Sharp 80s Legal Drama Secretary Spotted in LA—Who Is She?

She portrayed the morally upright legal secretary who served as the grounding force in the office, often providing a counterbalance to the more morally ambiguous choices of her cold-eyed colleagues on a hit legal drama. 

The series, which aired from the late ’80s to early ’90s, followed a group of ruthless lawyers navigating complex legal and ethical battles. 

The 76-year-old actress’ character easily resonated with fans as the humble, capable secretary who holds her ground in an office where greed reigns supreme, which quickly turned her into a fan favorite and earned her four Primetime Emmy nominations during the series nine-year run.

Most interesting to watch was her relationship with her abrasive divorce lawyer boss who once fought for a deceased colleague’s office space and bedded far too many clients to count.

Throughout the 90s and 2000s, she also made guest appearances on other hit TV shows such as Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hannah Montana.

Can you guess who she is?

She portrayed the morally upright legal secretary who served as the grounding force in the office, often providing a counterbalance to the more morally ambiguous choices of her cold-eyed colleagues on a hit legal drama 

The 76-year-old actress’s character easily resonated with fans as the humble, capable secretary who holds her ground in an office where greed reigns supreme, which earned her four Primetime Emmy nominations during the series’s nine-year run 

Most interesting to watch was her relationship with her abrasive divorce lawyer boss who once fought for a deceased colleague’s office space and has bedded far too many clients to count 

It’s Susan Ruttan from LA Law! 

The 76-year-old actress, who has always been known to stay out of the limelight, was spotted in Los Angeles on a rare outing. 

Ruttan’s outfit was both classy and stylish as she exited her white Honda Fit. 

She sported a navy blue button-up quarter-sleeve shirt, a pair of hip and slightly baggy light-wash denim jeans with a pair of white sneakers. 

For accessories, she went with a pair of black sunglasses, a black sling bag with tan lining and kept her sleek white hair in a ponytail.

Ruttan is best known for her role as Roxanne Melman on L.A. Law, a humble legal secretary who wasn’t afraid to stand up to her boss, divorce lawyer Arnie Becker, played by Corbin Bernsen.

Susan Ruttan, 76, was spotted in Los Angeles on a rare outing and wore a fashionable outfit as she exited her white Honda Fit

On her outing, she wore a navy blue button-up quarter-sleeve shirt, a pair of hip and slightly baggy light-wash denim jeans with a pair of white sneakers

For accessories, she went with a pair of black sunglasses, a black sling bag with tan lining and kept her sleek white hair in a ponytail

In the often bizarre world of L.A. Law’s courtroom dramas, Roxanne stood out as a character who brought common-sense savvy to the table. Her down-to-earth nature and practical approach made her a fan favorite, especially as she showcased real-life secretary skills – skills she’d honed long before stepping into acting.

Ruttan shared with Deseret News that she had taken secretary classes in high school and worked as a temp to support herself after the death of her husband, Mel Ruttan Jr., when she was just 22 years old after four years of marriage.

Drawing from this experience, Ruttan infused Roxanne with a depth that defied the typical secretary stereotypes. Rather than conforming to the submissive, ‘wife’ archetype often assigned to secretaries in television, Roxanne rebelled against her boss Becker’s wishes which made their relationship compelling.

The show paved the way for the influx of legal dramas that followed and won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes for its layered characters and dramatic storylines. 

Ruttan herself was nominated four times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

She would come back to play the role of Shays in 2002 for a L.A. Law reunion in a TV movie. 

Ruttan is best known for her role as Roxanne Melman on L.A. Law but she also played in another legal drama, Courthouse with the late Alan Rachins

Her ability to make the character of Roxanne the most likable earned her four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Although her roles have slowed down over the years, she continues to work in the industry with her most recent role as Gladys Montrose on the comedy series A Man on the Inside alongside Ted Danson and Sally Struthers

Prior to her breakout role as Rosalind Shays, Ruttan first earned recognition playing the scheming wife of a rival dry cleaner on The Jeffersons which ran from 1975 to 1985. 

After her success on L.A. Law, she went on to star in guest roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002), Gilmore Girls (2001) and Hannah Montana (2009). 

Ruttan showcased her versatility with a range of roles in movies, including a comedic turn in the teen comedy Bad Manners – also known as Growing Pains – in 1984, and a memorable performance in the 1990 romantic comedy Funny About Love, starring Gene Wilder. 

She also took on a darker, more dramatic role as convicted killer Genene Jones in the 1991 television movie Deadly Medicine.

Although her roles have slowed down, at the age of 76, Ruttan continues to work in the industry with her most recent role coming last year when she played Gladys Montrose on the comedy series A Man on the Inside.