Swoosie Kurtz
{{short description|American actress (born 1944)}}
{{Hatnote|"Swoosie" redirects here. For the YouTube personality whose username is "sWooZie", see Adande Thorne.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Swoosie Kurtz
| image = Swoosie Kurtz Shankbone 2009 Tribeca.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Kurtz at the 2009 premiere of PoliWood
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1944|9|6}}{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20081846,00.html|title=An Actress Named Swoosie (Yes, It's Her Real Name) Charms Broadway and Sidney|work=People|last=Lester|first=Peter|date=April 5, 1982|access-date=January 10, 2015}}
| birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1962–present
| parents = Frank Kurtz Jr. (father)
}}
Swoosie Kurtz ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|w|uː|s|i}} {{Respell|SWOO|see}}; born September 6, 1944) is an American actress. She is the recipient of an Emmy Award and two Tony Awards.
Kurtz made her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of Ah, Wilderness. She has received five Tony Award nominations, winning for both Fifth of July (1981) and The House of Blue Leaves (1986); her other nominations were for Tartuffe (1988), Frozen (2004), and Heartbreak House (2007).
For her television work, she has received eight Emmy Award nominations, with one win for Carol and Company in 1990. Other television credits include the NBC drama Sisters (1991–1996), Huff (2004–2006), Pushing Daisies (2007–2009), and the hit CBS sitcom Mike & Molly (2010–2016). Her films include Wildcats (1986), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Stanley & Iris (1990), Citizen Ruth (1996), Liar Liar (1997) and Bubble Boy (2001).
Early life
Kurtz was born on September 6, 1944, in Omaha, Nebraska, the only child of author Margaret "Margo" (née Rogers) and Air Force Colonel Frank Allen Kurtz Jr., a decorated World War II American bomber pilot.[http://www.eonline.com/celebrities/profile/index.jsp?uuid=c7074124-2f2c-401f-b010-dab06defc0fb Swoosie Kurtz - Profile, Latest News and Related Articles]{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PH0ZAQAAMAAJ&q=DORA+FRANK+KURTZ |title=The History of the Fowlers - |first=Christine Cecilia|last=Fowler|date=September 6, 1950|publisher=C.C. Fowler|isbn=9780608321288 |via=Google Books}} She got her first name "Swoosie" (which rhymes with Lucy, rather than woozy) from her father. It is derived from the
B-17D Flying Fortress bomber which her father piloted during World War II, which was named "The Swoose" (half swan, half goose).National Archives photo 342-FH-3A40681A-21320AC shows the B-17 crew that broke all records in the Pacific. [http://www.fold3.com/image/#54862932 Annotated photo] available at Fold3 with [http://www.fold3.com/image/#54862937 crew list on the reverse] side{{cite magazine |magazine=Friends Journal |publisher=Air Force Museum Foundation |volume=31 |issue=3 |date=Fall 2008 |page=15 |title=unknown title |location=Dayton, Ohio |language=en}}
Career
{{BLP sources section|date=January 2015}}
File:John Guare Swoosie Kurtz Shankbone 2009 Tribeca.jpg and Kurtz at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival]]
Kurtz's first television appearance at age 17 was on The Donna Reed Show 4th-season episode "The Golden Trap" (February, 1962). She also appeared on To Tell the Truth at eighteen, identifying her father from two impostors.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T33prllC1dc&list=PL39ftvD_GHaFDX-9JNkJNPK2F5nUer_mA&index=119 She made her debut as a series regular on the daytime drama As The World Turns in 1971. Kurtz began her career in theater, making her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of Ah, Wilderness! She first gained wide recognition in 1978 for two theatrical productions, Uncommon Women and Others, the breakthrough play by Wendy Wasserstein in which she appeared in a 1977 workshop at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and then Off-Broadway, and the musical A History of the American Film for which she won a Drama Desk Award. Kurtz was soon awarded Broadway's "triple crown" (the Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards) for her portrayal of Gwen in Lanford Wilson's Fifth of July. She won a second Tony for her performance as Bananas in a 1986 revival of The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare. She starred as playwright Lillian Hellman in the 2002 Nora Ephron play Imaginary Friends.Hernandez, Ernio. Jones, Kurtz, Groener Become Bway's Imaginary Friends, November 25; Opens December 12. Playbill. July 20, 2002 [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/jones-kurtz-groener-become-bways-imaginary-friends-nov.-25-opens-dec.-12-107172]
File:Cynthia Nixon John Hurt Swoosie Kurtz 2009 Tribeca.jpg, John Hurt, and Kurtz at the Tribeca Film Festival showing of An Englishman in New York (2009)]]
In 1978, Kurtz was part of the ensemble cast of Mary Tyler Moore's short-lived variety series Mary, that also included David Letterman and Michael Keaton. In 1981, Kurtz began two seasons alongside Tony Randall in the sitcom Love, Sidney, in a role that earned her the first of her 10 Emmy Award nominations. In 1990, she won her first Emmy for a guest-starring role on Carol Burnett's comedy series Carol & Company.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-guest-actresscom/148533559/ |title=Guest Actress/Comedy Series |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |publication-place=Rochester, New York |page=19 |date=1990-09-17 |access-date=2024-06-01 |via=Newspapers.com}}
From 1991 to 1996, Kurtz had her longest-running television role, starring as wealthy divorcee Alex Reed Halsey on the NBC drama Sisters, a role that earned her two more Emmy Award nominations. She also starred in the ABC television series Pushing Daisies as Lily Charles.
In recent years, Kurtz has guest-starred on the hit series ER and Lost and Desperate Housewives and has also had recurring roles as Valerie on the drama That's Life, as Judy's mother Helen on the sitcom Still Standing, as Madeleine Sullivan on the Showtime drama series Huff, and most recently as part of a lesbian married couple with Blythe Danner on the drama series Nurse Jackie. In 2010, Kurtz began starring on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly as Joyce Flynn. Kurtz has also appeared in a recurring part as Matt LeBlanc's mother in the comedy series Man with a Plan. In 2021, she began appearing as Mayim Bialik's mother in the comedy series Call Me Kat.
Although her main focus has been television, Kurtz has starred in several major Hollywood films including the Agatha Christie drama Caribbean Mystery (1983), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), its remake Cruel Intentions (1999), as a lesbian activist in the acclaimed indie film Citizen Ruth (1996), and alongside Jim Carrey in Liar Liar (1997).
Personal life
From 1964 to 1970, Kurtz was romantically involved with Joshua White of The Joshua Light Show.{{Cite book |title=Part Swan, Part Goose |last1=Kurtz |first1=Swoosie |last2=Rodgers |first2=Joni |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-399-16850-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/partswanpartgoos0000kurt/page/89 89, 91–93, 100–103] |publisher=Penguin Publishing |url=https://archive.org/details/partswanpartgoos0000kurt/page/89 }}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977
| Shirley Upton | | |||
| 1977
| Marsha | | |||
| 1978
| Gwen Simpson | | |||
| 1979
| Walking Through the Fire | Caria | Television film | |||
| 1980
| Marriage is Alive and Well | Jane Tremont | Television film | |||
| 1980
| The Mating Season | Roberta | Television film | |||
| 1982
| The Hooker | | |||
| 1983
| Ruth Walter | | |||
| 1984
| Edie | | |||
| 1985
| Jackie Willis | Television film | |||
| 1985
| Patricia | Television film | |||
| 1986
| Wildcats | Verna McGrath | | |||
| 1986
| Miss Rollings | | |||
| 1988
| Doris Steadman | Television film | |||
| 1988
| Lillian Brookmeyer / Turk | | |||
| 1988
| Megan | | |||
| 1988
| Madame de Volanges | | |||
| 1990
| Joanne Winstow-Darvish | Television film | |||
| 1990
| Sharon | | |||
| 1990
| Leslie Marshall | | |||
| 1991
| Walking the Dog | {{n/a}} | Short film | |||
| 1991
| Terror on Track 9 | Marcia Hobbs | Television film | |||
| 1993
| The Positively True Adventures of the | Marla Harper | Television film | |||
| 1993
| Mrs. Johnstone | Television film | |||
| 1994
| Charlane McGregor | | |||
| 1994
| Emily | Television film | |||
| 1995
| Betrayed: A Story of Three Women | Joan Bixler | Television film | |||
| 1996
| Diane Siegler | | |||
| 1996
| A Promise to Carolyn | Kay | Television film | |||
| 1996
| Harvey | Veta Simmons | Television film | |||
| 1996
| Storybook | Queen Evilia | | |||
| 1997
| Little Girls in Pretty Boxes | Allison Bryant | Television film | |||
| 1997
| Dana Appleton | | |||
| 1998
| My Own Country | Hope Flanders | Television film | |||
| 1998
| Rosalee | | |||
| 1999
| Dr. Regina Greenbaum | | |||
| 1999
| Mummy Weed | | |||
| 2001
| Beverly Landers | | |||
| 2001
| Mrs. Livingston | | |||
| 2001
| The Wilde Girls | Sierra Lambert | Television film | |||
| 2002
| Mrs. Jared | | |||
| 2003
| Duplex | Jean | aka Our House | |||
| 2004
| Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Binny Redwine | | |||
| 2005
| True | {{n/a}} | Television film | |||
| 2005
| Category 7: The End of the World | Penny Hall | Television film | |||
| 2005
| Nadine in Date Land | {{n/a}} | Television film | |||
| 2007
|Voice | |||
| 2008
| Elizabeth | Television film | |||
| 2009
| Connie Clausen | | |||
| 2018
| Grace | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962
| Mimi | Episode: "The Golden Trap" | |||
| 1971
| Unknown episodes | |||
| 1976
| Kojak | Julie Di Nata | Episode: "Black Thorn" | |||
| 1978
| Mary | Skit characters | Unknown episodes | |||
| 1979
| Rita Altabel | Unknown episodes | |||
| 1981–1983
| Laurie Morgan | 44 episodes | |||
| 1987
| Bananas Shaughnessy / Gwen Landis | 2 episodes | |||
| 1987
| Wanda | Episode: "The Visit" | |||
| 1990
| Laurie | Episode: "Reunion" | |||
| 1995
| Herself | Episode: "How to Get an Ed in Business" | |||
| 1995
| Mrs. Hudson | Voice, episode: "Out of This World" | |||
| 1991–1996
| Sisters | Alex Reed Barker | Main role (127 episodes) | |||
| 1996
| Judy Burkhard | 3 episodes | |||
| 1997
| Libby King | Episode: "Charades" | |||
| 1996–1997
| Liz Miller Keane | 3 episodes | |||
| 1998
| ER | Tina Marie Chambliss | Episode: "Suffer the Little Children" | |||
| 1998
| Betty Borg Ramsey | 3 episodes | |||
| 1999–2000
| Effie Conklin | 13 episodes | |||
| 2000
| Justice Kendall Woods | Episode: "Final Appeal" | |||
| 2001
|Martha | Episode: "When Irish Eyes Are Smilin'" | |||
| 2001–2002
| Valerie Wilkinson | 4 episodes | |||
| 2002
| Victoria Van Kleek | Episode: "The Truth Hurts... Bad" | |||
| 2003
| Michelle Naidell | Voice, episode: "The Wild Snob-berry" | |||
| 2005
| Lost | Emily Annabeth Locke | Episode: "Deus Ex Machina" | |||
| 2005–2014
| Betty Smith / Marylin Thacker | Voice, 6 episodes | |||
| 2005
| Helen Michaels | 2 episodes | |||
| 2004–2006
| Huff | Madeleine Sullivan | 8 episodes | |||
| 2007–2009
| 15 episodes | |||
| 2009
| Jessie | Episode: "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" | |||
| 2009
| Heroes | Millie Houston | 2 episodes | |||
| 2009
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Judge Hilda Marsden | Episode: "Crush" | |||
| 2009
| Marilyn | 7 episodes | |||
| 2010
| Chuck | Laura Turner | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models" | |||
| 2009–2011
| Mrs. Scheinhorn | 2 episodes | |||
| 2010–2016
| Joyce Flynn | Main role (127 episodes) | |||
| 2016–2018
| Janet | 2 episodes | |||
| 2017–2020
| Beverly Burns | Recurring role (25 episodes) | |||
| 2018
| Tiffany McKenna | 6 episodes | |||
| 2018
| Ruthie | 2 episodes | |||
| 2021–2023
| Sheila | Main role (53 episodes) | |||
| 2021-present
| Rugrats | Minka Kropotkin |
Theatre credits
| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Show ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1968
| Ann | Martinique Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1970
| The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds | Janice Vickery | Mercer Arts Center |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1975
| Muriel McComber | Circle in the Square Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1976
| Children | Jane | Stage 73 |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1977
| Rita Altabel | Marymount Manhattan Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1977
| Tartuffe | Mariane | Circle in the Square Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1978
| A History of the American Film | Bette | ANTA Playhouse |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1979
| Wine Untouched | Unknown | Harold Clurman Theater |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1980
| Gwen Landis | New Apollo Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1985
| The Beach House | Annie | Circle Repertory Company |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1986
| Bananas Shaughnessy | Vivian Beaumont Theater |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1989
| Melissa Gardner (replacement) | Edison Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1991
| Sally Truman | New York City Center |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1999
| Myrna/Myra | Laura Pels Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1999
| Unknown | Westside Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 2002
| The Guys | Unknown | The Flea Theater |
| style="text-align:center;"| 2002
| Lillian Hellman | Ethel Barrymore Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 2003
| Intrigue with Faye | Woman | Acorn Theater |
| style="text-align:center;"| 2004
| Frozen | Nancy | Circle in the Square Theatre |
| style="text-align:center;"| 2006
| Hesione Hushabye | American Airlines Theatre |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons|Swoosie Kurtz}}
- {{IMDb name|1436}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{iobdb name|2739}}
- {{Tcmdb name|106430}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Swoosie Kurtz
|list =
{{DramaDesk MusicalOutstandingFeaturedActress 1975-1999}}
{{DramaDesk PlayOutstandingFeaturedActress 1975-1999}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyGuestActress}}
{{TonyAward PlayFeaturedActress 1976-2000}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurtz, Swoosie}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Omaha, Nebraska
Category:American people of German descent
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses
Category:Drama Desk Award winners