Susan Ruttan Biography: Height, Parents, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Movies, TV Series, Child, Ex-Husband

 Susan Ruttan is a tough and talented American actress who has spent decades bringing heart and grit to TV screens and stages across the country.

Coming from humble roots in Oregon’s logging towns, she chased her dreams out to California, starting with small theater gigs and building up to that breakout role as the sweet but sassy secretary Roxanne Melman on the hit show L.A. Law, where she stole scenes alongside big names and earned nods from the big award crowds.

Profile

• Full Name: Susan Diane Ruttan
• Stage Name: Susan Ruttan
• Born: September 16, 1948
• Age: 77 years old
• Birthplace: Oregon City, Oregon, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Producer, Interior Designer
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm)
• Religion: Christianity
• Parents: Daryl Dunsrud and Helen Manis
• Siblings: One brother
• Spouse: Randy MacDonald (M. 1990, Div. 1993)
• Children: Jackson Ruttan
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $1 million to $2 million

Early Life And Education

Susan Diane Ruttan was born on September 16, 1948, in the small town of Oregon City, Oregon. She grew up with her parents, Daryl Dunsrud, a logger, and Helen Manis, a nurse at a local hospital, in a simple family setup that moved frequently because of her dad’s job.

She has one brother, though his name isn’t shared much in public stories. Her ethnicity is White, straight from that classic American Northwest heritage with Scandinavian and other European ties that shaped her strong, no-nonsense outlook. As for religion, Susan follows Christianity, which probably helped guide her through tough times growing up.

Susan attended the University of Oregon and later the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she received a solid education in drama and the arts. It was those school years and family pushes that built her foundation, turning a kid from logging camps into someone ready to take on the stage and screen with real passion and grit.

Career

Susan got her start in acting through local theater in the 1970s, joining the Staircase Repertory Company in Santa Cruz, California, where she honed her skills in plays and built confidence on stage. Before breaking big, she worked behind the scenes too, like in the casting department at Universal Studios, and even held jobs as a secretary and bar manager to make ends meet.

Her first real TV break came in the early 1980s with guest spots on shows like Bosom Buddies and AfterMASH, showing she could handle comedy with ease. She caught eyes playing the sneaky wife of a rival dry cleaner on The Jeffersons, which led to more steady work.

The big turning point was in 1986 when she landed the role of Roxanne Melman, the loyal but quirky secretary, on L.A. Law, sticking around for all eight seasons until 1993 and becoming a fan favorite for her warm, funny takes amid the legal drama.

That gig opened doors to movies like the teen comedy Bad Manners in 1984, where she had a fun small part, and the romantic Funny About Love in 1990 with Gene Wilder. She tackled heavier stuff too, like playing a convicted killer in the TV movie Deadly Medicine in 1991 and Brian Dennehy’s wife in the miniseries Deadly Matrimony in 1992.

After L.A. Law, she reunited with Dennehy for four Jack Reed TV movies from 1993 to 1996, playing his supportive partner in crime. Guest spots kept coming on hits like 3rd Rock from the Sun, Remington Steele, Newhart, Gilmore Girls, Yes, Dear, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where she brought her charm to supernatural scenes.

In 2002, she brought Roxanne back for the reunion movie L.A. Law: The Movie. Later roles included the dramatic mom in the 2004 remake of Helter Skelter and a heartfelt role in the 2009 film Prayers for Bobby about family and acceptance.

Social Media

Susan Ruttan does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Susan Ruttan, 76, has lived a life full of ups and downs but always with family at the center, keeping most of it private while sharing bits that show her caring side. She first married Mel Ruttan around 1967 when she was 18; he was a Green Beret five years older, but sadly, he died in a motorcycle accident just three years later in 1970—she kept his last name for her career as a tribute.

Her second marriage was to Randy MacDonald, a boom microphone operator she met on the L.A. Law set in 1986; they wed in October 1990 but separated in 1993. No other marriages since, so she’s been divorced for years and seems content focusing on her work and son.

She adopted Jackson Ruttan, born May 19, 1993, and they’ve built a close bond, with him being her pride and joy. She’s stayed connected to her parents, Daryl and Helen, and her brother over the years, valuing those early family ties from Oregon that kept her grounded.

Susan stands 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm), giving her a relatable presence in her secretary roles and beyond. These days, she enjoys quieter times, maybe designing homes or catching up with loved ones, and occasionally posts simple updates on Facebook about life reflections or old show memories. It’s a steady, heartfelt personal world that matches her on-screen warmth.

Net Worth

Susan Ruttan’s net worth is estimated at $1 million to $2 million. She built most of it from her long run on L.A. Law and other TV guest spots, plus pay from movies and TV movies over the decades. Producing credits and running her interior design business since 2000 adds steady extra income, helping her keep things balanced without the flashy spending.

Filmography

Television Roles:

• The Jeffersons (as Mrs. Cunningham, 1985)
• L.A. Law (Recurring as Roxanne Melman, 1986-1993; also in L.A. Law: The Movie, 2002)
• Buffalo Bill (Recurring, 1983-1984)
• Empire (Recurring, 1984)
• Bosom Buddies (Guest, 1981)
• AfterMASH (Guest, 1983)
• Remington Steele (Guest, 1984)
• Newhart (Guest, 1985)
• Do You Remember Love (TV Movie as Ruth, 1985)
• Murder: By Reason of Insanity (TV Movie as Judge, 1985)
• Deadly Matrimony (Miniseries as Cynthia, 1992)
• Jack Reed: Badge of Honor (TV Movie as Chris Reed, 1993)
• Jack Reed: Search for Justice (TV Movie as Chris Reed, 1994)
• Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance (TV Movie as Chris Reed, 1996)
• Jack Reed: One of Our Own (TV Movie as Chris Reed, 1995)
• 3rd Rock from the Sun (Guest, 1996)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Guest, 1997)
• Yes, Dear (Guest, 2001)
• Gilmore Girls (Guest, 2002)
• Helter Skelter (TV Movie as Linda Kasabian’s Mother, 2004)
• Hannah Montana (Guest as Biker, 2009)
• Prayers for Bobby (TV Movie as Betty’s Friend, 2009)
• Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (Non-speaking role, 2008)
• Grimm (Guest, 2015)
• Grey’s Anatomy (Guest, 2019)

Film Roles:

• Independence Day (as Nurse, 1982)
• Bad Manners (aka Growing Pains, 1984)
• Bad Dreams (1988)
• Funny About Love (1990)
• Krippendorf’s Tribe (1998)
• Love Kills (1998)
• Dead Air (2009)