband Alex Karras as the adoptive parents of the titular orphan boy, played by Emmanuel Lewis. The show ran for six seasons across ABC and syndication, amassing 150 episodes, and Clark also served as a co-producer through their company Georgian Bay Productions.^[3] This long-running series blended family comedy with social themes of adoption, cementing her status as a television staple during the 1980s. Later in her career, Clark appeared as the stern Aunt Elizabeth Murray in the Canadian series Emily of New Moon (1998–2000), based on L.M. Montgomery's novels, contributing to 44 episodes that explored the orphaned protagonist's coming-of-age.^[18] Over her career, she amassed numerous television credits, spanning guest spots, miniseries, TV movies, and series across dramas, comedies, and biographies.^[19] These roles, particularly her Emmy-winning work in Babe and biographical portrayals, enhanced her legacy as an actress adept at bringing complex women to life, influencing her casting in subsequent projects and broadening her audience reach.^[3]

Stage and other work

Following her training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, Clark made her professional stage debut at age 15 in a summer theatre production of the musical Silk Stockings, starring Don Ameche.^[3] She gained further experience in repertory theatre before her West End debut in 1964 as part of the cast in Jean Anouilh's Poor Bitos at the Duke of York Theatre, opposite Donald Pleasence.^[20][3] In the 1970s and 1980s, Clark took on notable roles in American theatre, appearing in Sherlock Holmes at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts and Getting Out at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.^[21] These performances highlighted her versatility in classical and contemporary drama, though her increasing screen commitments limited her stage appearances during this period. Clark returned to the stage after a hiatus focused on television, performing in regional productions in the mid-2000s. In 2006, she starred in William Nicholson's The Retreat from Moscow at the Manitoba Theatre Centre's Warehouse in Winnipeg.^[3] The following year, she appeared in the Mainstage production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at the same venue.^[3] Beyond acting, Clark ventured into production, co-founding Georgian Bay Productions in 1980 with her husband Alex Karras.^[3] The company produced several television movies, including Jimmy B. and Andre (1980), Word of Honor (1981), and Maid in America (1982).^[3] She also co-produced all 150 episodes of the sitcom Webster (1983–1989) in partnership with Paramount Television.^[3][22]

Personal life

Marriages

Susan Clark's first marriage was to Robert L. "Bob" Joseph, a writer and producer at Universal Studios, whom she met during her early career while both were working on projects there.^[23] They wed on December 12, 1970, in a private ceremony, but the union ended in divorce on November 15, 1973, after three years together.^[24] Clark's second marriage began with an on-set romance during the production of the 1975 television film Babe, in which she portrayed golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias and her co-star Alex Karras played her husband, George Zaharias.^[25] The couple, bridging worlds of acting and professional football, married on May 21, 1980, and shared a partnership that lasted 32 years until Karras's death from kidney failure on October 10, 2012.^[1] Their relationship evolved from professional collaboration to a deep personal bond, marked by mutual support in Hollywood. Professionally, Clark and Karras frequently overlapped, co-starring again in the sitcom Webster (1983–1989), where they portrayed an interracial couple adopting a child, drawing on their real-life dynamic to enhance authenticity.^[3] They also founded Georgian Bay Productions in the early 1980s, with Clark serving as creative consultant and Karras handling negotiations, which influenced her career by enabling joint ventures like Webster and allowing her to balance acting with production roles.^[26] The Karras-Clark union garnered media attention as a quintessential Hollywood power couple, blending entertainment and sports legacies, with outlets often highlighting their seamless on- and off-screen chemistry as a model of enduring partnership in the industry.^[25]

Family

Susan Clark and her husband, Alex Karras, welcomed their only child together, daughter Katie Karras, in 1980. Karras had five children from a previous marriage, whom the couple often hosted at their hilltop residence in Los Angeles.^[27][1][28] The family made their home in a hilltop residence in Los Angeles, where Clark raised Katie amid the demands of Hollywood schedules. During the production of the sitcom Webster (1983–1989), in which Clark starred as Katherine Papadopolis alongside Karras as her on-screen husband George, the couple navigated long 12-hour workdays while parenting their three-year-old daughter at the time. They balanced these commitments through their shared production company, Georgian Bay Productions, which allowed for collaborative decision-making, and by incorporating occasional personal breaks—such as Karras fishing in Mexico or Clark traveling to New York—to sustain family harmony.^[28]

Later years

Retirement

Following a period of reduced on-screen work after portraying Aunt Elizabeth in the Canadian television series Emily of New Moon from 1996 to 1997, Susan Clark shifted her focus primarily to theater in the mid-2000s.^[3] Her final professional acting engagements came at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, where she starred in the Warehouse production of The Retreat from Moscow in 2006 and the Mainstage production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest in 2007.^[3][29] These stage appearances concluded a career spanning more than four decades, after which Clark largely withdrew from public performing roles, embracing a more private life.^[3]

