Susan Dee Robbins became known through her marriage to Dale Robertson, the Oklahoma born actor who became one of television’s familiar Western stars. Their relationship lasted more than three decades, from their wedding in 1980 until Robertson’s death in 2013.

After his death, Robbins took on another role. She wrote Bucking Hollywood, a 396 page book about Robertson’s life and career. Published in 2019, the book gave readers an account of the actor from the woman who spent his final decades with him.

Her life remains mostly private. Unlike her husband, she did not build a career in front of cameras. Her public story centers on her marriage, their life away from Hollywood and the book she later wrote about Robertson.

Quick Bio

Who Was Susan Dee Robbins Before Dale Robertson?

Reliable information about Susan Dee Robbins’ early life is limited. Public sources do not provide a well documented account of her childhood, parents, siblings or education.

Several biographical websites describe her as a former flight attendant and report that she worked for American Airlines. These sources also connect her first meeting with Dale Robertson to her work in aviation.

Robertson was already an established actor when Robbins entered his life. Born in Harrah, Oklahoma, on July 14, 1923, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II before entering the film industry. He later became known for Western movies and television programs.

His best known television role came in Tales of Wells Fargo, where he played Jim Hardie. He also appeared in Iron Horse, Dynasty and Dallas.

By the time he married Robbins, Robertson had already spent decades in Hollywood.

How Did Susan Dee Robbins Meet Dale Robertson?

Several later biographies report that Susan Dee Robbins met Dale Robertson while working as a flight attendant. The story places their first meeting on an American Airlines flight.

The exact circumstances are not fully documented in major contemporary sources, so details beyond that basic account should be treated with caution.

Their relationship eventually led to marriage. On February 2, 1980, Robbins and Robertson became husband and wife.

Robertson was 56 at the time, while Robbins was considerably younger. Their marriage became his fourth and final marriage.

The couple remained together until Robertson died in 2013.

Susan Dee Robbins and Dale Robertson’s Marriage

The marriage lasted about 33 years.

Robertson had already experienced three marriages before he married Robbins. His previous wives included Frederica Jacqueline Wilson, actress Mary Murphy and Lula Mae Maxey.

His marriage to Robbins lasted through the final decades of his career. During this period, his acting work became less frequent, and he spent more time away from Hollywood.

The couple’s life was closely connected to Robertson’s Oklahoma roots. He maintained a ranch near Yukon, Oklahoma, where horses played an important part in his life.

For Robbins, married life with Robertson was therefore not limited to film sets and Hollywood events. Much of their later life took place in a quieter setting.

Life on the Oklahoma Ranch

Dale Robertson had a long connection with horses.

He and his brother, Chet Robertson, were involved in horse breeding and training through Haymaker Farms. Their work included Quarter Horses and thoroughbreds. The Robertson family also produced horses that competed successfully in major races and shows.

The ranch near Yukon became an important part of Robertson’s later life.

His interest in horses also fit naturally with the Western image audiences associated with him. On television, he often played cowboys and lawmen. In private life, he owned and worked with horses.

Robbins shared that part of his life during their marriage.

The ranch years also reflected Robertson’s connection to Oklahoma. Although Hollywood had made him famous, he never lost his attachment to the state where he was born and raised.

Did Susan Dee Robbins and Dale Robertson Have Children?

There is no reliable public record confirming that Susan Dee Robbins and Dale Robertson had children together.

Robertson did have children from earlier family relationships. His family included Rochelle Robertson and Rebel Lee.

Rochelle was born during Robertson’s first marriage. Rebel Lee was adopted during his marriage to Lula Mae Maxey.

Online sources sometimes describe Robbins as a stepmother, but details about the wider family vary. Claims about additional family relationships should therefore be treated carefully unless supported by a reliable source.

What is clear is that Robbins and Robertson remained married for more than three decades.

Dale Robertson’s Later Acting Career

By the time Robertson married Robbins, his most successful Western television years were behind him, but he continued to appear on television.

His career included more than 60 films and many television appearances. He became particularly associated with Western productions, a genre that shaped his public image for decades.

In the 1980s, he appeared as Walter Lankershim during the first season of Dynasty. He also appeared in Dallas.

His later work became less frequent. By the early 1990s, Robertson had largely retired from acting.

He then spent more time at his Oklahoma ranch.

Robbins was with him during this quieter period, when the actor was no longer working at the pace he had maintained earlier in his career.

What Happened to Dale Robertson?

Dale Robertson spent his final months in the San Diego area.

He died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California, on February 27, 2013. He was 89.

The Los Angeles Times reported that he died from complications involving lung cancer and pneumonia.

His death ended a career that had stretched from the late 1940s through the early 1990s.

For Robbins, it ended a marriage that had lasted more than 30 years.

She later chose to preserve his story through writing.

Why Did Susan Dee Robbins Write Bucking Hollywood?

