Susan Fallender: Charles Shaughnessy’s Wife — The Nanny & Royal Title

Who Is Susan Fallender?

Susan Fallender is a British-American actress who’s been married to actor Charles Shaughnessy for over four decades. While Charles became a household name playing Maxwell Sheffield on CBS’s The Nanny (1993–1999), Susan built her own acting career with roles in film and television throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

What sets Susan apart from most Hollywood spouses is her official title: she’s formally known as Baroness Shaughnessy, thanks to her husband’s hereditary British peerage. Charles is the 5th Baron Shaughnessy, a title connected to the Peerage of the United Kingdom, making Susan a real-life baroness — a fact that most fans of The Nanny never knew.

Early Life and Background

Susan Fallender was born on November 22, 1957, in Los Angeles, California. Despite being born in the United States, she’s often described as British due to her long ties to the UK through both her career and her marriage.

She grew up alongside her sister, Deborah Fallender, who also pursued acting professionally. Deborah appeared in British films during the 1970s, including Jabberwocky (1977), directed by Terry Gilliam. The Fallender sisters shared an interest in performance from an early age, and both found their way into the entertainment industry — though their careers took different paths.

Details about Susan’s formal education haven’t been made public, but her training in the dramatic arts brought her to London, where she studied acting. It was during this period that she crossed paths with a young English actor named Charles Shaughnessy.

Acting Career

Susan Fallender’s acting credits span film, television, and stage. Her earliest notable screen appearance was in Doktor Faustus, a production that highlighted her classical acting training. She went on to appear in the comedy film Trading Places (1983), starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, where she played the role of Bunny.

On television, Susan appeared in several well-known series:

• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) — She played a Romulan woman in the fifth-season episode “Unification II.”
• Space Rangers (1993) — She took on the role of Alien Tech in this short-lived sci-fi series.
• Hypernauts (1996) — She appeared as Sharkey’s Mom in this children’s sci-fi show.

Susan also made guest appearances on shows like Days of Our Lives and Murphy Brown. While she never reached the same level of fame as her husband, her body of work shows a consistent presence in Hollywood across multiple genres — from comedy to science fiction to soap opera.

Marriage to Charles Shaughnessy

Susan and Charles Shaughnessy met while studying drama in London. Their relationship moved quickly: Charles proposed in 1983, reportedly over a phone call while he was in London and Susan was back in California. They married on May 21, 1983, in a ceremony in London.

Their marriage has now lasted over 43 years — a rare milestone by any standard, and especially uncommon in the entertainment industry. The couple has kept their relationship largely out of the tabloids, preferring a private life away from Hollywood gossip.

Charles has spoken publicly about their relationship on several occasions, crediting Susan’s support during the years when his career was uncertain. Before landing the role of Maxwell Sheffield on The Nanny, Charles worked steadily but hadn’t yet broken through to mainstream recognition. Susan stood by him through those years, and their partnership remained solid as his fame grew.

The Nanny Connection

When Charles Shaughnessy was cast as Maxwell Sheffield — the wealthy British widower and love interest to Fran Drescher’s Fran Fine — on The Nanny in 1993, it changed the couple’s life. The show ran for six seasons on CBS (1993–1999) and became one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade.

On the show, Maxwell Sheffield was a refined, upper-class Broadway producer living in a Manhattan mansion. In real life, Charles actually held an aristocratic title — something the show’s writers didn’t need to invent. The irony wasn’t lost on fans who later discovered that the actor playing a fictional wealthy Englishman was, in fact, a genuine British baron.

Susan occasionally attended events and premieres related to the show but stayed out of the spotlight. She didn’t appear on The Nanny, but the show’s success boosted the family’s financial standing and public profile significantly.

Charles also gained recognition for his long-running role as Shane Donovan on Days of Our Lives (1984–1992), which he held before The Nanny.

The Royal Title: Baroness Shaughnessy

One of the most unusual facts about Susan Fallender is that she holds a genuine aristocratic title. Her husband Charles inherited the title of 5th Baron Shaughnessy, a hereditary peerage in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The barony was created in 1916 for Thomas George Shaughnessy, 1st Baron Shaughnessy, who served as president of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

As the wife of a baron, Susan is formally styled as “The Right Honourable The Baroness Shaughnessy” or, less formally, “Lady Shaughnessy.” This makes her one of the few people in Hollywood who holds a legitimate title of nobility.

Charles inherited the title from his father, Alfred Shaughnessy, who was a screenwriter and the 4th Baron Shaughnessy. Alfred was best known for writing episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs, the acclaimed British period drama. Susan’s mother-in-law, Jean Lodge, was also an actress, meaning the Shaughnessy family has deep roots in both the British aristocracy and the entertainment world.

Despite holding the title, neither Charles nor Susan uses it in everyday life. Charles has noted in interviews that the title doesn’t carry political power — hereditary peers lost their automatic right to sit in the House of Lords under the House of Lords Act 1999 — but it remains a legitimate part of their family identity.

Children and Family Life

Susan and Charles have two adopted daughters:

• Jenny Johanna Shaughnessy — born in 2001
• Madeline “Maddy” Shaughnessy — born in 2003

The couple adopted both girls, and Charles has spoken openly about the experience in interviews, describing fatherhood as one of the most meaningful parts of his life. Jenny reportedly showed an interest in performing arts during her younger years, and Madeline has kept a low profile.

The Shaughnessy family lives in Los Angeles, where both Susan and Charles have been based for most of their married life. They’ve maintained a relatively private household, rarely sharing details about their daughters on social media or in press interviews.

Personal Life and Interests

Susan Fallender keeps a low public profile compared to her husband. She doesn’t maintain active public social media accounts and rarely gives interviews. This isn’t unusual for spouses of celebrities, but it does mean that much of what’s known about Susan comes through Charles’s public appearances and comments.

Charles, by contrast, is active on social media and occasionally shares photos and stories that include Susan. He’s mentioned her support in various charity efforts, including events connected to the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps.

The couple has also been spotted at ballroom dancing events — notably the “Dancer Against Cancer” charity gala in Vienna, where they performed a Viennese waltz together. It’s one of the rare public appearances where fans have seen the couple outside of a Hollywood context.

Susan’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million, which includes earnings from her own acting career and shared assets with Charles. Charles’s individual net worth has been estimated separately, and together the couple maintains a comfortable life in Los Angeles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Susan Fallender married to?

Susan Fallender has been married to actor Charles Shaughnessy since May 21, 1983. Charles is best known for playing Maxwell Sheffield on The Nanny (1993–1999) and Shane Donovan on Days of Our Lives (1984–1992).

Is Susan Fallender really a baroness?

Yes. Susan holds the title Baroness Shaughnessy because her husband Charles is the 5th Baron Shaughnessy, a hereditary peer in the British peerage system. She’s formally styled as “Lady Shaughnessy,” though the couple doesn’t use the title publicly.

How old is Susan Fallender?

Susan Fallender was born on November 22, 1957, making her 68 years old as of 2026. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.

Does Susan Fallender have children?

Susan and Charles Shaughnessy have two adopted daughters: Jenny Johanna Shaughnessy (born 2001) and Madeline “Maddy” Shaughnessy (born 2003). Both daughters have been raised primarily in Los Angeles.

What is Susan Fallender’s net worth?

Susan Fallender’s net worth is estimated at $5 million. Her wealth comes from her acting career in film and television, as well as shared assets with her husband Charles Shaughnessy.

Related profiles: Charles Shaughnessy | Deborah Fallender