Susan Diol
American television actress (born 1962)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Susan Vanita Diol (born May 25, 1962)[1][2] is an American actress who has played supporting roles in over forty television series, including Quantum Leap (1989–1993; 2022–2024), One Life to Live, Wings, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, NCIS, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
May 25, 1962
Susan Diol | |
|---|---|
| Born | Susan Vanita Diol May 25, 1962 |
| Alma mater | Otterbein University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouses | William Newkirk
(m. 2014; div. 2016) |
| Children | 1 |
Career
1986–1999
Diol acted in children's theatre productions in Illinois before beginning her on-screen career. She appeared in episodes of sitcoms, including: two 1990 episodes of Night Court, playing Dan Fielding's (John Larroquette) sister Donna; the Seinfeld 1991 episode "The Nose Job", as Audrey (the one who had the nose job); and a 1995 episode of Wings, playing a call girl whom Joe and Brian inadvertently choose as a rebound date for lovelorn Antonio. Diol has appeared in episodes of science fiction television series, including: portraying Carmen Davila in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Silicon Avatar";[3][4] the role of Doctor Danara Pel in the Star Trek: Voyager episodes "Lifesigns" and "Resolutions";[5][6][7] the role of Beth Calavicci, first wife of Al Calavicci, in two episodes of Quantum Leap (including the finale to the original run of the series).[8][9] Diol was in the made-for-TV movies Popeye Doyle (1986) as The Blonde,[10] A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester (1995) as Ivy West,[11]: 41497 and Alien Nation: Millennium (1996) as Marina Del Ray.[12][13] She was the replacement for Amanda Plummer in the Broadway play You Never Can Tell from October 9, 1986, to January 25, 1987, as Dolly Clandon.[14]
2000–present
Diol took over the role of Alexis Davis on General Hospital temporarily from November 2001 to March 2002 for Nancy Lee Grahn.[15] She played Gabby in the French film Reality (2014)[16][17] and Cindy in Loqueesha (2019).[18] Diol reprised the role of Beth in five episodes (over both seasons) of the Quantum Leap revival.[19] She returned to General Hospital in June 2023 as Nurse Clara.[20]
Personal life
Diol was born in Marquette, Michigan, and raised in Palatine, Illinois, and Worthington, Ohio.[21] She graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.[21][22] Diol has married four times: to Jerry Rapp (1991–1993), Shaun Cassidy (1995–2003), Andy Cadiff (2003–2010), and William Newkirk (2014–2016).[citation needed]
Theatre
| Start date | End date | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 1986 | January 25, 1987 | You Never Can Tell | Dolly Clandon | Circle in the Square Theatre | 125 performances |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Wedding Bell Booze | Emma | Short film written and directed by Julie Bersani |
| 2014 | Reality | Gaby | Surreal comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Dupieux (French: Réalité) |
| 2019 | Loqueesha | Cindy | Comedy film written, directed, and produced by Jeremy Saville |
| 2025 | Rhythm Is a Dancer | Drunk Donna | Comedy-drama film written and directed by Lauren Caster |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Popeye Doyle | The Blonde | Made-for-TV movie directed by Peter Levin Also known as The French Connection 3 |
| 1987–88 | The Cosby Show | Cheryl | Episodes:
|
| 1988 | Hothouse | Claudia Garrison | Main role |
| 1989 | The Road Raiders | Lt. Johanson | Made-for-TV movie directed by Richard Lang |
| Growing Pains | Miss Sanders | Episode: "Carol Meets the Real World" | |
