Susan Vanita Diol (born May 25, 1962) is an American actress who has played supporting roles in over forty television series, including Quantum Leap (1989–1993; 2022–2024), One Life to Live, Wings, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, NCIS, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Career

1986–1999

Diol acted in children's theatre productions in Illinois before beginning her on-screen career. She appeared in episodes of sitcoms, including: two 1990 episodes of Night Court, playing Dan Fielding's (John Larroquette) sister Donna; the Seinfeld 1991 episode "The Nose Job", as Audrey (the one who had the nose job); and a 1995 episode of Wings, playing a call girl whom Joe and Brian inadvertently choose as a rebound date for lovelorn Antonio. Diol has appeared in episodes of science fiction television series, including: portraying Carmen Davila in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Silicon Avatar"; the role of Doctor Danara Pel in the Star Trek: Voyager episodes "Lifesigns" and "Resolutions"; the role of Beth Calavicci, first wife of Al Calavicci, in two episodes of Quantum Leap (including the finale to the original run of the series). Diol was in the made-for-TV movies Popeye Doyle (1986) as The Blonde, A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester (1995) as Ivy West, and Alien Nation: Millennium (1996) as Marina Del Ray. She was the replacement for Amanda Plummer in the Broadway play You Never Can Tell from October 9, 1986, to January 25, 1987, as Dolly Clandon.

2000–present

Diol took over the role of Alexis Davis on General Hospital temporarily from November 2001 to March 2002 for Nancy Lee Grahn. She played Gabby in the French film Reality (2014) and Cindy in Loqueesha (2019). Diol reprised the role of Beth in five episodes (over both seasons) of the Quantum Leap revival. She returned to General Hospital in June 2023 as Nurse Clara.

Personal life

Diol was born in Marquette, Michigan, and raised in Palatine, Illinois, and Worthington, Ohio. She graduated from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Diol has married four times: to Jerry Rapp (1991–1993), Shaun Cassidy (1995–2003), Andy Cadiff (2003–2010), and William Newkirk (2014–2016).[citation needed]

Theatre

Start dateEnd dateTitleRoleVenueNotes
October 9, 1986(1986-10-09)January 25, 1987(1987-01-25)You Never Can TellDolly ClandonCircle in the Square Theatre125 performances

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Wedding Bell BoozeEmmaShort film written and directed by Julie Bersani
2014RealityGabySurreal comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Dupieux (French: Réalité)
2019LoqueeshaCindyComedy film written, directed, and produced by Jeremy Saville
2025Rhythm Is a DancerDrunk DonnaComedy-drama film written and directed by Lauren Caster

