Suzanne Rogers

Early years

Suzanne Rogers was born Suzanne Crumpler on July 9, 1943. While growing up in Colonial Heights, Virginia, she took an interest in dancing. She expressed interest in it at the age of two and started taking dancing lessons during her childhood.

Career

At the age of 17, Rogers left her hometown and decided to pursue a dancing career. She moved to New York City and became one of the dancers at the Radio City Music Hall. Along with becoming a Rockette, Rogers performed in several Broadway musicals including Coco, Hallelujah Baby and Follies, distinctly heard on the original cast album and mentioned in the book Everything Was Possible which covered the creation and history of the hit Broadway show. After spending 10 years in New York City, the actress wanted to try out an acting dream and moved to California in January 1973.

She attended acting classes in California with Stella Adler at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Soon after, she landed the role of Maggie Horton on NBC's Days of Our Lives. Maggie was introduced as a guest character in August 1973, by scriptwriter William J. Bell and executive producer Betty Corday. From the beginning, Bell considered the role ideal for her. He approached Rogers about taking the role of Maggie, and she agreed. She was immediately described by critics who gave reviews of the show as being one of the most energetic girls on daytime television. The news of Rogers being cast as Maggie was a different move, taking an actress who loves to dance, to a character of a crippled farm girl. This was her first television assignment, after being the youngest girl to take the stage at Radio City Music Hall. In 1979, she was the first recipient of the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

In 1984, Rogers was diagnosed with the rare muscle disorder myasthenia gravis. This disease affected her facial muscles, and the medicine the doctors put her on made her feel ill, and her face appeared swollen while also suffering hair loss. She temporarily left the show after 11 years when the effects of the disease became increasingly worse.

Because of the myasthenia gravis and the medication, her entire appearance changed, and Rogers did not return to Days of Our Lives for a year. Rogers returned to the serial when her health became better. Rogers, wanting to educate viewers about the disease, encouraged executive producer Betty Corday to have her character be diagnosed with the disease. Corday agreed, and a storyline played out with Maggie learning she has myasthenia gravis. The actress went into remission in 1995, and has remained in remission since. In 2010, after her character's husband is killed off, Maggie began to notice some effects she experienced when diagnosed with the disease in 1984.

In 2003, a major series of serial killings occurred on the show. Maggie was "killed off" in a "whodunnit?" murder storyline involving a serial killer. Maggie's murder forced Rogers to depart from the series, although she made occasional appearances as Maggie's "spirit", appearing with all of the other victims when the apparent culprit, Marlena Evans, attacked Alice. To help with falling ratings at the time, current head writer James E. Reilly decided to bring all the characters back from the dead. They all turned up in the fictional town of Melaswen, or New Salem spelled backwards. This storyline sparked major controversy, and proved to be a daring move.

Since the death of original cast member Frances Reid (Alice Horton) in 2010, Rogers has been the longest-running actress to appear continuously on Days of Our Lives as the new Horton family matriarch.

In 2024, Rogers was honored with induction into the Emmys' Gold Circle by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). This award recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on television for 50 years or more,

Personal life

Rogers married Sam Groom in 1980. They divorced in 1982. In October 2025, she revealed she had undergone treatment for colorectal cancer.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (9 July 2024). "Days of our Lives Veteran Suzanne Rogers Celebrates Her Birthday". Verizon.
2. (July 15, 2011). "Suzanne Rogers Biography". [[Soap Opera Digest]].
3. (July 15, 2011). "Days of our Lives- Bios- Suzanne Rogers". [[NBC]].
4. (2010-02-08). "Suzanne Rogers Biography- Days of our Lives".
5. "Suzanne Rogers biography".
6. (December 2017). "Myasthenia Gravis Disease | Learn all About the Allergy and Immune System Disorders that Affect the Human Body | Read Insightful Articles to Learn More About Common Diseases & Conditions". Allergy-and-immune-system-disorders.info.
7. (2009-10-19). "The Suzanne Rogers Interview, Part Three". [[We Love Soaps]].
8. Jacobs, Damon L.. (2009-10-16). "The Suzanne Rogers Interview, Part Two". We Love Soaps.
9. "The Suds Report". Tvguide.ca.
10. "Days of Our Lives - Salem Stalker Murders - Soap Opera Digest and Weekly". Soapoperadigest.com.
11. "Days of our Lives". Sonypictures.com.
12. (1965-11-08). "TV Tidbits Shows We Love: Days of Our Lives". Sitcomboy.com.
13. "Deidre Hall Storylines as Marlena Evans". Sn.soapnet.go.com.
14. Greenblatt, Leah. (February 4, 2010). "Frances Reid, ''Days of our Lives'' matriarch, dies at 95". EW.com.
15. Donaldson-Evans, Catherine. (February 4, 2010). "''Days of Our Lives'' Matriarch Dies at 95". [[People (magazine).
16. "Suzanne Rogers Archives". Soap Opera Digest.
17. (October 30, 2025). "''Days of Our Lives'' star Suzanne Rogers reveals cancer diagnosis (Exclusive)".
18. Scheuer, Steven H.. (June 1, 1979). "Daytime Emmy show". [[Boca Raton News]].