| 1989–90 | FM | Lisa | Episodes:
|
| 1990 | Baywatch | Kate Jarvis | Episode: "Old Friends" |
| Night Court | Donna | Episodes:
| |
| Going Places | Donna | Episode: "Married to the Mob" | |
| 1990–93 | Quantum Leap | Beth Calavicci | Episodes:
|
| 1990–91 | Days of Our Lives | Emmy Borden | Recurring role |
| 1991 | Paradise | Lisa | Episode: "The Valley of the Death" |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Carmen Davila | Episode: "Silicon Avatar" | |
| Seinfeld | Audrey | Episode: "The Nose Job" | |
| 1992 | P.S.I. Luv U | Valerie Vincenzo | Episode: "A Bundle of Trouble" |
| Seduction: Three Tales from the 'Inner Sanctum | Ada Raymond | Made-for-TV movie directed by Michael Ray Rhodes | |
| Civil Wars | Margaret Stuart | Episode: "Oboe Phobia" | |
| Great Scott! | Miss Nicastro | Episodes:
| |
| Herman's Head | Hypnotist | Episode: "Feardom of Speech" | |
| 1993–94 | One Life to Live | Angela Holliday | Recurring role |
| 1993 | Reasonable Doubts | Mrs. Roberts | Episode: "The Iceman" |
| Murphy Brown | Michelle | Episode: "To Market, To Market" | |
| 1994 | One West Waikiki | Miriam | Episode: "'Til Death Do Us Part" |
| Party of Five | Rebecca Shay | Episode: "All's Fair" | |
| 1994–95 | Christy | Margaret Henderson MacNeill | Episodes:
|
| 1995 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Diane Reno | Episode: "War Zone" |
| A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester | Ivy West | Made-for-TV movie directed by Vincent McEveety | |
| Her Deadly Rival | Jean | Made-for-TV movie directed by James Hayman | |
| Wings | Heather | Episode: "Hooker, Line, and Sinker" | |
| The Client | Helen Nichols | Episode: "The Prodigal Father" | |
| 1996 | Alien Nation: Millennium | Marina Del Rey | Made-for-TV movie written and directed by Kenneth Johnson |
| Touched by an Angel | Susan Duplain | Episode: "The One That Got Away" | |
| Star Trek: Voyager | Dr. Danara Pel | Episodes:
| |
| Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher | Mrs. Hale | Episode: "Me and Mrs. Hale" | |
| 1997 | Diagnosis Murder | Jeri Murdico | Episodes:
|
| Pensacola: Wings of Gold | Sheila Redding | Episode: "Freebird" | |
| 2000 | Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family | Brittany Evans | Episode: "Where Have You Gone, Sandy Koufax?" |
| Yes, Dear | Andrea | Episode: "Weaning Isn't Everything" | |
| 2001 | The Fugitive | Jamie Lund | Episode: "Tucker's Gift" |
| 2001–02; 2023 |
General Hospital |
|
|
| 2002 | Philly | Mindy Barnes/Elise Redman | Episode: "Tall Tales" |
| The Agency | Debra | Episodes:
| |
| The Ellen Show | Joanne | Episode: "Shallow Gal" | |
| 2003 | Touch 'Em All McCall | Samantha | Made-for-TV movie directed by Norman Steinberg |
| 2003–11 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |
|
Episodes:
|
| 2005 | Eyes | Jennifer Harper | Episode: "Whereabouts" |
| 2006 | Without a Trace | Carol Whitney | Episode: "More Than This" |
| Desperate Housewives | Flight Attendant | Episode: "No One Is Alone" | |
| 2006; 2023 |
NCIS |
|
Episodes:
|
| 2009 | Cold Case | Kristi Duren | Episode: "Dead Heat" |
| 2013–14 | Hart of Dixie | Carolee O'Connell | Episodes:
|
| 2014–15 | Murder in the First | Denison | Episodes:
|
| 2015 | Perception | Mrs. Gardner | Episode: "Romeo" |
| 2016 | Notorious | Rita Rollins | Episode: "The Perp Walk" |
| Bad Twin | Attorney | Made-for-TV movie directed by John Murlowski | |
| 2017 | The Wrong Mother | Dr. Bartelini | Made-for-TV movie directed by Craig Goldsmith Also known as Deadly Devotion |
| Hacker | Motel Attendant | Made-for-TV movie directed by Nadeem Soumah | |
| Your Own Road | Sophie | Made-for-TV movie directed by Brandon Buczek | |
| 2022–24 | Quantum Leap | Beth Calavicci | 5 episodes |