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Lanna Saunders

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lanna Saunders
Born(1941-12-22)December 22, 1941
New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 2007(2007-03-10) (aged 65)
Years active1954–1985
Spouse
(m. 1973)
Children1
FatherNicholas Saunders
RelativesNicholas Soussanin (grandfather)

Svetlana "Lanna" Saunders (December 22, 1941 – March 10, 2007) was an American actress, best known for her role as Marie Horton on the television soap opera Days of Our Lives, on which she appeared from 1979–85. She also played the characters Betty Andrews on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless and Julie Evans on the NBC soap opera The Doctors in 1968.

Early years

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Saunders was born on December 22, 1941, in New York City.[1] Saunders's father was actor Nicholas Saunders ( Nikita Nikolayevich Soussanin)[2] and her grandfather was actor Nicholas Soussanin, who emigrated from the Ukrainian SSR in the 1920s.[3]

Career

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Saunders started in acting at age 13, studying under Elia Kazan and later joining his Lincoln Center Company.[4][5] Her credits on Broadway included Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1966), The Changeling (1964), Never Live Over a Pretzel Factory (1964), Milk and Honey (1961), and Sunrise at Campobello (1958).[1]

Personal life and death

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Saunders was married to Andre Yedigaroff.[2] She met her future husband, actor Lawrence Pressman, when she was a student of Kazan, and they were married until her death. Actor David Pressman is their son.[6]

Saunders was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1982 and she left Days of our Lives three years later when she became too ill to continue in the role. She died on March 10, 2007.[6]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1959 Deadline Holly Webster episode: "Character Witness"
1968 The Doctors Julie Evans 3 episodes; uncredited
1972 McCloud Stewardess episode: "The Barefoot Stewardess Caper"
1974 Marcus Welby, M.D. Nurse McCarthy episode: "Child of Silence"
1975 The Waltons Rebecca Cook episode: "The Matchmakers"
1976 Everybody Rides the Carousel Stage 7 Voice role
1977−78 Barnaby Jones Paula Dixon; Sandy Wright episodes: "Yesterday's Terror" & "Nest of Scorpions"
1978 The Six Million Dollar Man Vera Cheraskin episode: "Walk a Deadly Wing"
1978 Ruby and Oswald Marina Oswald Television film
1978 A Family Upside Down Mrs. Lovell Television film
1978 Fantasy Island Joyce Stanton episode: "Charlie's Cherubs"
1979−85 Days of Our Lives Marie Horton 557 episodes
1981 Body Heat Roz Kraft
1983 Hart to Hart Monica Haines episode: "As the Hart Turns"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lanna Saunders". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Sosin, Gene (November 1, 2010). Sparks of Liberty: An Insider's Memoir of Radio Liberty. Penn State Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-271-03863-6. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Lanna Saunders, 65; played Sister Marie on 'Days of Our Lives'". Los Angeles Times. March 15, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Simonson, Robert (March 14, 2007). "Lanna Saunders, Broadway Actress, Is Dead at 65". Playbill. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Actress Lanna Saunders Dies at 65". BroadwayWorld. March 13, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Soap star came from a family of performers". Times Colonist. Associated Press. March 16, 2007. p. D 11. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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