Biography

Susanne was raised and educated in Southern California. Her father was an accountant and her mother was a secretary. When she was eighteen, a photographer saw some snapshots that had been taken of her by a friend and showed them to a top modelling agent who signed her on the spot. With her healthy California looks and fun personality, she started working right away and was soon a top West Coast model and sought-after TV commercial actress. Her television debut came when she was cast together with Jeff Conaway("Taxi") to co-host two 90-minute TV specials for ABC, "California Jam 2," the rock concert held at Ontario Motor Speedway.

Susanne kept busy in popular TV shows and some films, while continuing with modelling, voice-overs, and commercials. She moved to Europe in the 90s where she continued her career very successfully, appearing in several TV shows, including a leading role in a top-rated nightime European soap, movies, and industrial films. She also had a one-woman cabaret show on the life of Marlene Dietrich which she performed in Europe. She is married to Tony van Renterghem, former assistant cameraman and one of Hollywood's top motion picture researchers.
- IMDb mini biography by: Susanne Severeid

Her "yellow towel" celebrity poster was a top-seller; the towel used in the photo was auctioned off to raise money for families of Vietnam War veterans.

Two of the PBS-t.v. documentaries which Susanne hosted won regional EMMY Awards.

Her husband, a former WWII Dutch resistance fighter, was tabbed by the Simon Weisenthal Center to stalk and root out the location of the escaped Nazi butcher Dr. Josef Mengele.

Susanne began her career as a top West Coast model in Los Angeles, modelling for many major accounts such as Honda, Ford, DelMonte Foods, Burger Chef, Chevrolet, Sears, Jantzen Sportswear, Reynolds Aluminum, Michelob Beer, Casio Watches, etc., etc.

Susanne was the recipient of the So. Calif. Motion Picture Bronze Halo Award