In 2019, Robbins published Bucking Hollywood through Page Publishing.

The book contains 396 pages and covers Robertson’s childhood, military service, acting career and personal life.

Robbins wrote the book because Robertson had never completed the autobiography that people had encouraged him to write.

According to the publisher’s announcement, Robertson had been asked many times to write about his life. Robbins eventually decided to tell the story herself.

She said she wanted to preserve his legacy.

The decision changed her public identity. For decades, people mainly knew her as Robertson’s wife. With Bucking Hollywood, she became the author of his biography.

What Is Bucking Hollywood About?

Bucking Hollywood focuses on Dale Robertson’s life beyond his screen roles.

The book covers his early years in Oklahoma, his military service, his work in Hollywood and the personal experiences that shaped his life.

Its perspective is different from a standard career biography because Robbins knew Robertson privately as well as publicly.

Readers interested in Robertson’s Western career can find information about his films and television work. The book also provides Robbins’ account of the man she knew during their marriage.

The title reflects Robertson’s complicated relationship with Hollywood. He became a successful actor without fully embracing everything associated with the entertainment industry.

Robbins’ book therefore connects his public career with the private life he built later in Oklahoma.

What Was Susan Dee Robbins’ Life Like After Robertson’s Death?

Robbins has maintained a low public profile since Robertson died.

When Bucking Hollywood was published in 2019, available information placed her in the San Diego area, closer to family.

There is little reliable information about her current daily life, finances, relationships or residence.

Those details should not be presented as established facts because strong public sources do not document them.

Her most visible public activity after Robertson’s death was the publication of Bucking Hollywood.

The book gave her an opportunity to speak about the man behind the Western roles that had defined much of his public image.

Susan Dee Robbins’ Connection to Dale Robertson’s Legacy

Robbins’ connection to Robertson is unusual because she remained largely outside the entertainment industry while becoming an important source for information about his later life.

Robertson spent much of his career in front of cameras. He became known for playing strong Western characters and developed a large television audience.

Robbins lived beside that career rather than inside it.

Their marriage began after Robertson had already achieved fame. She was present during the later stage of his career, his retirement from acting and his years at the Oklahoma ranch.

Then came Bucking Hollywood.

The book allowed Robbins to record memories and details that were not part of Robertson’s film credits. It also ensured that his story did not end with an obituary.

Her public contribution is closely tied to that decision.

Quick Facts About Susan Dee Robbins

• Marriage: She married Dale Robertson on February 2, 1980.
• Marriage length: They remained together until Robertson died in February 2013.
• Reported occupation: Several biographical sources describe her as a former flight attendant.
• Reported employer: American Airlines.
• Oklahoma connection: She lived with Robertson at his ranch near Yukon.
• Husband’s career: Robertson became known for Western films and television.
• Famous role: He played Jim Hardie in Tales of Wells Fargo.
• Other credits: His television work included Iron Horse, Dynasty and Dallas.
• Horse business: Robertson maintained a serious interest in horse breeding and training.
• Book: Robbins wrote Bucking Hollywood.
• Publisher: Page Publishing released the book in 2019.
• Length: The book contains 396 pages.
• Writing: Robbins said she wrote the book without a ghostwriter.
• Public profile: Her life after the book has remained largely private.

FAQs About Susan Dee Robbins

Who is Susan Dee Robbins?

Susan Dee Robbins is the widow of American actor Dale Robertson. They married on February 2, 1980, and remained together until Robertson’s death in 2013. She later wrote Bucking Hollywood, a book about his life and career.

When did Susan Dee Robbins marry Dale Robertson?

Susan Dee Robbins married Dale Robertson on February 2, 1980. Their marriage lasted for more than three decades and ended with Robertson’s death on February 27, 2013.

Did Susan Dee Robbins and Dale Robertson have children?

No reliable public source confirms that the couple had children together. Robertson had children from earlier family relationships, including Rochelle Robertson and Rebel Lee.

What book did Susan Dee Robbins write?

She wrote Bucking Hollywood, a 396 page biography of Dale Robertson. Page Publishing released the book in 2019. Robbins wrote it to preserve the story of her husband, who had never completed his own autobiography.

Where did Susan Dee Robbins live with Dale Robertson?

The couple spent part of their married life at Robertson’s ranch near Yukon, Oklahoma. Robertson had a strong interest in horses and maintained extensive horse breeding and training activities there. During his final months, the couple moved to the San Diego area.

Title Variations

1. Susan Dee Robbins: Dale Robertson’s Wife and the Story Behind Bucking Hollywood
2. Susan Dee Robbins and Dale Robertson: Their Marriage, Ranch Life and Legacy
3. Susan Robertson: The Woman Who Preserved Dale Robertson’s Story

Meta Description

Susan Dee Robbins was Dale Robertson’s wife for more than 30 years. Learn about their 1980 marriage, Oklahoma ranch life and her book Bucking Hollywood.