Recent activities

Following the death of her husband, Alex Karras, from kidney failure on October 10, 2012, at the age of 77, Susan Clark provided steadfast support to her family during his prolonged illness, which had been exacerbated by complications from his football career.^[30][31] Clark remained by his side until the end, surrounded by loved ones in their Los Angeles home, and later reflected publicly on how the physical toll of his NFL days contributed to his decline.^[32][33] In the years after 2012, Clark has maintained a notably private existence in Los Angeles, prioritizing time with her daughter, Katie, born in 1980, amid a deliberate withdrawal from public view.^[34][2] This low-profile lifestyle has centered on family bonds and personal well-being, with Clark rarely engaging in media or professional endeavors.^[35] Clark's reclusive yet resilient demeanor was evident in a rare public sighting on August 4, 2025, when the 82-year-old was photographed walking her small tan dog in Los Angeles, appearing relaxed and healthy in casual attire including green trousers and a beige zip-up jacket.^[36][5] Media coverage highlighted the outing as a glimpse into her contented, understated routine, underscoring her preference for solitude over spotlight.^[37] No new interviews or professional projects have emerged from Clark in 2024 or 2025, though occasional media mentions have noted her enduring legacy in television and film without prompting further personal commentary.^[34]

Filmography

Film

• 1967: Banning, as Cynthia Linus (supporting role), directed by Ron Winston, co-starring Robert Wagner and Jill St. John.^[8]
• 1968: Madigan, as Tricia Bentley (supporting role), directed by Don Siegel, co-starring Richard Widmark and Inger Stevens.^[38]
• 1968: Coogan's Bluff, as Julie Roth (leading role), directed by Don Siegel, co-starring Clint Eastwood and Lee J. Cobb.^[9]
• 1969: Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, as Liz Arnold (supporting role), directed by Abraham Polonsky, co-starring Robert Redford and Katharine Ross.
• 1970: Colossus: The Forbin Project, as Dr. Cleo Markham (leading role), directed by Joseph Sargent, co-starring Eric Braeden and Gordon Pinsent.
• 1970: Skullduggery, as Dr. Sybil Greame (leading role), directed by Gordon Douglas, co-starring Burt Reynolds and Chips Rafferty.^[39]
• 1971: Valdez Is Coming, as Gay Erin (leading role), directed by Edwin Sherin, co-starring Burt Lancaster and Jon Cypher.
• 1971: Skin Game, as Ginger (leading role), directed by Paul Bogart, co-starring James Garner and Louis Gossett Jr..
• 1973: Showdown, as Kate Jarvis (supporting role), directed by George Seaton, co-starring Dean Martin and Rock Hudson.^[40]
• 1974: The Midnight Man, as Linda Thorpe (supporting role), directed by Burt Lancaster and Roland Kibbee, co-starring Burt Lancaster and Cameron Mitchell.^[41]
• 1974: Airport 1975, as Helen Patroni (supporting role), directed by Jack Smight, co-starring Charlton Heston and Karen Black.
• 1975: Night Moves, as Ellen Moseley (leading role), directed by Arthur Penn, co-starring Gene Hackman and Jennifer Warren.
• 1976: The Apple Dumpling Gang, as Magnolia Dusty Clydesdale (supporting role), directed by Norman Tokar, co-starring Bill Bixby and Don Knotts.
• 1979: City on Fire, as Diana Brockhurst-Lautrec (supporting role), directed by Alvin Rakoff, co-starring Barry Newman and Shelley Winters.^[42]
• 1979: Murder by Decree, as Mary Kelly (supporting role), directed by Bob Clark, co-starring Christopher Plummer and James Mason.
• 1979: Promises in the Dark, as Dr. Sandra Gilson (leading role), directed by Jerome Hellman, co-starring Marsha Mason and Kathleen Beller.
• 1979: The North Avenue Irregulars, as Anne (leading role), directed by Bruce Bilson, co-starring Edward Herrmann and Barbara Harris.
• 1979: Real Life, as Nurse Morgan (cameo role), directed by Albert Brooks, co-starring Albert Brooks and Charles Grodin.
• 1980: Double Negative, as Paula (leading role), directed by George Bloomfield, co-starring Michael Sarrazin and Anthony Perkins.^[43]
• 1981: Nobody's Perfekt, as Carol (supporting role), directed by Peter Bonerz, co-starring Gabe Kaplan and Alex Karras.^[44]
• 1981: Porky's, as Cherry Forever (supporting role), directed by Bob Clark, co-starring Dan Monahan and Mark Herrier.^[13]

Television

Susan Clark began her television career in the early 1960s with guest roles on British series while based in London, before moving to prominent American TV movies and series roles starting in the late 1960s.^[2] Her work spanned guest spots, biographical dramas, and regular series appearances, often portraying strong, complex women.^[3]

