What Happened to Susan Richardson? The Truth Behind Her Hollywood Exit

Richardson found herself surrounded by people who only valued her for her success. She further endured a battle with addiction, a hiatus from acting to raise her daughter, and, eventually, a nightmare in North Korea that nearly ended her life.

This all began in the 1970s. Her career took off when she was discovered by director George Lucas, who gave her a part in the 1973 musical “American Graffiti.”

On that set, she met Ron Howard, which led to a guest role on “Happy Days.” Soon after, she landed the role of Susan Bradford on “Eight Is Enough,” a family drama that ran from 1977 to 1981.

The show was a massive hit, catapulting its young cast members into stardom. Before landing the role, the actress had been living a simple life on a farm, far removed from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

However, overnight success came with its challenges. Richardson, along with her fellow cast members, went from being “normal people” to getting swept up in the “high-paced L.A race — L.A scene.”

At the peak of her career, she was making between $10,000 and $15,000 per week and was suddenly surrounded by new friends who, she later realized, were only there for her money and fame. When her popularity faded, so did they.

Furthermore, almost immediately after “Eight Is Enough” ended in 1981, Richardson struggled with a brief but intense cocaine addiction that lasted about four months. Reflecting on that period, she admitted, “I never made that a secret.”

The actress then embarked on speaking tours across America, sharing her experiences with the youth, educating them on the “hell” of addiction and the dark side of fame.

Then, Richardson made a life-changing decision — she stepped away from acting for six years to focus on raising her daughter following a divorce. “My daughter’s life and my getting to know her was a lot more important,” she explained.

During this time, she lived off residuals from her acting career and had no financial concerns. When her daughter turned six, the actress officially “retired” to a small town in California.

There, she devoted herself to charity work, performing at children’s hospitals and taking her daughter everywhere with her. But this peaceful chapter would not last.

Richardson’s life took a shocking and dangerous turn when an American man — allegedly a decorated soldier stationed in North Korea — approached her with a distressing story.

He claimed his six-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by North Koreans and asked Richardson to go to North Korea to make a movie about his daughter in exchange for $500 a week.

Though her loved ones and agent strongly advised against it, Richardson was emotionally vulnerable at the time. She had just lost a child she had helped through her charity work, and the soldier’s daughter bore an uncanny resemblance to her own.

She felt compelled to help and thus boarded a plane to North Korea. However, once she arrived, she quickly realized she had been deceived.

After landing, the man warned Richardson not to mention his daughter, saying it could put his little girl’s life in danger. Trusting his word, she remained silent — until she met one of his best friends, supposedly someone working for the ambassador.

When she mentioned the soldier’s missing daughter, the man was in shock. “What daughter?” he asked. That was the moment Richardson realized she had been lured into something far more sinister.

To make matters worse, she was shown a new version of the film script, which was drastically different from what she had initially been promised. It was filled with violent scenes, particularly against children, and suddenly, she was set to play a nun in a war-ravaged North Korea.

Despite being wined and dined by military personnel and taken to bases, Richardson began to sense the true danger she was in. She insisted that the script be changed, refusing to participate in anything involving violence or nudity.

But things only got worse, as she learned that the American man was not a decorated soldier, nor did he have a daughter.

She was only supposed to be in North Korea for two weeks, but a month passed before she even stepped onto a set. By then, she was unable to make phone calls home, and when she tried, she was threatened — if she reached out to anyone, her daughter would be harmed.

A producer took her passport and used it to scam a million dollars’ worth of equipment, trapping her in the country until she could repay the money. Simultaneously, Richardson witnessed large-scale smuggling operations, with hundreds of thousands of dollars exchanging hands.

Even more terrifying, she discovered that life insurance policies had been taken out on her. She believed there was a plan to stage an accident on set, kill her, and frame an innocent crew member. The masterminds behind the operation would then tell her family she had died and cash in on her policy.

Back home, Richardson’s mother desperately tried to save her, going to the White House and the embassy to bring her daughter back. Eventually, much fear and uncertainty, the actress was able to escape. But the experience left her forever changed.

Following her horrifying ordeal in North Korea, the actress struggled to rebuild her life. By 2017, it was revealed that she was living in a trailer home in a remote part of Pennsylvania, far removed from the glamour of Hollywood.

Additionally, Richardson’s life had become increasingly isolated — she had no computer, no TV, and no internet, living a near-hermit-like existence. She spent her days illustrating children’s books, playing the piano, and responding to fans who still sent her get-well cards.

Tragedy struck in her personal life as well. She lost her mother in 2014, her younger sister in 2015, and her father in 2016 — all to the same rare disorder, achalasia, which Richardson herself had inherited.

The condition left her esophagus paralyzed, making it nearly impossible for her to eat. She required a feeding tube for 16 hours a day to receive nutrition.

On top of that, she had suffered three strokes, further compounding her health struggles. Despite these hardships, Richardson remained resilient. “Eight years ago, they told me I wouldn’t be here,” she said. “I’m still here.”

Her resilience in the face of adversity is a testament to her strength, but her story remains a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of fame and the struggles that can follow. Her journey deeply resonated with fans, many of whom expressed their support and disbelief at how her life has changed.

“Wow, how things change and turn out. I watched that show as a kid, in a blink of an eye, the world is upside down [sic],” one fan commented. Another shared, “So much positive energy, besides the difficult time she is facing.”

A third person typed, “It was so painful to watch. My heart hurts for her. Reminds me of Erin Moran from ‘Happy Days,'” while another wrote, “I hope things get better for her she seems like an amazing person.”

As for her social media activity, Richardson’s last Facebook post came in July 2016, sharing in part, “Thank you ALL for the tremendous support you’ve shown for my new career as a children’s author. I LOVE hearing how your kids and grandkids are enjoying my first book, ‘Really Loose Mother Goose.'”

Once a beloved actress, Richardson, 73, found herself caught in a terrifying web of lies, ultimately fighting for her life in a foreign land. Her story serves as a stark reminder of how quickly success can turn to struggle and how resilience is sometimes the only thing that keeps a person going.