Susan Lucci’s ‘Fabulous’ Vacation Photo Sparked A Debate On How She Should Grieve Her Husband’s Death

Oct 13, 2023

Susan Lucci is one of the most well-known daytime actresses on television. She portrayed Erica Kane in “All My Children” in the show’s four-decade run. Many have considered Lucci and her character an icon in television history. Publications like The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and even TV Guide have regarded her as the daytime’s leading lady and ranked her as the “highest-paid actor on daytime television.” 

Just for her role as Erica Kane in “All My Children” alone, she has already racked up 21 nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series but has only managed to win once, after her 19th nomination. 

She has also starred in other television series in the past, including a multi-episode appearance on shows like “Hot in Cleveland,” “Army Wives,” and “Dallas.” She also hosted “Deadly Affairs,” and became Genevieve Delatour on “Devious Maids.”

Luci was a widow to her late husband, Helmut Huber. Huber, a former TV producer and Lucci’s manager died in March 2022 at 84 years old. He was married to Lucci for almost 53 years. Lucci and Huber’s marriage had been blessed with two children: Liza and Andreas. When her career took off, Huber decided to quit the restaurant business to become her manager. The couple also set up a production company and became one of the more prominent showbiz couples in New York. 

Since her husband’s death, Lucci has been busy with her philanthropic endeavors that are literally and figuratively close to her heart. Lucci has also proved to her fans that she has aged beautifully as she posts photos of her vacation trips on her social media accounts, which prompted some of her fans to ask if she has grieved the death of her husband. 

Back in October 2018, Lucci underwent emergency heart surgery. 

“It felt like an elephant pressing down on my chest,” she told People Magazine. “I didn’t realize how serious it was until I asked to go home and come back the next day for the procedure and my doctor said ‘You’re not leaving. You can have a heart attack at any time.”

Even though Lucci is a fitness guru and avid healthy eater, heart disease ran in her family, which is why she ended up suffering from the ordeal. For someone who has been religiously doing pilates and was on a strict Mediterranean diet, Lucci was surprised to know that she has an underlying heart condition. 

Turns out, when the doctors scanned her heart, they found that she had a 90% blockage in the main artery to her heart, which resulted in two stents being placed in the blood-pumping organ. 

“I didn’t realize how close I came to a fatal heart attack,” Lucci confessed to People Magazine before revealing that her condition was actually inherited genetically from her father’s side. 

Since then, Lucci has become more vigilant about her health condition, but when she felt short of breath and experienced chest and jaw pain in January 2023, she was again hesitant to call the doctor. 

“I couldn’t believe it. And after telling women for three years not to be afraid to call the doctor and to put themselves on their to-do list, I reverted back to all those things,” she furthered. 

This time, 80% of her arteries were blocked because of all the cholesterol she indulged in during the pandemic. 

“I almost wasn’t going to speak about it; I was so ashamed of myself. But it’s a reminder to be vigilant,” she admitted. 

Along with working through health issues, Lucci has also, unfortunately, had to work through grief. In March 2022, People Magazine reported that her husband, Huber, died at the age of 84. Lucci’s publicist, Jessica Sciacchitano, released a statement on her behalf:

"Helmut's passing is a tremendous loss for all who knew and loved him. He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and friend. The family kindly asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time."

In February 2023, Lucci told FOX 5 New York that she missed her late husband and said that he was “the love of my life.”

However, Lucci has continued to embrace life to the fullest. In her Instagram post on Feb. 8, 2023, Lucci was as youthful and vibrant as ever, smiling in a selfie with her beige cardigan and her flowing blonde hair. 

“Day of running errands—and meeting a friend for coffee—wearing my silver and gold “empower you heart” necklace by @tiary ♥️♥️,” she captioned her post.

Notably, Lucci wore a necklace by Tiary, a collaboration with the American Heart Association (AHA) for the “Empower Your Heart” jewelry collection. 

According to Tiary, the sterling Silver Heart Pendant that Lucci was wearing is part of AHA’s Life Is Why Campaign to raise awareness for heart health, with 25% of the proceeds from the pendant sale going directly to the American Heart Association Life is Why Campaign until the end of 2023. 

“The heart-themed pendants are “reminders for women to listen to their bodies,” Lucci said. 

The actress was also a supporter of learning how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, a lifesaving technique that has been proven useful in many emergencies, like a heart attack in which someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. 

As she dealt with grief and heartbreak, she was asked on Today how she had been dealing with the loss of Huber:

“Well, coping and dealing, those are the right words because it’s awful. He was great…he was the love of my life, and he uhm—he was spectacular and uh, so, coping and dealing, that’s what you do, you put one foot in front of the other.” 

When asked if she is open to letting someone in her heart again, Lucci had this to say to Fox 5 New York: “No, I’m not ready. It’s just ten months. And anyway, whatever the time was, I’m not ready…I just miss him…”

As Lucci dealt with the loss of her husband, she used traveling as a coping mechanism. In her social media posts on Instagram, she visited Italy, where she seemed to enjoy the scenic view. On Oct. 8, 2023, Lucci posted a photo of herself in a colorful summer dress. 

Many sent Lucci praises about her “fabulous” glow and happiness. Another said she her dress was "flattering." However, many took aim at how she seemed to be traveling a lot instead of actually grieving her husband.

"…since Helmut died she’s all over the world enjoying herself really never saw a mourning period…” a user pointed out. Many came to the actress’ defense, saying, “Perhaps she kept her mourning private? She is continuing to live as we all do when we lose someone.” 

“she and her husband travelled a lot all over the world. He would have wanted her to continue living life ❤️,” someone said. 

“Have you ever thought how difficult it is for her to get out there on her own? About all the nights that she’s probably cried herself to sleep? Have a heart,” another commented.

Are you a fan of Susan Lucci? What can you say about her attitude toward the death of her husband? Do you think people should show their grief process on social media? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other Susan Lucci fans!