Exclusive Portrait: Susan Lucci of Recently Canceled ‘All My Children’

CHICAGO – Earlier this month ABC-TV announced that the daytime soap opera “All My Children” would end its 41 year run in September. This also is the end of the villainess character Erica Kane, who is portrayed by Susan Lucci. Her journey with that show is chronicled in her new memoir “All My Life.”

Lucci was in the Chicago area two weeks before the big announcement, signing her new book and greeting fans at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville, Illinois. The event was sponsored by Anderson’s Bookstore.

Susan Lucci is the only cast member of All My Children to have been with the show through the entire run, and is one of the most well-known characters in soap opera history. She became notorious for her long run of Emmy nominations without a win for best actress in a daytime drama, finally winning on her 19th try in 1999. She came in sixth place during Season Seven of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Photographer Joe Arce got this Exclusive Portrait of Susan Lucci at the book signing event.

All My Daytimes: Susan Lucci at Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, April 1st, 2011 Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com.

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]