Occupation: Author and former actress

Children: Heather and Benji (with Jordan Rydell)

Grandchildren: Violet Armstrong

Relationships: Jordan Rydell, Troy Beauchamp, Brett Armstrong

Appearances: Seasons 1-Current; The Blackthornes (Seasons 4-6)

Who’d Play Her: Brooke Shields

The Star Who Survived Her Own Secrets: Suzanne Rogers was a celebrated actress, author, and longtime fixture in Hollywood. Once married to powerful producer Jordan Rydell, she shared two children with him, Heather and the late Benji, and remained deeply connected to the Rydell and Blackthorne families long after their marriage ended. Her life had already been shaped by fame, scandal, loss, and recovery before the season pulled her into one of her darkest chapters.

Suzanne began falling for Mickey Donovan, despite repeated warnings from Heather, Brett, Renee, and James Blackthorne. Mickey presented himself as attentive, wounded, and deeply devoted, allowing Suzanne to believe she had found someone who saw her beyond the glamour and damage of her past. For a time, she let herself ignore the criminal world surrounding him.

Her faith in Mickey shattered at Corso’s grand opening when she witnessed Bruno and Dennis brutally beating studio executive Daniel Hargrove while Mickey calmly watched. Horrified by the violence and by how easily Mickey accepted it, Suzanne ended the relationship and admitted to James that everyone had been right about him.

James became Suzanne’s primary source of emotional support after the breakup. Their relationship remained platonic, but James’s wife, Lara Devon, returned from rehab increasingly convinced that the two were having an affair. Lara’s jealousy escalated after she found lipstick on James’s shirt, read Suzanne’s messages, and followed him to Suzanne’s condominium.

The conflict turned public on Rodeo Drive, where Lara attacked Suzanne with cruel remarks about her past, including the death of her son Benji. Suzanne slapped her in front of witnesses and cameras, an impulsive act that later made everything far more dangerous.

Encouraged by Mickey to fight for James, Lara broke into Suzanne’s condominium while drunk, unstable, and armed with a steak knife. James had previously given Suzanne a handgun for protection from Mickey. During the struggle between the two women, the gun discharged, killing Lara. Although Suzanne had acted in self-defense, she panicked, certain that their public confrontation would make her look guilty.

Suzanne hid Lara’s body inside the storage drawer beneath her window seat just before James arrived. She managed to conceal the blood, the gun, the knife, and Lara’s phone long enough to convince him nothing was wrong. After James left, Mickey arrived, discovered the body, and took control.

Mickey cleaned the scene, removed evidence, concealed the damaged flooring, and buried Lara beneath fresh concrete at an Arts District construction site. Traumatized and terrified, Suzanne allowed him back into her life and eventually into her home, believing he was the only person capable of protecting her.

Unknown to Suzanne, Lara’s phone had recorded part of the attack, including her threats and the struggle. The footage proved that Suzanne had acted in self-defense, but Mickey hid the phone inside his private safe, keeping the one piece of evidence that could clear her and ensuring she remained dependent on him.