1. Overview
Suzanna Potter Love, born on April 8, 1950, is an American former actress and screenwriter primarily recognized for her extensive collaborations with her husband, director Ulli Lommel, throughout the 1980s. Her career is marked by notable roles in several of Lommel's films, including the supernatural slasher The Boogeyman (1980) and the psychological thriller Olivia (1983). She also contributed to the screenplays for horror films like BrainWaves (1982) and The Devonsville Terror (1983), in which she also starred. After a career spanning over a decade, Love retired from acting in 1991, though she has made infrequent public appearances in recent years to discuss her past work.
2. Early Life and Background
Suzanna Love's early life was shaped by her family's notable background and her educational experiences, culminating in a pivotal decision to pursue an acting career after overcoming personal challenges.
2.1. Birth and Family
Suzanna Potter Love was born in New York City on April 8, 1950. Her parents were Marie Felicité (née Pratt; 1926-2002) and Kennett Love (1924-2013). Her father, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, served as a correspondent for The New York Times, extensively covering international affairs during the 1950s. Her mother was a direct descendant of Charles Pratt, the founder of the esteemed Pratt Institute. Through her lineage, Love is also an heiress to the prominent DuPont family.
2.2. Education and Early Experiences
Love and her siblings were raised in the Roman Catholic faith. She attended the Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in New Jersey before enrolling at Vassar College. However, she discontinued her studies after her second year and subsequently relocated to London. During her time in London, Love briefly struggled with heroin addiction. Following her recovery and achieving sobriety, she returned to the United States and made the decision to embark on an acting career.
3. Acting Career
Suzanna Love began her acting journey with a minor role before establishing a significant professional relationship with director Ulli Lommel, which defined much of her career in the 1980s through numerous collaborations.
3.1. Early Roles and Debut
Suzanna Love's initial foray into acting included a minor part in the 1979 film Hair, where she was credited under the stage name Suki Love. Following this, she auditioned for director Ulli Lommel for his upcoming horror film, The Boogeyman, which was released in 1980. This meeting proved to be pivotal, leading to the beginning of both a romantic and professional relationship between them.
3.2. Collaboration with Ulli Lommel
On January 26, 1978, Suzanna Love and Ulli Lommel were married in New York City, cementing a partnership that would profoundly influence her acting career. Throughout the 1980s, Love became a frequent collaborator in Lommel's films, often starring in and co-writing several of his projects. Their joint ventures began with Cocaine Cowboys in 1979, followed by Blank Generation and The Boogeyman, both released in 1980. In The Boogeyman, she notably co-starred alongside her brother, Nicholas Love, who portrayed her character's brother in the film.
In 1983, Suzanna Love appeared in four of Lommel's films, showcasing her versatility across different genres. These included the psychological thriller Olivia; the science fiction film BrainWaves; the horror film Boogeyman II; and the supernatural horror film The Devonsville Terror, the latter of which she co-wrote with Lommel. The following year, in 1984, Love featured in Lommel's satirical science fiction musical film Strangers in Paradise, where she took on the role of a punk singer. Her collaborations with Lommel continued into 1985 with the comedy Revenge of the Stolen Stars.
4. Later Life and Public Appearances
After concluding her acting career, Suzanna Love largely maintained a private life, though she has occasionally re-engaged with the public through specific projects related to her filmography.
Love largely withdrew from the public eye after her retirement from acting in 1991. However, she has made notable exceptions to this seclusion. In 2020, she collaborated with Vinegar Syndrome, providing an on-camera interview for the Blu-ray release of her film Olivia. This engagement was followed in 2023 by additional interviews for the company's Blu-ray releases of The Devonsville Terror and The Boogeyman, offering further insights into her past work and experiences in the film industry.
5. Filmography
Suzanna Love's filmography includes a range of roles as an actress and contributions as a screenwriter, primarily within the horror and independent film genres, often in collaboration with director Ulli Lommel.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Hair | Debutante #2 | Credited as Suki Love |
| 1979 | Cocaine Cowboys | Lucy | |
| 1980 | Blank Generation | Lizzy | |
| 1980 | The Boogeyman | Lacey | |
| 1983 | Olivia | Olivia | Also known as: Prozzie, or Double Jeopardy |
| 1983 | BrainWaves | Kaylie Bedford | Also known as: Shadow of Death |
| 1983 | Boogeyman II | Lacey | Also known as: Revenge of the Boogeyman |
| 1983 | The Devonsville Terror | Jenny Scanlon | Co-writer |
| 1984 | Strangers in Paradise | Sukey | |
| 1985 | Revenge of the Stolen Stars | Kelly | Also known as: Star Ruby's Curse |
| 1991 | A Smile in the Dark |
6. Legacy and Assessment
Suzanna Love's career is notable for her prominent roles and creative contributions within the cult and horror film genres, primarily through her close collaboration with director Ulli Lommel.
6.1. Assessment of Acting Career
Suzanna Love's acting career is largely defined by her work in the independent and cult film scene, particularly her association with Ulli Lommel's unique cinematic style. While critical evaluations of her acting style are not extensively documented, her consistent presence and co-writing credits in a series of genre films from the 1980s highlight her significant contribution to these productions. Her roles in films like The Boogeyman, Olivia, and The Devonsville Terror have cemented her status within the horror and psychological thriller subgenres, where these films have garnered a dedicated following over the years. Her ability to embody complex characters, as seen in her portrayal of Olivia or the co-written role of Jenny Scanlon, suggests a commitment to the distinctive narratives of Lommel's vision. Her work is remembered by fans and enthusiasts of cult cinema for its distinctive aesthetic and thematic elements, a legacy shaped by her deep involvement in her husband's film projects.