Susan Clark
A versatile Canadian actress who moved from Hollywood thrillers to beloved Disney comedies, becoming a familiar face in 1970s cinema.
Born 1943 (age 83)·Canadian actress·Birthday: March 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Born in Sarnia, Ontario, Susan Clark built a career on a compelling blend of intelligence and warmth that translated seamlessly across genres. After her 1967 debut, she quickly became a sought-after presence, holding her own opposite Clint Eastwood in 'Coogan's Bluff' and navigating the tense sci-fi of 'Colossus: The Forbin Project.' The mid-70s showcased her range, from the disaster drama of 'Airport 1975' to the sun-drenched family fun of Disney's 'The Apple Dumpling Gang.' She often portrayed women of considerable fortitude, a quality that defined her role as a doctor in the poignant 'Promises in the Dark.' While her film work slowed in the 1980s, she remained a steady and respected figure, her performances marked by a grounded authenticity that avoided flashiness for genuine character.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Susan was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Susan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Susan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as the female lead opposite Clint Eastwood in the influential crime film 'Coogan's Bluff' (1968).
- Played a key role in the seminal sci-fi thriller 'Colossus: The Forbin Project' (1970) about a rogue supercomputer.
- Headlined the popular Disney Western comedy 'The Apple Dumpling Gang' (1975) as a stagecoach driver.
- Delivered a critically praised performance as a dying doctor in the emotional drama 'Promises in the Dark' (1979).
- Appeared in the blockbuster comedy 'Porky's' (1981), a defining film of the teen sex comedy genre.
Did You Know?
She was married to actor Alex Cord from 1969 until their divorce in 1973.
She won an Emmy Award in 1976 for her portrayal of former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower in the television film 'Backstairs at the White House.'
She is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.
“I prefer characters who are more than just a pretty face.”