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Popeye DoyleThe BlondeMade-for-TV movie directed by Peter Levin Also known as The French Connection 3
1987–88The Cosby ShowCherylEpisodes: "The Shower" "Home for the Weekend"
1988HothouseClaudia GarrisonMain role
1989The Road RaidersLt. JohansonMade-for-TV movie directed by Richard Lang
Growing PainsMiss SandersEpisode: "Carol Meets the Real World"
1989–90FMLisaEpisodes: "Ultimate Aphrodisiac" "No Fool Like an April Fool"
1990BaywatchKate JarvisEpisode: "Old Friends"
Night CourtDonnaEpisodes: "A Family Affair, part 1" "A Family Affair, part 2"
Going PlacesDonnaEpisode: "Married to the Mob"
1990–93Quantum LeapBeth CalavicciEpisodes: "M.I.A. – April 1, 1969" "Mirror Image – August 8, 1953"
1990–91Days of Our LivesEmmy BordenRecurring role
1991ParadiseLisaEpisode: "The Valley of the Death"
Star Trek: The Next GenerationCarmen DavilaEpisode: "Silicon Avatar"
SeinfeldAudreyEpisode: "The Nose Job"
1992P.S.I. Luv UValerie VincenzoEpisode: "A Bundle of Trouble"
Seduction: Three Tales from the 'Inner SanctumAda RaymondMade-for-TV movie directed by Michael Ray Rhodes
Civil WarsMargaret StuartEpisode: "Oboe Phobia"
Great Scott!Miss NicastroEpisodes: "Choir Mire" "Stone Moan"
Herman's HeadHypnotistEpisode: "Feardom of Speech"
1993–94One Life to LiveAngela HollidayRecurring role
1993Reasonable DoubtsMrs. RobertsEpisode: "The Iceman"
Murphy BrownMichelleEpisode: "To Market, To Market"
1994One West WaikikiMiriamEpisode: "'Til Death Do Us Part"
Party of FiveRebecca ShayEpisode: "All's Fair"
1994–95ChristyMargaret Henderson MacNeillEpisodes: "Amazing Grace" "The Road Home"
1995Walker, Texas RangerDiane RenoEpisode: "War Zone"
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous JokesterIvy WestMade-for-TV movie directed by Vincent McEveety
Her Deadly RivalJeanMade-for-TV movie directed by James Hayman
WingsHeatherEpisode: "Hooker, Line, and Sinker"
The ClientHelen NicholsEpisode: "The Prodigal Father"
1996Alien Nation: MillenniumMarina Del ReyMade-for-TV movie written and directed by Kenneth Johnson
Touched by an AngelSusan DuplainEpisode: "The One That Got Away"
Star Trek: VoyagerDr. Danara PelEpisodes: "Lifesigns" "Resolutions"
Nick Freno: Licensed TeacherMrs. HaleEpisode: "Me and Mrs. Hale"
1997Diagnosis MurderJeri MurdicoEpisodes: "Murder Two, part 1" "Murder Two, part 2"
Pensacola: Wings of GoldSheila ReddingEpisode: "Freebird"
2000Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI FamilyBrittany EvansEpisode: "Where Have You Gone, Sandy Koufax?"
Yes, DearAndreaEpisode: "Weaning Isn't Everything"
2001The FugitiveJamie LundEpisode: "Tucker's Gift"
2001–02; 2023General HospitalAlexis Davis Nurse ClaraRecurring (Temporarily November 2001 to March 2002 for Nancy Lee Grahn) 2 episodes
2002PhillyMindy Barnes/Elise RedmanEpisode: "Tall Tales"
The AgencyDebraEpisodes: "The Plague Year" "Finale"
The Ellen ShowJoanneEpisode: "Shallow Gal"
2003Touch 'Em All McCallSamanthaMade-for-TV movie directed by Norman Steinberg
2003–11CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationBeth Dunbar Janet HughesEpisodes: "Grissom Versus the Volcano" "Bittersweet"
2005EyesJennifer HarperEpisode: "Whereabouts"
2006Without a TraceCarol WhitneyEpisode: "More Than This"
Desperate HousewivesFlight AttendantEpisode: "No One Is Alone"
2006; 2023NCISDr. Leslie Burke Doris SawyerEpisodes: "Witch Hunt" "Big Rig"
2009Cold CaseKristi DurenEpisode: "Dead Heat"
2013–14Hart of DixieCarolee O'ConnellEpisodes: "I Ran to You" "Something to Talk About"
2014–15Murder in the FirstDenisonEpisodes: "Burning Woman" "Blue on Blue"
2015PerceptionMrs. GardnerEpisode: "Romeo"
2016NotoriousRita RollinsEpisode: "The Perp Walk"
Bad TwinAttorneyMade-for-TV movie directed by John Murlowski
2017The Wrong MotherDr. BarteliniMade-for-TV movie directed by Craig Goldsmith Also known as Deadly Devotion
HackerMotel AttendantMade-for-TV movie directed by Nadeem Soumah
Your Own RoadSophieMade-for-TV movie directed by Brandon Buczek
2022–24Quantum LeapBeth Calavicci5 episodes

Sources

External links