Laurie Partridge is played by 18-year-old Susan Dey, who is beginning her acting career in this series. Born in Illinois, but she has
lived for many years in Mount Kisco, N.Y. Her father is an editor of a newspaper in New Rochelle, N.Y.
"I love doing this series," Susan said enthusiastically. "It's just fantastic. I've never done anything like this before. I've done
modeling, but that's so different. Then you just stand there and the camera clicks."
Susan was graduated from the Fox Lane School in Bedford, N.Y., last June. She spent the last semester taking lessons by mail. "I started modeling when I was 16," she said. "I modeled during the summers of 1968 and 1969. In November of 1969 I came out here to screen test for this series. After I got the part I went back to New York and modeled. I lived in the home of my agent, who also has a daughter, so they were like a second family to me."
Susan's own family was always very close. "My brother is 16 and my little sister is nine. They both live at home. My older sister is 20 and is getting married, so she's leaving us. My family was always just great. I found my independence when I began modeling in New York. My parents have always been concerned about my welfare, but I don't resent it. When I think of home, or am asked my home address, I really have a home to think about. I didn't always get my own way, but I was always free to express my opinions. My parents have always been 100 per cent in back of me.
"I first went into drama when I was in the 11th grade -- and just loved it. Anything I knew when I came to California to do the pilot for this series I learned from my high school drama coach. When I was in New York City I modeled during the day, and took drama and voice lessons at night. On weekends I just collapsed.
"Before I got involved with drama I studied most of the time and baby-sat a lot. I dated one guy from the time I was 15 until I was
17. When he went off to college we decided to break up."
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Early Susan Dey profile
Here's a great profile of Susan Dey from very early on in her career. Written by Peggy Hudson, this article is excerpted from a piece on The Partridge Family that appeared in a book called 'TV 71'. The book was first published in December 1970 and concerns itself with "inside stories about the 1971 TV season." The section on Susan Dey is mostly constructed from quotes by the actress and she talks a lot about her modeling career and her family.