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Susan Howard, widely recognized for her eight-year portrayal of Donna Krebbs on the prime-time soap opera Dallas (1978), was born Jeri Lynn Mooney in Marshall, Texas. Reflecting on her lifelong ambition to become an actress and the encouragement she received from her family, she said, "I grew up with my father telling me that I was talented and beautiful and wonderful. I respected and loved my father, so I believed him—until I grew up and looked in a mirror and saw that my daddy had sort of colored the truth. But, by then, it was too late. I was hooked." Excelling in dramatic arts at Marshall High, where she won the UIL Best Actress Award, she was accepted to the University of Texas. After two years there, Hollywood called her westward. Her time with the Los Angeles Repertory Company, combined with her university experience, gave her the discipline and insight needed to succeed in Hollywood. After several guest appearances on shows like Bonanza (1959), The Flying Nun (1967), and I Dream of Jeannie (1965), she landed the co-starring role opposite Barry Newman in Petrocelli (1974). For her role as Maggie Petrocelli, she earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
In 1978, Susan was cast as Donna Culver Krebbs in a guest role on Dallas. The producers were so impressed they expanded the part and asked her to stay. She continued on the show until 1987, when she left after refusing to participate in a storyline where Donna began an affair with another character.
Susan and her husband, Calvin Chrane, now reside near Austin, Texas. She was appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush as a commissioner for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Additionally, she serves on the National Rifle Association’s board of directors as Chair of the Public Policy Committee. The Chranes have a daughter, Lynn, and two grandchildren, Daniel and Noelle. Susan remains a frequent visitor to Marshall, where her mother and brother live. She is an active member of the Writers Guild of America and continues to write for television, a craft she began on Dallas.
