Susan Grode, a pioneering entertainment lawyer, is being remembered fondly for her brilliant career, her commitment to the USC School of Dramatic Arts, and her strong advocacy for artists’ rights.
Grode died Feb. 8 at the age of 86, leaving a heritage of groundbreaking work representing artists working in an array of genres.
School of Dramatic Arts (SDA) Dean Emily Roxworthy paid tribute to Grode, saying: “Susan leaves behind an incredible legacy of advocating for artists and supporting the performing arts. I am particularly inspired by her role in founding the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee, alongside fellow luminaries such as Barbra Streisand, who understood the need to leverage our creative voices to advance urgent causes in society.
“Closer to home, I am grateful that Susan was such an advocate for our students on the USC School of Dramatic Arts’ Board of Councilors, passing the mantle to her son Josh Grode, who also led our Board through years of leadership and impact in the arts.”
Susan was only one of four women in her class at the USC Gould School of Law in 1977. She went on to build a successful law practice and became a senior partner when there were almost no women partners in major law firms.
Four years after law school, she wrote The Visual Artist’s Manual, a guide to help artists legally protect their work and successfully build a career. She gave practical advice on understanding a contract clause by clause, registering a trademark, taking out a copyright, leasing a studio, and planning an estate. As entertainment trade publications noted after her death, “she helped define early contractual protections considered standard today.”
She rose to become the senior partner in the Los Angeles office of the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where she was co-chair of its national Entertainment and Media Department. She represented major motion picture and animation studios, production and toy companies, internet game companies, online content companies, e-book publishers and best-selling authors as well as creators of leading television series. In films, she represented both studio blockbusters and independent films, which she often guided from development and funding of projects through their distribution.
Her clients included artists Judy Chicago, Robbie Conal and Hiro Yamagata; creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening; creator of SpongeBob SquarePants Stephen Hillenburg; and author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Laura Numeroff.
Her entertainment interests extended to theatre and theatre artists. As Sara Fousekis, SDA Associate Dean of Advancement, notes, “Susan cared deeply about the development of young creative talent. She helped lay the foundation for SDA’s ascent as one of the top-ranked drama schools in the country. A dedicated member of SDA’s Board of Councilors, she was a leading voice in championing the school’s long-term sustainability and future growth.”
Susan served on the Board of Councilors from 2005 through 2014, and also served on the boards of the Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles and the Ojai Playwrights Conference. After Susan ended her time on the SDA Board, son Joshua B. Grode joined the Board in 2017. Josh’s wife Lisa took his place on the Board in fall 2025.
She was a staunch advocate for equal rights for women, serving on the board of the Ms. Foundation, and organizing and joining marches on Washington, D.C., to support feminist causes. Three years ago, she was recognized at the Global Women’s Rights Awards for 23 years of pro-bono service as an outside counsel for the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Heartfelt tributes and comments about Susan ran in several entertainment trade publications.
“Susan was a force, in a class of her own. She taught me lessons that have lasted a lifetime,” wrote one recipient of her legal wisdom.
“She was not only brilliant, but compassionate – a rare combination – and was always there for me when I needed guidance or information,” wrote a longtime friend.
A lawyer who worked on cases opposite Susan gave her the ultimate compliment, calling her “a model of professionalism and class, protective of her clients but always thoughtful, kind and super smart… Be assured that those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will never forget her.”