Susan Vanita Diol is a talented actress, writer, director, and filmmaker of Scandinavian and East Indian descent, born in Marquette, Michigan. She was raised in Palatine, Illinois, and Worthington, Ohio, where her parents, Christine and Peter Balwant Singh Diol, owned a coffee shop. This lively upbringing allowed her to hone her acting skills and accents, often playing various roles for foreign exchange students and visitors.
Susan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Otterbein College and interned at Pat McCorkle Casting in New York, which led to her moving to the city. She worked as a reader for Pat, a perfume spritzer at Macy's, and a cleaner, while also interning at the Alaska Repertory Theatre, where she played the role of Viola in "Twelfth Night."
Her breakthrough came with her first Equity acting job in "You Never Can Tell" on Broadway at Circle in the Square, where she acted alongside Uta Hagan, Victor Garber, John, and JD Cullum. She then appeared in "Opera Comique" at the Kennedy Center, with Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, Charlotte Moore, and Brian Bedford.
Susan has had a successful television career, starring in ABC's "Hothouse" in New York, as well as series regular roles in various TV shows. Her film credits include "Your Own Road," "Reality," "Loqueesha," and "Basement."
Recent TV appearances include "Notorious," "Perception," "Murder in the First," and "Hart of Dixie." Some of her favorite roles include Beth, Dean Stockwell's wife on "Quantum Leap," Dr. Denara Pel on "Star Trek: Voyager," and Audrey on "Seinfeld."
Susan has also had notable roles in "Wings," "Christy," "Murphy Brown," "Touched by an Angel," and "CSI: Grissom VS the Volcano." She has played a mother of a killer on "CSI" with Ted Danson, a doctor on "NCIS," and a hypnotist/therapist on "Herman's Head."
In addition to her acting career, Susan is a proud member of the Road Theatre Company in NOHO, where she acts, writes, and directs. She is also a writer, director, filmmaker, and producer at her company ZenGleam Filmz.
Passionate about senior citizens and brain health and wellness, Susan teaches Zen Move & Groove for Seniors privately on Zoom.
