Susan Ruttan, the 1980s television icon best known for Roxanne Melman on NBC’s L.A. Law, was seen in Hollywood on Wednesday during a rare public outing that followed her 77th birthday on Sept. 16. The L.A. Law alum wore a casual outfit as she moved through a day of errands, marking a rare public appearance for the long-running star.
Photos from the sighting show Ruttan dressed in a black sweatshirt, dark navy sweatpants, and sneakers, with sunglasses and a cross‑body bag as she ran errands at a local market. She was later photographed at a Burger King drive-thru, grabbing a bite before continuing on her day.
Ruttan’s eight-season run on L.A. Law — which aired from 1986 to 1994 — elevated her profile and earned her four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She remained a central figure through much of the series’ run, then made occasional appearances in the final season as she focused on family.
Beyond L.A. Law, she reprised her Roxanne Melman role in the 2002 television movie L.A. Law: The Movie. She began her career in the early 1980s with small parts in shows such as Quincy, M.E., Best of the West, Buffalo Bill, The Jeffersons, and The New Leave It to Beaver, then added credits including Growing Pains, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, The Good Doctor, and 3rd Rock From The Sun.
Ruttan has described acting as something she did by accident, saying she never set out to be an actor. Her more recent work includes the Netflix comedy series A Man on the Inside, in which she plays Gladys Montrose during the first season; the show also stars Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Stephanie Beatriz.
Born in Oregon, Ruttan’s career encompasses decades of television roles and film work, illustrating the longevity of a performer who moved from early guest spots to a recurring presence on one of the era’s landmark dramas.