Role chase fruitful

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 18

Role chase fruitful

As a youngster Susan Dey knew she wanted to be an actress, but at the same time she never gave the film or television mediums a thought.

Dey, who plays a deputy-assistant attorney, Grace Van Owen, in Two’s new Monday-night drama series, “L.A. Law,” had her sights firmly set on the stage. Not too surprising really she grew up in Mt Kisco, New York, just 40 miles from Broadway. “My plan was to go to college, study acting, and hit the boards,” says Dey. However, the plan changed when she began working as a teen model in New York. She appeared in “Glamour,”'

“Vogue,” “Seventeen” and “Brides,” and began working in commercials, including a “Cover Girl” spot

With a solid, 15-year-old career in Hollywood, Dey was introduced to millions of television viewers as Laurie in the long-running hit series, “The Partridge Family.” “That was college for me,” she says. “I learned the technical, professional and political aspects of the entertainment business during those four years on the show.”

Her feature-film appearances include “Skyjacked,” “First Love,” “Looker,” and the recent, critically acclaimed “Echo Park,” co-starring Tom Hulce.

Television appearances include “Little Women,” “The Comeback Kid,” “The Gift of Life,” “Malibu,” “‘Love Leads the Way,” and “Sunset Limousine.” She also starred in the series “Loves Me, . Loves Me Not” and “Emerald Point N.A.S.” Of her current role in "L.A. Law,” Dey says, “I’ve never chased a job for so long, but I was in love with this part from the minute I read the script.” After her* audition, it was months before she learned she got the part — and went into production three days later.

“L.A. Law” screens on Mondays at 9 p.m. on Two.