Susan Clark, born Nora Susan Goulding Clark on March 8, 1943, in Sarnia, Ontario, is a retired Canadian actress with a career spanning film, television and stage across five decades. She is best known for starring as Katherine Papadopolis opposite her real-life husband, NFL Hall of Famer Alex Karras, in the ABC sitcom Webster from 1983 to 1989, and for her Primetime Emmy-winning performance as athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1975 television film Babe. She also appeared in the film Porky’s alongside Karras in 1981.
TL;DR
- Susan Clark, retired Canadian actress, born March 8, 1943, in Sarnia, Ontario.
- Won a Primetime Emmy for playing Babe Didrikson Zaharias in Babe (1975).
- Starred as Katherine Papadopolis on Webster from 1983 to 1989 with husband Alex Karras.
- Also appeared in Coogan’s Bluff, Airport 1975, Night Moves and Porky’s.
- Married Alex Karras in 1980; they remained married until his death in 2012.
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Susan Goulding Clark (born Nora Golding) |
| Date of Birth | March 8, 1943 |
| Age | 83 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London |
| Profession | Actress, Producer |
| Active Since | 1965 |
| Spouse | Alex Karras (m. 1980, until his death in 2012) |
| Child | Katie Karras (b. 1980) |
Who is Susan Clark?
Susan Clark is a retired Canadian actress best known for her Primetime Emmy-winning role as Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1975 television film Babe and for co-starring with her husband, Alex Karras, on the sitcom Webster. Her career spans big-screen dramas of the late 1960s and 1970s, television movie biographies, and one of the most recognized family sitcoms of the 1980s.
Clark built her reputation across a wide range of genres, moving between crime thrillers, comedies and prestige television biopics over more than three decades of steady work, a range reflected in her multiple Emmy and Golden Globe recognitions.
Early Life and Background
Childhood and Family
Clark was born Nora Susan Goulding Clark on March 8, 1943, in Sarnia, Ontario, and began acting at age twelve after her family relocated to Toronto. She joined the Toronto Children’s Players Theatre following the move and made her professional stage debut in a 1955 production of Silk Stockings starring veteran actor Don Ameche.
Education
Clark studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London after pushing her family to allow her to train there, making her London stage debut in Poor Bitos in the early 1960s. She gained additional experience in British repertory theatre and appeared in a 1965 episode of The Benny Hill Show before returning to North America to pursue her acting career professionally.
Career Journey
Before Fame
Before her film breakthrough, Clark was discovered in a CBC production of Abelard and Heloise and signed to a ten-year contract by a Universal Pictures talent scout. That contract placed her in a series of studio-produced television guest roles in the early 1970s, including appearances on Marcus Welby, M.D. and Columbo, building her profile before her feature film career took off.
How Susan Clark Got Started
Clark made her film debut in the 1967 drama Banning, and the following year played the female lead opposite Clint Eastwood in the crime thriller Coogan’s Bluff. She continued through the late 1960s and early 1970s in films including Madigan, opposite Henry Fonda, and Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, establishing herself as a reliable leading and supporting actress in major studio productions.
Breakthrough Moment
Clark won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance as multi-sport athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1975 television film Babe. It was on the set of this production that she met future husband Alex Karras, who played Zaharias’s husband. She followed this success with an Emmy-nominated performance as aviator Amelia Earhart in the 1976 television film Amelia Earhart.
Webster and Later Career
From 1983 to 1989, Clark starred as Katherine Papadopolis on the ABC sitcom Webster alongside Karras and child star Emmanuel Lewis, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 1985. The show followed the couple adopting a young Black son and became one of the most recognized family sitcoms of the decade. Clark and Karras also co-produced and starred in earlier television movies together, including Jimmy B. and André (1980) and Maid in America (1982), through their company Georgian Bay Productions.
Career Today
Clark largely stepped back from Hollywood at the turn of the century following her husband’s retirement, though she continued performing on stage in Southern California for years afterward. She became a dedicated member of the Rubicon Theater Company in Los Angeles, appearing in productions including The Glass Menagerie, Dancing at Lughnasa and A Delicate Balance, and made her last screen appearance in the 1998 series Emily of New Moon.
Notable Film and Television Work
Beyond her Emmy-winning roles, Clark appeared in Airport 1975, Night Moves, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Murder by Decree and the 1981 comedy Porky’s, in which she played a role alongside Karras. She also appeared as murderess Beth Chadwick in a memorable episode of the detective series Columbo. Her range across prestige biopics, ensemble comedies and genre films reflects a career built on versatility rather than a single defining role.
Personal Life
Marriage to Alex Karras
Clark married NFL Hall of Famer and actor Alex Karras in 1980, five years after meeting him on the set of Babe, and the couple remained married for 32 years until his death from kidney failure in 2012. They had one daughter together, Katie, born in 1980, and frequently worked together on screen throughout their marriage, most notably on Webster.
Interesting Facts About Susan Clark
- She was born Nora Susan Goulding Clark and began performing publicly at age twelve.
- She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before beginning her screen career.
- She met husband Alex Karras on the set of the 1975 television film Babe, in which she won an Emmy.
- She and Karras remained married for 32 years, until his death in 2012.
- She appeared in Porky’s alongside Karras in 1981.
- She later became a dedicated member of the Rubicon Theater Company in Los Angeles.
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Susan Clark’s full career history appears alongside other entertainment industry biographies on Leakshaven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Susan Clark?
Susan Clark is a retired Canadian actress, born March 8, 1943, known for starring in Webster and winning an Emmy for the television film Babe.
How old is Susan Clark?
Susan Clark is 83 years old as of 2026, having been born on March 8, 1943.
Who was Susan Clark married to?
Susan Clark was married to NFL Hall of Famer and actor Alex Karras from 1980 until his death in 2012.
What did Susan Clark win an Emmy for?
Susan Clark won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as Babe Didrikson Zaharias in the 1975 television film Babe.
What show made Susan Clark famous?
Susan Clark starred as Katherine Papadopolis on the ABC sitcom Webster from 1983 to 1989 alongside her husband Alex Karras.
