What happened to Suzanne Shepherd? The beloved ‘go-to mother actress’ who starred in Goodfellas and The Sopranos passes away aged 89. How she died, fortune, and more explored.
Suzanne Shepherd had a flourishing career in the American entertainment industry for decades.
She was an actress and a theater director.
She is famous for her roles in movies like Goodfellas and The Sopranos.
In November 2023, the world learned about her death and following that, fans want to know more about her cause of death, health conditions, career, movies and TV shows, and net worth. Keep reading for more.
What was Suzanne Shepherd’s cause of death?
Beloved mob actress Suzanne Shepherd has died at 89.
Shepherd’s granddaughter, Isabelle, confirmed her death.
A cause of death was not provided, and the family did not provide additional details.
Fans online hailed the 89-year-old as a “go-to” actress for motherly parts in the entertainment industry.
“I didn’t know that,” one fan noted of her death in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“She really was the ‘go to’ mother actress.”
Fellow Sopranos actor Ray Abruzzo took to Instagram to issue a touching statement about Shepherd’s death.
“Sad to hear of the passing of Suzanne Shepherd,” Abruzzo wrote.
“A force of nature. Actress, teacher. Played Carmella’s mother on Sopranos and Karen’s mother in Goodfellas.”
Who was Suzanne Shepherd? She had an impressive career
Shepherd was famous for her roles in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas and the famed drama series The Sopranos.
The 89-year-old portrayed the mother of the character Karen Hill, played by Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas.
In The Sopranos, she famously played Mary DeAngelis, the mother of Carmela Soprano, played by actress Edie Falco.
Shepherd had a career that lasted over 35 years, with her first role being Aunt Tweedy in 1988’s Mystic Pizza.
She also guest-starred in Law & Order and Blue Bloods and had a supporting role in 2000’s Requiem for a Dream starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans.
Other recognized performances of Shepherd’s came from her roles in 1989’s Uncle Buck and 1997’s Lolita.
Her latest appearance was in 2023’s The Performance as the character of Tess.
The 89-year-old also directed at several prestigious theaters across the United States and overseas in South Africa, per SNBC13.
Shepherd was also an acting coach, dedicating over four decades of lessons to actors at her studio in New York City.
She reportedly learned from legends in the industry, such as Sanford Meisner, Herbert Berghof, and Larry Arrick.
The beloved actress also held faculty positions at the Herbert Berghof Studio, the Hartman Conservatory, and Trinity Square Conservatory.
An upcoming documentary called A Gift of Fire will also chronicle her career as an acting teacher.
What was Suzanne Shepherd’s net worth?
Before passing away, the late actress had a significant fortune for her decade-long career in the entertainment industry.
Suzanne Shepherd had an estimated net worth of between $950,000 and $3 million.
She accrued her money from her work as a movie star and a film director.
Who is Suzanne Shepherd’s husband and does she have any children?
The name of actress Suzanne Shepherd’s husband is not known but she has a daughter named Kate.
Kate gave her a granddaughter, Isabelle, when she was alive.
She is also survived by her son-in-law Miles and daughter-in-law Joyce.