Susan George (actress)

Susan Melody George (born 26 July 1950) is an English film and television actress. She is best known for appearing in films such as Straw Dogs (1971) with Dustin Hoffman, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) with Peter Fonda, and Mandingo (1975) with Ken Norton.

In the early 1970s, George came to be associated with rather provocative, sometimes (as in Straw Dogs) controversial roles and became typecast. Cinema writer Leslie Halliwell's rather terse summary of her career was: "British leading lady, former child actress; usually typed as sexpot".

Her lighter side was apparent in some of her TV appearances, such as in an episode ("The Gold Napoleon") of The Persuaders (1971) with Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. In 1988, George marked her film-producing debut with Stealing Heaven.

Early life
She was born in Surbiton, Surrey, to Billie and Norman George, with sister, Pamela Anne George. She has recalled many holidays at the caravan park in Font-y-Gary in South Wales as a child. She trained at the Stage School, Corona Theatre School and has acted since the age of four.

Career
She appeared in The Dickie Henderson Show in 1962 and started working steadily on television in shows such as ITV Television Playhouse, Swallows and Amazons and Weavers Green.

George had small roles in films such as The Sorcerers (1967) and Up the Junction (1968).

British stardom
George starred opposite Michael York in The Strange Affair (1968). She starred in All Neat in Black Stockings (1969) then the lead and starring role in Lola in 1969 with Charles Bronson. Other starring roles include: Spring and Port Wine (1970) with James Mason, Eyewitness (1970) with director John Hough, Die Screaming, Marianne (1971) and Fright (1971) for director Peter Collinson.

George's international breakthrough was starring opposite Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs (1971) a huge box office hit. When asked in a 2013 interview about working with Hoffman and director Sam Peckinpah in Straw Dogs, George said:

"I had a love-hate relationship with Sam, but he was a brilliant director and a genius of his time. Dustin was a generous actor to work with, who could be intense at times, but had a great personality and an incredibly mischievous sense of humour. Making the film was a fantastic experience and one that I cherish to this day." George went to Europe to appear in Sonny and Jed (1972).

US career
George received an offer to star in Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) for director John Hough, which was a big hit. Also popular was Mandingo (1975).

Less seen were Out of Season (1975), A Small Town in Texas (1976), Tintorera (1977) and Tomorrow Never Comes (1978).

George guest starred on television and was in Enter the Ninja (1981), Venom (1981), The House Where Evil Dwells (1982)

Later career
George moved into producing and later returned to England.

Personal life
Susan George was married to British actor Simon MacCorkindale from 5 October 1984 until his death on 14 October 2010. They did not have any children.

Before her marriage, she had a four-year relationship with American singer Jack Jones, and, circa 1980, spent another four years as the partner of casino manager Derek Webster.

George breeds Arabian horses and has a stud farm called Georgian Arabians.

As executive producer

 * Stealing Heaven (1988)
 * That Summer of White Roses (1989)
 * The House That Mary Bought (1995) (TV)

As miscellaneous crew

 * Jackie Brown (1997) ('very special thanks')