A daytime favorite, Ms. Dusay has appeared on such daytime dramas as Santa Barbara (1987-1988) and Capitol (1983-1986), but she is best known to daytime audiences for her portrayal from 1993-1997 and again in 1998 of Alexandra Spaulding on Guiding Light. In 1995, it was this role that garnered her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress.
Marj Dusay, born Marjorie Ellen Pivonka Mahoney in Russell, Kansas, began her career in the ground-breaking, L.A. based improvisational comedy group, The Session, with Rob Reiner and Richard Dreyfuss. Her motion picture debut was with Elvis Presley in Clam Bake. Her other feature film credits include MacArthur, Breezy, Made in Heaven, Love Walked In and Sweet November.
Along with being accomplished on the stage, this prolific actress has had lead roles in such series as Facts of Life, Sons and Daughters, Bret Maverick, Studio 5-B and Cliff Hangers. She has also guest-starred in over 150 television series, including WKRP in Cincinnati, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Heat of the Night, Perfect Strangers, Murder, She Wrote, Dallas and Star Trek. Her television work also includes miniseries credits, Daughters of Privilege, Wheels and Fire in the Sky.
Ms. Dusay served as the Kansas Film Commissioner from 1984-98 and is still active in the organization's efforts to bring the film world to her home state of Kansas. An avid golfer, she resides in Manhattan and is the mother of actress Deborah Dusay Blocker and the late Randall Dusay, who died of AIDS in 1993; and grandmother to Deena Randall.
For a complete listing of Ms. Dusay's television appearances, click here.
Acting Portfolio
FILM
A Chronicle of Corpses
Grandmother Elliot
2000
Love Walked In
Mrs. Moore
1998
Made in Heaven
Mrs. Packert
1987
Pendulum
Liz Tennant
1968
Clambake
Waitress
1967
Awards & Acclaim
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Alexandra Spaulding, Guiding Light 1995)
Vital Statistics
BIRTHPLACE: Russell, Kansas
BIRTHDATE: February 20th, 1936
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