Marie Masters (born Marie Mastruserio; is an American actress, writer, and director. She is known for playing the role of Dr. Susan Stewart on the CBS Daytime soap opera As the World Turns (1968 to 1979, 1986 to 2010). She also worked as a staff writer on ATWT, beginning in 2001. She has directed theatrical productions and worked as an assistant director on Broadway shows. She was the assistant artistic director for The New Group, a nonprofit theater company.
Early life
Masters was born on February 4, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was educated at St. George grade school and graduated from Our Lady of Angels St. Bernard in 1959.
Masters attended Marian College in Indiana after receiving a scholarship to study art history. During her college years, she performed in summer stock plays. In 1963, she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was cast as Hester Ferris on the CBS soap opera Love of Life, playing the role from 1966 to 1967. Masters' regional theater credits include Hay Fever and The Trojan Women, both at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. She also appeared in The Country Girl at the Bucks County Playhouse. The character was a doctor and a recovering alcoholic. In her early years on the show, she was paired romantically with Dr. Dan Stewart. Masters was the fifth actress to play the role, replacing Leslie Perkins. Masters stayed on ATWT until April 1979. She also played Karen Cromwell in the suspense film Scream for Help (1984).
Masters returned to As the World Turns as Dr. Susan Stewart, first airing on March 29, 1986. When she returned, the character of Susan had matured and had an adult daughter, Emily Stewart (Melanie Smith). She was switched to recurring status at As the World Turns in 1999. Masters made another guest appearance on Law & Order. In November 2001, she worked as an assistant director on a Broadway revival of The Women. In 2006, she was an assistant director on Broadway revivals of Barefoot in the Park and The Threepenny Opera.
She appeared in the final episode of As the World Turns, airing September 17, 2010.
Personal life
Her first marriage was to Jay Harris, a lawyer. Masters' son Jesse is a musician. He won a Grammy Award in 2003 as a songwriter for Norah Jones.
In the 1970s, Masters had a relationship with John Reilly, who played Dan Stewart on As the World Turns. She also dated Larry Bryggman, who played Dr. John Dixon.
Masters met actor Robert Lipton when he played Jeff Ward on As the World Turns. They were married on January 15, 1983. They divorced in 1988.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1970
|A Day at the Beach
|
|
|-
|1983
|Slayground
|Joni
|
|-
|1984
|Scream for Help
|Karen Cromwell
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012
|Archaeology of a Woman
|Carol Calder
|
|-
|Alter Egos
|Waitress
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1966–1967
|Love of Life
|Hester Ferris
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|1968
|Another World
|Missy Palmer
|
|-
|Premiere
|Paula
|Episode: "Higher and Higher, Attorneys at Law"
|-
|1968–1979, 1986–2010
|As the World Turns
|Dr. Susan Stewart
|Contract role: 1968–1979, 1986–1999, Recurring role: 1999–2010
|-
|1980
|Secrets of Midland Heights
|Fran Hillard
|Episode: "Decisions"
|-
|1981
|Ramblin'Man
|Carol
|Episode: "On the Run"
|-
|1982
|One Life to Live
|Helen Murdock
|Recurring role
|-
|1990
|The Baby-Sitters Club
|Dr. Peggy Johannsen
|Episode: "Baby-Sitters Special Christmas"
|-
|1994; 2001
|Law & Order
|Mary Cushman; Laura Tinsdale
|Episodes: "Breeder", "Armed Forces"
|}
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Title
!Result
!Ref.
|-
|1990
|Soap Opera Digest Award
|Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime
|As the World Turns
|
|