Susan Anton
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
This tall, very shapely blonde performer is a former Miss California and second runner-up in the 1970 Miss America Pageant. Susan Anton made a splash on TV in the late 70s, and into the 90s has remained a frequent performer on the Las Vegas stage and in legit productions as well.
Anton made her TV acting debut in "The Great American Beauty Pageant" (ABC, 1973), but she became a household face in 1976 when she was named the Muriel Cigar Girl and appeared in numerous advertisements. Her role as a woman turned practically into a robot to win the Olympics in the feature "Goldengirl" (1979), coupled with her nightclub performing gave her some celebrity status.
An accomplished singer, particularly of country & western music, Anton co-starred with Mel Tillis in the 1978 ABC variety special "Mel and Susan Together" and the following year, headlined her own summer variety series on NBC. She starred as a photographer solving the murder of her brother in the "Stop Susan Williams" episodes of the NBC series "Cliffhangers" (1979). While Anton had an dramatic role in the sweet PBS special "The Boy Who Loved Trolls" (1984), she acted infrequently on TV until the 90s, when she played mother to junior lifeguard Nicole Eggert in episodes of "Baywatch" (syndicated) on which she appeared from 1992-1994. Over the years, however, she remained a staple of guest on variety and comedy specials featuring the likes of Bob Hope and David Copperfield.
The small screen prove more hospitable than features. Anton's film appearances have been minor, although she had top billing as the mother of a would-be tennis star teen in "Spring Fever" (1981). In "Cannonball Run II" (1983), she was merely the object of Burt Reynolds' ogling. More recently, she appeared in the independent films, "Options" (1989) and "Lena's Holiday" (1991). Yet Anton has never stopped working in nightclubs and on the stage. She toured in the Neil Simon musical "They're Playing Our Song" in 1982, and made her Broadway debut in the second cast of David Rabe's "Hurlyburly" in 1985. Six years later, Anton was tapped to play Ziegfeld's favorite, a leggy showgirl, in the award-winning Broadway musical "The Will Rogers Follies." She has also toured with The Rockettes.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Life Events
1969
Won the Miss California beauty pageant
1970
Was second runner-up in the Miss America contest
1973
TV acting debut, "The Great American Beauty Contest"
1976
Named the Muriel Cigar Girl; appeared in numerous TV commercials
1978
Hosted own TV special, "Mel & Susan Together", co-starring Mel Tillis
1979
Feature acting debut, "Goldengirl"
1979
Starred in "Stop Susan Williams" episodes of "Cliffhanger" (NBC)
1979
Starred in the NBC musical-variety series "Presenting Susan Anton"
1980
Performed in Las Vegas
1982
Appeared in a touring company of "They're Playing Our Song"
1985
Broadway acting debut, "Hurlyburly"
1991
Replaced Cady Hoffman in Broadway musical "The Will Rogers Follies" for eight weeks
1997
Hosted "Las Vegas!" for Travel Channel
2001
Performed in the San Francisco production of "The Vagina Monologues"
Family
Companions
