Susan Lucci relects on Emmy struggles and personal loss in new memoir

Susan Lucci, the All My Children icon whose career spanned decades as the unforgettable Erica Kane, has opened up about both her decades-long Emmy roller coaster and her emotional journey away from the spotlight in her new memoir La Lucci. 

In recent interviews promoting the book, the 79-year-old actress revisited her famous Daytime Emmy Award saga, recalling how she endured 18 nominations and 18 losses before finally winning Best Actress in 1999. 

During many ceremonies, Lucci said she felt numb at the repeated disappointments, a way to protect herself from the constant near-misses.

According to Daily Mail, her Emmy story became part of entertainment lore, with Lucci’s name even entering popular culture as shorthand for repeated nominations without a win.

Beyond awards, Lucci’s memoir also explores profound personal loss, notably the death of her husband, Helmut Huber, in 2022 after 52 years of marriage. 

Moreover, she describes feeling “completely lost” in the wake of his passing, detailing the isolating impact of grief and how she began to find her way back toward joy and purpose.

Lucci said writing La Lucci was both a tribute to the support of friends and family and a way to share lessons learned from struggle, resilience and love.