Susan Damante was born in the San Francisco Bay area to Vincent and Marjorie Damante. She attended Woodside High School and Canada College, where she likely developed a strong foundation in academics and extracurricular activities. Following her education, she entered the prestigious Miss America Pageant and secured a spot as the first runner-up to Miss California. This achievement earned her a significant scholarship, which she used to pursue her passion for classical theater at the renowned American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco under the guidance of the esteemed William Ball.
Although she was accepted into Carnegie-Mellon University, she was unable to secure the necessary funds to attend. Instead, she made her film debut with a featured role in the 1972 movie The Candidate, starring alongside the iconic Robert Redford. This early success led her to relocate to Hollywood, where she began to build her career in the entertainment industry.
Susan Damante further honed her craft by studying with the acclaimed Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Her early roles included appearances in various TV series, such as Bender, Amy Prentiss, Richie Brockelman, Private Eye, and The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, directed by the renowned John Badham and featuring a guest appearance by the talented Don Johnson.
Her breakout role came with the starring part in The Adventures of the Wilderness Family trilogy, which consisted of The Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1975),The Further Adventures of the Wilderness Family (1978),and Adventures of the Wilderness Family 3 (1979). After overcoming a serious illness, Susan revitalized her career on the New York stage, studying at the Atlantic Theater under the guidance of David Mamet and William H. Macy. She went on to star in the play "Her Sonoma Story" at the esteemed Neighborhood Playhouse in June 2003. Susan is currently developing a solo play based on her own experiences of life and near-death, a testament to her resilience and determination.
