Susan Browning, the two-time Tony Award nominated actress who created the role of April in the original Company, died April 23, 2006, after a brief illness, according to her friends in the theatre community. Ms. Browning earned Tony nominations as Best Actress in a Musical (for playing stewardess April in Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (for playing Agnes in Goodtime Charley). Her sister told friends Ms. Browning had been on life support for several weeks after falling ill. She was 65.

Ms. Browning played Sally Phelps and the Widow Douglas in the original Broadway production of Big River 1985-87.

She was born in Baldwin, NY, in 1941.

Her Broadway credits include the comedy Love and Kisses, the musical Shelter, Sondheim: A Musical Triubute (a 1973 special event), the comedy Thieves, Goodtime Charley (in which she played Agnes and was the understudy for Ann Reinking, in the role of Joan of Arc), Chapter Two (she was a replacement in the Neil Simon comedy), and a special concert revival of Company in 1993.

Among many other jobs, she appeared in Goodspeed Musicals' Lucky in the Rain.

Her film and TV credits include appearances in "Sister Act" and its sequel, "The World According to Garp," "First Ladies' Diaries: Martha Washington," "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," and more.

A memorial service is being planned for June.