This legendary actress was not born into wealth and might have even won a beauty pageant if circumstances had gone her way.
Over the years, she has faced personal challenges, including health scares, and ultimately opened up to inspire others.
Born the younger child of Jeanette, a nurse, and Victor, a construction contractor, Susan Lucci was an all-American girl who excelled in school and was a cheerleader.
As the second-born and last child in her family, she was an honor student throughout high school. Her passion for the arts led her to study drama at Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York.
During her senior year, Lucci became a New York State finalist in the Miss Universe pageant. However, the finals coincided with her comprehensive exams, and at her father’s insistence that her degree was more important, she chose to withdraw from the competition.
Despite this setback, there was no animosity between her and her late father, with Lucci frequently celebrating his memory on social media. In 2015, she posted a throwback photo of herself and her father dancing, captioning it: “He was the best father a girl could ever have—I am so lucky to have had him as mine!”
Four years later, Lucci shared another photo of them, this time honoring his service in World War II. She reminisced about the many moments they shared, such as ice skating, horseback riding, and creating pastel drawings together. His influence left a lasting impact on Lucci, shaping her work ethic and love for family.
While Lucci’s career soared – she is often referred to as the Queen of Soaps, known for her 41-year stint on All My Children – she also faced many personal trials, Yahoo detailed. In 2011, she published her memoir, All My Life, revealing intimate details about her life, including her miscarriages and the health struggles of her husband, Helmut Huber.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002, Huber was declared cancer-free in 2011. However, in 2019, Lucci herself faced a health crisis, undergoing heart surgery after discovering that her heart’s main artery was 90% blocked.
Despite the severity of her condition, she initially kept quiet about the procedure, feeling “embarrassed” by her lack of action when the symptoms first appeared.
In 2022, Lucci experienced a similar health scare, leading to another emergency heart procedure. This time, she chose to be open about her experience, hoping to encourage women to listen to their bodies.
Lucci recalled the frightening symptoms—shortness of breath, pain around her ribcage, and a sharp pain in her jaw. After consulting with her husband, she contacted her doctor, who swiftly scheduled surgery. A second stent was placed in her artery, preventing a potential heart attack.
Just months after recovering from this ordeal, Lucci suffered the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Helmut, in March 2022 at the age of 84.
In a 2023 interview with People, Lucci expressed how deeply she missed her husband of 53 years, describing him as the “love of my life.” Ten months after his passing, she revealed that she wasn’t ready to date again, saying they had been partners in everything.
Despite her grief, Lucci continues to live a full life, with fans frequently complimenting her timeless beauty. In September 2023, Lucci shared an Instagram post celebrating her friend Josephine’s birthday, and fans marveled at her youthful appearance.
One admirer described the pair as “astonishingly gorgeous.”
Lucci, who became famous for her role as Erica Kane on ABC’s All My Children, has enjoyed a long and successful career spanning over five decades. Along with her daytime soap stardom, she has appeared in films like Ebby (1995) and Joy (2015), as well as TV series such as Devious Maids and Hot in Cleveland.
At 77, Lucci continues to capture the admiration of fans, showing resilience and strength both on and off the screen. What an amazing woman!
