Susan Zelinsky


Susan Zelinsky is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, musical theater director, and humanitarian born to parents Michael and Linda Zelinsky in San Francisco, California. She has performed and recorded with such recording artists as Eric Martin, Eddie Money, Pablo Cruise, Jeff Watson, The Doobie Brothers, Vicki Randle, Joel Jaffe, Penny Framstad, Noelle Hampton, The Rowans, and more.
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Early life

Zelinsky split her time growing up with her father in San Francisco, California and with her mother in Carpinteria, California. She began playing the piano and writing songs at the age of nine. Her father gave her a guitar when she was thirteen and she taught herself to play. She attended The American Conservatory Theater, Young Conservatory in San Francisco, California as well as studying acting at Jean Shelton Actor's Lab at Shelton Studios.
She studied Shakespeare and theater at The College of Marin and was a recipient of The Robin Williams Scholarship Award.

Acting career

Zelinsky began acting professionally since 1987 and has been featured in national television commercials, TV series, and films. She is also an award-winning musical theater actress and singer.

Film and television

  • 2015 - Mermaids on Mars Mother
  • 2010 - Background Cafe Owner
  • 2001 - Sweet November (2001 film) Waitress
  • 1997 - Nash Bridges Waitress
  • 1977 - Moving Target ... Waitress
  • 1988 - Chivalrous Deeds of a Nincompoop

Musical Theater

Zelinksy has performed in lead roles as a singer and actress in such musical productions as Hairspray, The Sound Of Music, Steel Magnolias, and West Side Story amongst others in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. She has performed in ten musicals at The Mountain Play Theater, an outdoor amphitheater on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, playing the lead role of Tanya in 2018 to a sold-out audience for four consecutive nights.

Theater Credits

Musical Theater Awards

  • 2013 - SFBATCC Award - Best Actress in a Play
  • 2004 - San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award - Best Actress in a Musical
  • 1998 - SFBATCC Nominee - Best Actress in a Musical
  • 1998 - Dean Goodman Choice Award - Best Actress in a Musical

Music career

Zelinksy began performing professionally in 1994 under the band name, Susan Z. She performed regionally from the Marin Bay Area to Southern California and has released two albums, Believe in 1999 and Cautionary Tales in 2004. Her music, Justin Jones was featured in Hi Line in 1997 and California was featured in Nash Bridges in 1999.

Music In Video Games

Wine, Women, & Song

Wine, Women & Song® is an annual benefit concert which raises money for the fight against breast cancer, founded by Susan Zelinsky, in 1998. As of 2018, over $350,000 has been raised and given to local charities: To Celebrate Life Breast Cancer Foundation and ZERO Breast Cancer of Marin.