Susan Lucci has been iconic for her entire life. The legendary soap actress turns 79 on Tuesday, December 23 and proves that she is as energized by life now as she was in 1970 when she first stepped foot on the set of All My Children.
Susan is a 21 time Daytime Emmy nominee, a best selling author, and a mother of two who appears as though she’s aging backwards. Her role as Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama is known as one of the greatest villains of all time, who is both powerful and a complex anti-heroine.
Fans adored Susan as Erica for over 40 years. These days, the actress is enjoying life in her seventies – proving that with age only comes more joy, and as she told People in 2024, not letting a “number define her.”
So, to celebrate Susan’s 79th birthday, join HELLO! in remembering the actress through the years.
© Getty ImagesThe early days of All My Children
Susan is best known for portraying Erica Kane on ABC’s All My Children. She landed the role in 1970 – first appearing in an episode on January 16 – when she was just 24-years-old. The actress adored her character. In February of this year, she spoke with People about Erica Kane and the groundbreaking stories told on All My Children, saying: “I’m certainly the luckiest to have been in the hands of [All My Children creator] Agnes Nixon and been given her trust to play this incredible part.”
One of those groundbreaking stories occurred in 1973 – the same year as the Roe vs. Wade decision – when Erica chose to have a legal abortion. Erica was one of the first women on television to be both complex and career driven.
© Disney General Entertainment ConErica Kane and Tom Cudahy get married
In 1976, Susan’s character married Tom Cudahy, played by Richard Shoberg, in what was a highly anticipated event. While Erica got married eleven times throughout All My Children‘s run, the wedding to Tom gave fans an iconic wedding look. Susan as Erica wore an elegant long-sleeved dress with a beaded choker necklace.
© Ron GalellaSusan’s lasting love with Helmut Huber
While her soap opera character couldn’t seem to keep a man, in her real life, Susan only had eyes for one guy. The actress married her Austrian-born husband, Helmut Huber, on September 16, 1969. The couple were together for 52 years, until Helmut’s death on March 28, 2022.
During their marriage, they had two children – Liza, 50, and Andreas, 36.
Susan has been public about her grief of losing Helmut, sharing with Good Day New York in February 2023: “Everybody’s different, and I just miss him and he’s worth missing. He was really, really the love of my life.”
Her first Emmy win after 29 years in the business
Susan was notably nominated for 21 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress. In 1999, after 18 nominations, Susan finally won an Emmy. During her speech, the actress declared: “I’m going back to that studio on Monday and I’m going to play Erica Kane for all she’s worth.”
In 2023, Susan won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. She told the crowd: “How lucky am I to dream my dreams of becoming an actress and grow up and have my dreams come true? There were obstacles and there were roadblocks — they were wannabe obstacles and roadblocks — but tonight’s a night to celebrate.”
© Getty ImagesSusan was given star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
35 years after All My Children premiered, Susan received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At the ceremony, she was joined by her daughter, Liza, and Andreas, and her husband before he passed away.
Bob Iger, the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, honored Susan at the ceremony, and her All My Children co-star, David Canary, attended the ceremony.
© Getty Images for The American He
