The actress who traded a Nashville role for a life of activism

Entertainment · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: From her early life in Queens to the bright lights of Broadway, Susan Anspach became a celebrated talent of the 1970s. While she starred in iconic films like Five Easy Pieces, she also balanced her artistic career with a deep commitment to human rights and social justice activism.

Born in Queens in 1942, Anspach’s early life was marked by significant instability. After being raised by a great-aunt until age six, she returned to an abusive home, eventually running away at 15. She found refuge with a family in Harlem through a Roman Catholic organization. This period of her youth was defined by a reliance on the church and psychoanalysis, which she described as her "parents" for nearly a decade.

Her professional trajectory was equally compelling. After graduating from the Catholic University of America on a full scholarship, she moved into the New York theater scene. She notably appeared in the musical Hair at the Cheetah Theatre and starred off-Broadway in A View from the Bridge alongside icons like Robert Duvall and Dustin Hoffman. Her film career took off in 1970 with Five Easy Pieces, where New York Times critic Vincent Canby hailed her as "one of America's most charming and talented actresses."

Despite her success, Anspach’s career was shaped by both major roles and notable exclusions. She was famously passed over for the role of Barbara Jean in the 1975 film Nashville because her salary request exceeded the ensemble's budget. Beyond the screen, she was a dedicated activist, marching with United Farm Workers leader Cesar Chavez and protesting the apartheid system in South Africa. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 75.

Anspach's personal life was interwoven with the Hollywood elite. She had a son with Jack Nicholson and a daughter with fellow Hair cast member Steve Curry. She was married twice, first to actor Mark Goddard, who adopted both her children, and later to musician Sherwood Ball. Her legacy remains a blend of high-caliber dramatic performance and a commitment to human rights advocacy.

Her filmography includes 19 features and eight television movies, spanning works like Blue Monkey and Blood Red. While she may not have reached the heights of a leading lady in every blockbuster, her presence in maverick films and her advocacy work solidified her status as a significant cultural figure of her era.

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