Swoosie Kurtz ( ; born September 6, 1944) is an American actress. She has won one 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 (1991–96), Huff (2004–06), Pushing Daisies (2007–09), and the hit CBS sitcom Mike & Molly (2010–16). 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).National Archives photo 342-FH-3A40681A-21320AC shows the B-17 crew that broke all records in the Pacific. Annotated photo available at Fold3 with crew list on the reverse side
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.Hernandez, Ernio. Jones, Kurtz, Groener Become Bway's Imaginary Friends, November 25; Opens December 12. Playbill. July 20, 2002
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.
She is an Episcopalian and is on the Advisory Board of the Episcopal Actors Guild.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1977 Slap Shot Shirley Upton First Love Marsha 1978 Oliver's Story Gwen Simpson 1982 The World According to Garp The Hooker 1983 A Caribbean Mystery Ruth Walter 1984 Against All Odds Edie 1986 Wildcats Verna McGrath True Stories Miss Rollings 1988 Vice Versa Lillian Brookmeyer / Turk Bright Lights, Big City Megan Dangerous Liaisons Madame de Volanges 1990 Stanley & Iris Sharon A Shock to the System Leslie Marshall 1991 Walking the Dog Short film 1994 Reality Bites Charlane McGregor 1996 Citizen Ruth Diane Siegler Storybook Queen Evilia 1997 Liar Liar Dana Appleton 1998 Outside Ozona Rosalee 1999 Cruel Intentions Dr. Regina Greenbaum The White River Kid Mummy Weed 2001 Get Over It Beverly Landers Bubble Boy Mrs. Livingston 2002 The Rules of Attraction Mrs. Jared 2003 Duplex Jean aka Our House 2004 Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes Binny Redwine 2007 Superman: Doomsday Martha KentVoice 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 episodesWalking Through the FireCariaTV movie1980Marriage is Alive and WellJane TremontThe Mating SeasonRoberta 1981–83 Love, Sidney Laurie Morgan 44 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1982–83)1985Guilty ConscienceJackie WillisTV movieA Time to LivePatricia 1987 American Playhouse Bananas Shaughnessy / Gwen Landis 2 episodes Trying Times Wanda Episode: "The Visit"1988Baja OklahomaDoris SteadmanTelevision filmNominated—CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or MiniseriesNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 1990 Carol & Company Laurie Episode: "Reunion"Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe ImageJoanne Winstow-DarvishTelevision filmNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie1991Terror on Track 9Marcia HobbsTV movie 1991–96 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 Series1993The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering MomMarla HarperTV movieAnd the Band Played OnMrs. JohnstoneTelevision filmNominated—CableACE Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or MiniseriesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie1994One ChristmasEmilyTV movie1995Betrayed: A Story of Three WomenJoan Bixler Hope and Gloria Herself Episode: "How to Get an Ed in Business" The Magic School Bus Mrs. Hudson Voice, episode: "Out of This World" 1996 Party Girl Judy Burkhard 3 episodesA Promise to CarolynKayTV movieHarveyVerna Simmons 1996–97 Suddenly Susan Liz Miller Keane 3 episodes 1997 Touched by an Angel Libby King Episode: "Charades"Little Girls in Pretty BoxesAllison BryantTV movie 1998 ER Tina Marie Chambliss Episode: "Suffer the Little Children"Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series More Tales of the City Betty Borg Ramsey 3 episodesMy Own CountryHope FlandersTV movies 1999–2000 Love & Money Effie Conklin 13 episodes 2000 The Outer Limits Justice Kendall Woods Episode: "Final Appeal" 2001 The Fighting FitzgeraldsMartha Episode: "When Irish Eyes Are Smilin'"The Wilde GirlsSierra LambertTV movie 2001–02 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" 2004–06 Huff Madeleine Sullivan 8 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (2005–06) 2005 Lost Emily Annabeth Locke Episode: "Deus Ex Machina" Still Standing Helen Michaels 2 episodesTrueTV movieCategory 7: The End of the WorldPenny HallNadine in Date Land 2005–14 American Dad! Betty Smith / Marylin Thacker Voice, 6 episodes 2007–09 Pushing Daisies Lily Charles 15 episodes2008Living ProofElizabethTV movie 2009 Desperate Housewives Jessie Episode: "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" Heroes Millie Houston 2 episodes Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Hilda Marsden Episode: "Crush" Rita Rocks Marilyn 7 episodes 2009–11 Nurse Jackie Mrs. Scheinhorn 2 episodes 2010 Chuck Laura Turner Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models" 2010–16 Mike & Molly Joyce Flynn Main role (127 episodes) 2016–18 Grace and Frankie Janet 2 episodes 2017–20 Man with a Plan Beverly Burns Recurring role (25 episodes) 2018 The Dangerous Book for Boys Tiffany McKenna 6 episodes Lethal Weapon Ruthie 2 episodes 2021–23 Call Me Kat Sheila Main role (53 episodes) 2021–24 Rugrats Minka Kropotkin Voice, recurring role 2025 It's Florida, Man Mrs. Myrtle Episode: "Cuckoo Girl"
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 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 The Vagina Monologues Unknown Westside Theatre October 3, 1999 – January 26, 2003 2002 The Guys The Flea Theater January 17, 2002 – December 20, 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