# Susan Misner
**Susan Misner** (born 1971) is an American actress, dancer, and choreographer from [Paterson, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/paterson-new-jersey), known for her Broadway career as a dancer, her role as Liz in the film *Chicago* (2002), and her recurring television roles, most prominently Sandra Beeman on FX's Cold War drama *The Americans*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Paterson, New Jersey, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/) |
| Broadway debut | Swing and later Doll replacement in the revival of *Guys and Dolls* (1992–1995)[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260) |
| Breakout film role | Liz in *Chicago* (2002), appearing in the "Cell Block Tango" routine[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/susan_misner) |
| Ensemble awards | Shared the 2003 Screen Actors Guild Award and Critics Choice Award for the cast of *Chicago*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/awards/) |
| Signature TV role | Sandra Beeman on *The Americans* (2013–2016)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/) |
| Solo acting award | Best Supporting Actress, New York International Independent Film Festival, for *Walking on the Sky*[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-misner/bio/3030083208/) |
| Second career strand | Television choreographer on shows including *Fosse/Verdon*, *Halston*, and *The Bad Guys*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/) |
## Training and Broadway career
Misner grew up in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, and studied dance from age 11 to 18 at the King Centre for the Performing Arts in Wanaque; before committing to dance full time she was a competitive gymnast[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-misner/bio/3030083208/). She moved to New York to pursue a stage career and appeared in four Broadway productions between 1992 and 1997[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260).
Her Broadway credits, in order, were:
- *Guys and Dolls* (revival, 1992–1995), as an original swing and later replacement in the role of Doll[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260).
- *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying* (revival, 1995–1996), as a replacement dance soloist[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260).
- *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* (revival, 1996–1998), as an original performer in the role of Geminae[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260).
- *Dream* (original musical, 1997), as an original performer[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260).
Her dancing also led to early screen work: she appeared as a [Harry Winston](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-winston) dancer in [Woody Allen](https://www.edgepedia.org/woody-allen)'s musical *Everyone Says I Love You* (1996), and in music videos for [Taylor Dayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-dayne) and C&C Music Factory[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/) • [5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-misner/bio/3030083208/).
## Shift to acting
Misner made her onscreen acting debut in 1999 as Grace Davidson on the ABC soap opera *One Life to Live*; the character died on her wedding day, a plotline the Rotten Tomatoes biography notes as a classic soap departure[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/susan_misner). The role opened the door to steady television guest work through the 2000s, including *Sex and the City*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *Rescue Me*, *Gossip Girl*, *In Treatment*, and *The Good Wife*[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/susan_misner).
**Chicago.** Her Broadway background helped her win the part of Liz in [Rob Marshall](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-marshall)'s film of *Chicago* (2002), where she appears in the "Cell Block Tango" number alongside [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/catherine-zeta-jones)[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/susan_misner). As part of the ensemble she shared the 2003 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture and the 2003 Critics Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble; she also shared the 2003 Online Film & Television Association award for Best Music, Adapted Song for "Cell Block Tango"[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/awards/). Her other film work includes *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), *The Forgotten* (2004), *The Hoax* (2006), *Cayman Went* (2009), *[Hope Springs](https://www.edgepedia.org/hope-springs-2012-film)* (2012), and *Assassination Nation* (2018)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/). For *Walking on the Sky* she won the Best Supporting Actress award at the New York International Independent Film Festival[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-misner/bio/3030083208/).
## Television roles
Misner's most prominent television role came in 2013, when she joined *The Americans* as Sandra Beeman, wife of FBI agent Stan Beeman ([Noah Emmerich](https://www.edgepedia.org/noah-emmerich)); Rotten Tomatoes describes it as her first co-starring role in prime time[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/susan_misner). She played the role from 2013 to 2016[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/). Other substantial television work includes Dr. Nora White on *Shut Eye* (2016–2017), Terri McCue on *Billions* (2016–2018), Jessica Arndt on *Person of Interest*, Dr. Stacey Douglas on *Nashville*, and [Joan McCracken](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-mccracken) in *Fosse/Verdon* (2019)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/). More recently she played Abby Deaver across nine episodes of *FBI: Most Wanted* (2024–2025), including the series finale[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/115/susan-misner) • [7](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/law-and-order-guest-star-just-debuted-her-sixth-character-in-the-franchise-but-fans-might-know-her-from-a-different-dick-wolf-show).
She has a long history with the *Law & Order* franchise: her 2026 guest appearance as attorney Allison Whitt on *Law & Order* marked her sixth character across the franchise's shows, more than any other guest performer noted in that coverage[7](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/law-and-order-guest-star-just-debuted-her-sixth-character-in-the-franchise-but-fans-might-know-her-from-a-different-dick-wolf-show).
## Choreography
Alongside acting, Misner works as a television choreographer, with credits including *Fosse/Verdon* (2019), *Halston* (2021), *The Bad Guys* (2022), *American Horror Story* (2022), *American Horror Stories* (2023–2024), *[Hello Tomorrow!](https://www.edgepedia.org/hello-tomorrow)* (2023), *Feud* (2024), and *Elsbeth* (2024–2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/). She also teaches dance for The Performing Arts Project, a nonprofit formed by educators and entertainment industry professionals[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-misner/bio/3030083208/).
## Personal life
Misner has been married to Jonathan Bernstein since 1999[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/). She is sometimes credited as Susie Misner[8](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/misner-susan-1971).
## References
1. [Susan Misner, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/)
2. [Susan Misner – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/susan-misner-73260)
3. [Susan Misner, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/susan_misner)
4. [Susan Misner – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0592874/awards/)
5. [Susan Misner Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/susan-misner/bio/3030083208/)
6. [Susan Misner, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/115/susan-misner)
7. [Law & Order Guest Just Debuted Her Sixth Character In The Franchise, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/law-and-order-guest-star-just-debuted-her-sixth-character-in-the-franchise-but-fans-might-know-her-from-a-different-dick-wolf-show)
8. [Misner, Susan 1971–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/misner-susan-1971)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Mc to Mi*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license