Jeri Lynn Mooney was born on January 28, 1944 in Marshall, Texas to parents Cassell C. and Melba Ruth “Peg” Mooney. She had an older brother, James. Her family is of Irish ancestry from Cork. Mooney was recognized for her acting talent while growing up in Marshall. She won a University Interscholastic League award for Best Actress while in high school. Upon graduating from Marshall High School in 1960, she attended the University of Texas for two years, where she studied drama and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, before leaving for Los Angeles to become an acting student at the Los Angeles Repertory Company. She later took the stage name Susan Howard, as her father had nicknamed her ‘Susie’ and Howard was a family name.

In 1973, she appeared as Evan Sands on Lorne Greene’s ABC crime drama Griff in the episode “Who Framed Billy the Kid?”, with Nick Nolte as Billy Randolph, a football player accused of murder.

In 1974, Howard was cast as the co-star of the NBC series Petrocelli. Her performance was subsequently nominated for both the Golden Globe and Emmy awards. Despite critical acclaim for Howard, the series was cancelled in 1976.

Howard was married to actor Charles Howerton from 1962 to 1964. They had one daughter, Lynn. In 1974, she married independent film executive Calvin Chrane. Susan and her husband have lived in Boerne, Texas, since 1998.

In 1978, Howard played a key role as Professor Kingsfield’s daughter Susan in season one, episode 10 of The Paper Chase. In 1979, she appeared on Dallas as Donna Culver. The producers of the show liked her performance so much that her guest spot was expanded to an eight-year stint; she has the distinction of being the only Dallas cast member to have also written for the series (“Sitting Ducks” and “The Ten Percent Solution”). In 1987, the show decided to not renew her contract. She has blamed this decision on her opposition to what she saw as pro-abortion storylines involving her character.

Since leaving television, Howard has become an increasingly active supporter of conservative causes, especially for gun rights. In 1989, she was co-host of “The 700 Club”. Howard has been active in the leadership of both the National Rifle Association and the Texas Republican Party. Howard has served as a commissioner of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. She became involved in the NRA after meeting Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre at the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans.