# Swoosie Kurtz

Swoosie Kurtz (/ˈswuːsi/ 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. 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).

## Career

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. 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.
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.
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.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Slap Shot | Shirley Upton | |
| 1977 | First Love | Marsha | |
| 1978 | Oliver's Story | 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 World According to Garp | The Hooker | |
| 1983 | A Caribbean Mystery | Ruth Walter | |
| 1984 | Against All Odds | Edie | |
| 1985 | Guilty Conscience | Jackie Willis | Television film |
| 1985 | A Time to Live | Patricia | Television film |
| 1986 | Wildcats | Verna McGrath | |
| 1986 | True Stories | Miss Rollings | |
| 1988 | Baja Oklahoma | Doris Steadman | Television film Nominated—CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1988 | Vice Versa | Lillian Brookmeyer / Turk | |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Megan | |
| 1988 | Dangerous Liaisons | Madame de Volanges | |
| 1990 | The Image | Joanne Winstow-Darvish | Television film Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1990 | Stanley & Iris | Sharon | |
| 1990 | A Shock to the System | Leslie Marshall | |
| 1991 | Walking the Dog | — | Short film |
| 1991 | Terror on Track 9 | Marcia Hobbs | Television film |
| 1993 | The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom | Marla Harper | Television film |
| 1993 | And the Band Played On | Mrs. Johnstone | Television film Nominated—CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1994 | Reality Bites | Charlane McGregor | |
| 1994 | One Christmas | Emily | Television film |
| 1995 | Betrayed: A Story of Three Women | Joan Bixler | Television film |
| 1996 | Citizen Ruth | 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 | Liar Liar | Dana Appleton | |
| 1998 | My Own Country | Hope Flanders | Television film |
| 1998 | Outside Ozona | Rosalee | |
| 1999 | Cruel Intentions | Dr. Regina Greenbaum | |
| 1999 | The White River Kid | Mummy Weed | |
| 2001 | Get Over It | Beverly Landers | |
| 2001 | Bubble Boy | Mrs. Livingston | |
| 2001 | The Wilde Girls | Sierra Lambert | Television film |
| 2002 | The Rules of Attraction | Mrs. Jared | |
| 2003 | Duplex | Jean | aka Our House |
| 2004 | Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Binny Redwine | |
| 2005 | True | — | Television film |
| 2005 | Category 7: The End of the World | Penny Hall | Television film |
| 2005 | Nadine in Date Land | — | Television film |
| 2007 | Superman: Doomsday | Martha Kent | Voice |
| 2008 | Living Proof | Elizabeth | Television film |
| 2009 | An Englishman in New York | Connie Clausen | |
| 2018 | Overboard | Grace | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1962 | The Donna Reed Show | Mimi | Episode: "The Golden Trap" |
| 1971 | As the World Turns | Ellie Bradley | Unknown episodes |
| 1976 | Kojak | Julie Di Nata | Episode: "Black Thorn" |
| 1978 | Mary | Skit characters | Unknown episodes |
| 1979 | Uncommon Women and Others | Rita Altabel | Unknown episodes |
| 1981–1983 | Love, Sidney | Laurie Morgan | 44 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1982–83) |
| 1987 | American Playhouse | Bananas Shaughnessy / Gwen Landis | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Trying Times | Wanda | Episode: "The Visit" |
| 1990 | Carol & Company | Laurie | Episode: "Reunion" Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series |
| 1995 | Hope and Gloria | Herself | Episode: "How to Get an Ed in Business" |
| 1995 | The Magic School Bus | Mrs. Hudson | Voice, episode: "Out of This World" |
| 1991–1996 | Sisters | Alex Reed Barker | Main role (127 episodes) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (1993–94) Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series |
| 1996 | Party Girl | Judy Burkhard | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Libby King | Episode: "Charades" |
| 1996–1997 | Suddenly Susan | Liz Miller Keane | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | ER | Tina Marie Chambliss | Episode: "Suffer the Little Children" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series |
| 1998 | More Tales of the City | Betty Borg Ramsey | 3 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Love & Money | Effie Conklin | 13 episodes |
| 2000 | The Outer Limits | Justice Kendall Woods | Episode: "Final Appeal" |
| 2001 | The Fighting Fitzgeralds | Martha | Episode: "When Irish Eyes Are Smilin'" |
| 2001–2002 | That's Life | Valerie Wilkinson | 4 episodes |
| 2002 | Street Time | Victoria Van Kleek | Episode: "The Truth Hurts... Bad" |
| 2003 | The Wild Thornberrys | Michelle Naidell | Voice, episode: "The Wild Snob-berry" |
| 2005 | Lost | Emily Annabeth Locke | Episode: "Deus Ex Machina" |
| 2005–2014 | American Dad! | Betty Smith / Marylin Thacker | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 2005 | Still Standing | Helen Michaels | 2 episodes |
| 2004–2006 | Huff | Madeleine Sullivan | 8 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (2005–06) |
| 2007–2009 | Pushing Daisies | Lily Charles | 15 episodes |
| 2009 | Desperate Housewives | 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 | Rita Rocks | Marilyn | 7 episodes |
| 2010 | Chuck | Laura Turner | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models" |
| 2009–2011 | Nurse Jackie | Mrs. Scheinhorn | 2 episodes |
| 2010–2016 | Mike & Molly | Joyce Flynn | Main role (127 episodes) |
| 2016–2018 | Grace and Frankie | Janet | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2020 | Man with a Plan | Beverly Burns | Recurring role (25 episodes) |
| 2018 | The Dangerous Book for Boys | Tiffany McKenna | 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Lethal Weapon | Ruthie | 2 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Call Me Kat | Sheila | Main role (53 episodes) |
| 2021-present | Rugrats | Minka Kropotkin | Voice, recurring role |

## Theatre credits

| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | The Firebugs | Ann | Martinique Theatre July 1, 1968 – July 7, 1968 |
| 1970 | The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds | Janice Vickery | Mercer Arts Center April 7, 1970 – May 14, 1972 |
| 1975 | Ah, Wilderness! | Muriel McComber | Circle in the Square Theatre September 18, 1975 – November 23, 1975 |
| 1976 | Children | Jane | Stage 73 October 20, 1976 |
| 1977 | Uncommon Women and Others | Rita Altabel | Marymount Manhattan Theatre November 17, 1977 – December 4, 1977 |
| 1977 | Tartuffe | Mariane | Circle in the Square Theatre September 25, 1977 – November 20, 1977 |
| 1978 | A History of the American Film | Bette | ANTA Playhouse March 30, 1978 – April 16, 1978 |
| 1979 | Wine Untouched | Unknown | Harold Clurman Theater June 18, 1979 – June 28, 1979 |
| 1980 | Fifth of July | Gwen Landis | New Apollo Theatre November 5, 1980 – January 24, 1982 |
| 1985 | The Beach House | Annie | Circle Repertory Company December 19, 1985 – February 2, 1986 |
| 1986 | The House of Blue Leaves | Bananas Shaughnessy | Vivian Beaumont Theater April 29, 1986 – March 15, 1987 |
| 1989 | Love Letters | Melissa Gardner (replacement) | Edison Theatre November 14, 1989 – November 19, 1989 |
| 1991 | Lips Together, Teeth Apart | Sally Truman | New York City Center May 28, 1991 – January 5, 1992 |
| 1999 | The Mineola Twins | Myrna/Myra | Laura Pels Theatre February 18, 1999 – May 30, 1999 |
| 1999 | The Vagina Monologues | Unknown | Westside Theatre October 3, 1999 – January 26, 2003 |
| 2002 | The Guys | Unknown | The Flea Theater January 17, 2002 – December 20, 2002 |
| 2002 | Imaginary Friends | Lillian Hellman | Ethel Barrymore Theatre December 12, 2002 – February 16, 2003 |
| 2003 | Intrigue with Faye | Woman | Acorn Theater June 11, 2003 – July 16, 2003 |
| 2004 | Frozen | Nancy | Circle in the Square Theatre May 4, 2004 – August 22, 2004 |
| 2006 | Heartbreak House | Hesione Hushabye | American Airlines Theatre October 11, 2006 – December 17, 2006 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Result |
| 1978 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Tartuffe | Nominated |
| 1978 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Uncommon Women and Others | Nominated |
| 1978 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | A History of the American Film | Won |
| 1981 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Play | Fifth of July | Won |
| 1981 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Fifth of July | Won |
| 1981 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Fifth of July | Won |
| 1982 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Love, Sidney | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Love, Sidney | Nominated |
| 1986 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Play | The House of Blue Leaves | Won |
| 1986 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | The House of Blue Leaves | Nominated |
| 1990 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Carol and Company | Won |
| 1993 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Sisters | Nominated |
| 1994 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Sisters | Nominated |
| 1994 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie | And the Band Played On | Nominated |
| 1998 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | ER | Nominated |
| 1999 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | The Mineola Twins | Nominated |
| 1999 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | The Mineola Twins | Nominated |
| 1999 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | The Mineola Twins | Nominated |
| 2004 | Tony Awards | Best Leading Actress in a Play | Frozen | Nominated |
| 2004 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Frozen | Nominated |
| 2005 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Huff | Nominated |
| 2006 | Emmy Awards (Primetime) | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Huff | Nominated |
| 2007 | Tony Awards | Best Leading Actress in a Play | Heartbreak House | Nominated |