• 1963: The Plane Makers – Janet, guest appearance in 1 episode ("A Good Night's Work"), TV series.
• 1965: The Benny Hill Show – Various roles, guest appearance in 1 episode, TV series.
• 1966: Fame Is the Name of the Game – Toby Damon, TV movie (pilot for Mannix).
• 1968: Bonanza – Ada Halle, guest appearance in 1 episode ("The Price of Salt"), TV series.
• 1968: Something for a Lonely Man – Alice Fowler, TV movie.
• 1970: The Challengers – Catherine "Cat" Burroughs, TV movie.
• 1971: Columbo – Beth Chadwick, guest appearance in 1 episode ("Lady in Waiting"), TV series.^[45]
• 1971: The Bold Ones: The Lawyers – Ellen McKay, guest appearance in 1 episode ("In Defense of Ellen McKay"), TV series.
• 1972: The Astronaut – Gail Martin, TV movie.
• 1975: Babe – Babe Didrikson Zaharias, TV miniseries.^[46]
• 1976: Amelia Earhart – Amelia Earhart, TV movie.^[47]
• 1979: Backstairs at the White House – Ellen Axson Wilson, TV miniseries.
• 1980: Jimmy B. & André – Stevie, TV movie (also producer).^[48]
• 1981: The Choice – Kay Clements, TV movie.
• 1981: Word of Honor – Paula Reed, TV movie (also producer).
• 1982: Maid in America – Catherine Abel, TV movie (also producer).^[49]
• 1983–1989: Webster – Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis, series regular, 150 episodes, TV series.^[50]
• 1991: Murder, She Wrote – Meredith Hellman, guest appearance in 1 episode ("Moving Violation"), TV series.
• 1994: Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story – Muriel Mulligan, TV movie.^[51]
• 1994: Tonya & Nancy: The Inside Story – LaVona Harding, TV movie.^[52]
• 1995: Butterbox Babies – Lila Young, TV movie.
• 1996: Toe Tags – Trent's Mother, TV movie.^[53]
• 1998–2000: Emily of New Moon – Aunt Elizabeth Murray, series regular, 44 episodes, TV series.^[54]

Awards and nominations

Emmy Awards

Susan Clark earned the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program—Drama or Comedy at the 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on May 17, 1976, for her role as multi-sport athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1975 CBS television movie Babe.^[55] Her portrayal depicted Zaharias as a trailblazing Olympic gold medalist in track and field who transitioned to professional golf, overcoming gender barriers and personal health struggles, including colon cancer. To authentically embody the athletic character, Clark, who had no prior golf experience, underwent intensive physical training, including lessons with professional golfer Mickey Sholdar to master swings and stances essential to Zaharias's later career.^[56][57] The ceremony, hosted by John Denver and Mary Tyler Moore at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated excellence in 1975-1976 television programming, with Clark's win recognizing her transformative performance amid competition from nominees like Jane Alexander for Eleanor and Franklin and Susan Sarandon for The Haunting of Rosalind.^[58] In accepting the award, Clark emphasized the role's inspirational value in highlighting women's resilience in sports, a theme that resonated during an era of growing female empowerment in media. This victory propelled her career forward, establishing her as a go-to actress for biographical dramas and facilitating her collaboration with co-star Alex Karras, whom she met on the Babe set and later married. The subsequent year, Clark received a nomination in the same category at the 29th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on September 11, 1977, for her lead performance as pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart in the 1976 NBC television movie Amelia Earhart.^[59] The film aimed for biographical fidelity by chronicling Earhart's life from her Kansas farm upbringing and World War I nursing service through her record-breaking flights, marriage to publisher George Putnam, and mysterious 1937 disappearance over the Pacific, distinguishing it from later, more fragmented depictions.^[60] Clark competed against formidable peers, including winner Colleen Dewhurst for A Moon for the Misbegotten, Patty Duke for The Miracle Worker, and Bette Davis for Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter. Though she did not win, the recognition reinforced her expertise in historical roles, enhancing her television prominence and paving the way for long-running series like Webster.

Other honors

In addition to her Emmy recognitions, Clark received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy in 1985 for her role as Katherine Calder-Young Papadapolis in the sitcom Webster.^[61] Clark earned a nomination at the 1996 Gemini Awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for her portrayal of Lila Young in the television film Butterbox Babies.^[7][14] Beyond performance awards, Clark has been honored for her broader contributions as an activist and advocate. She received the Women For Achievement Award, the B'nai Brith Women Dove of Peace Award, and the National Women's Political Caucus Bread and Roses Award for her work in women's rights and social justice.^[7] Additionally, she was presented with the United Nations Ralph Bunche Peace Award, and honored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Central American Resource Centre for her efforts in promoting peace and humanitarian causes.^[7]