---
name: "Swoosie Kurtz"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/swoosie-kurtz"
fi1m_id: "swoosie-kurtz"
imdb_id: "nm0001436"
tmdb_id: 12967
wikidata_id: "Q238052"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 September 1944"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-17T16:02:38.750446+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Swoosie Kurtz

## Identity

Swoosie Kurtz

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/swoosie-kurtz
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** swoosie-kurtz
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001436
- **TMDB ID:** 12967
- **Wikidata ID:** Q238052
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swoosie_Kurtz, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238052, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001436/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12967

Actor. Born 6 September 1944 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 September 1944, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- **Active:** 1988–2007
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 68 (1), 2000s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 75 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Romance 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $337m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swoosie_Kurtz, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238052, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001436/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12967

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Liar Liar*](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Swoosie Kurtz

> Swoosie Kurtz makes eccentric people worth listening to, using the way they speak and move to suggest more than their oddness. We rate her precision, and her willingness to let an ensemble do its work.

Swoosie Kurtz makes an eccentric character’s way of speaking or moving worth paying attention to. We rate her for making such people funny without treating them as disposable jokes. Her comic timing gives difficult family members their bite, while the vulnerability keeps the oddness from becoming the whole performance. She is useful in an ensemble because she can make a supporting part count without asking the film to stop for her.

Her move from theatre into sustained screen work in the 1980s put that precision to different uses. Stephen Frears’s *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988) casts her as Madame de Volanges alongside Glenn Close and John Malkovich. The film’s calculated seductions give its cast plenty to work with, and we warmly recommend it, particularly for Close’s mercilessness and Michelle Pfeiffer’s deeply affecting performance. Kurtz’s contribution sits within that strong ensemble; we would not pretend she is its principal attraction. A few exchanges sound over-rehearsed, and an accomplished cast cannot quite disguise the stiffness.

Television gave her more sustained ensemble work, from *Sisters* (1991–96), with Sela Ward, to Bryan Fuller’s *Pushing Daisies* (2007–09). Her Lily Charles belongs to the latter’s eccentric supporting cast, whose seriousness about the silliness helps the impossible romance matter. We were moved by that romance because the performers treat its feelings as real, however fanciful the premise. Lee Pace and Anna Friel give the romance its appeal, in a programme that depends on its supporting performers taking the same care. The sweetness can become exhausting, which is a fault the actors cannot be expected to cure.

The suggestion that she ought to have become a bigger film star misses what is rewarding about the work. We do not need every capable supporting actor promoted out of the job they do well. Kurtz’s preference for ensemble work makes sense when the company is this good. Begin with *Pushing Daisies*, and allow for the possibility that its sweetness will require a break between episodes.

## Biography

Swoosie Kurtz is an American actress born on 6 September 1944 in Omaha, Nebraska. She trained at the University of Southern California and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She began her career in theatre and made her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of *Ah, Wilderness!*.

Kurtz has received two Tony Awards, for *Fifth of July* (1981) and *The House of Blue Leaves* (1986), from five nominations. Her television work includes the series *Sisters* (1991–96) and *Mike & Molly* (2010–16), and she played Lily Charles in *Pushing Daisies* (2007–09). She won a Primetime Emmy Award for *Carol & Company* (1990). Her film credits include *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), *Liar Liar* (1997) and *Overboard* (2018).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Pushing Daisies* (2007), Fi1m 82, as Lily Charles — [page](https://film.one/tv/pushing-daisies.md)
- *Liar Liar* (1997), Fi1m 68, as Dana Appleton — [page](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md)
- *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), Fi1m 84, as Madame de Volanges — [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-liaisons.md)

## Complete filmography (92)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *It's Florida, Man.* (2024), series, as Mrs. Myrtle
- *Rugrats* (2021), series, as Minka (voice), Minka / Frau Klump (voice)
- *Call Me Kat* (2021), series, as Sheila
- *Bless the Harts* (2019), series, as Mee-Maw (voice)
- *Overboard* (2018), as Grace
- *The Dangerous Book for Boys* (2018), series, as Tiffany McKenna
- *Man with a Plan* (2016), series, as Beverly
- *Lethal Weapon* (2016), series, as Ruthie, Ruthie Krumholz
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, as Janet
- *Mike & Molly* (2010), series, as Joyce Flynn
- *Hank* (2009), series, Actor
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), series, as Mrs. Scheinhorn — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *An Englishman in New York* (2009), as Connie Clausen
- *Living Proof* (2008), as Elizabeth
- *Pushing Daisies* (2007), series, as Lily Charles — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/pushing-daisies.md)
- *Chuck* (2007), series, as Laura Turner — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *Superman: Doomsday* (2007), as Martha Kent (voice)
- *Heroes* (2006), series, as Millie Houston — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *Category 7: The End of the World* (2005), series, as Penny Hall
- *Nadine in Dateland* (2005), as Mrs. M
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Marylin Thacker (voice), Betty Smith (voice)
- *Huff* (2004), series, Actor
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Jessie — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Lost* (2004), series, as Emily Locke — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *Duplex* (2003), as Jean
- *The Rules of Attraction* (2002), as Mrs. Jared
- *Still Standing* (2002), series, as Helen Michaels
- *Street Time* (2002), series, as Victoria Van Kleek
- *The Wilde Girls* (2001), as Sierra Lambert
- *Bubble Boy* (2001), as Mrs. Livingston
- *Get Over It* (2001), as Beverly Landers
- *Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes* (2000), as Binny Redwine
- *Love & Money* (1999), series, as Effie Conklin
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Hilda Marsden
- *Harvey* (1999), series, as Veta Simmons
- *Cruel Intentions* (1999), as Dr.  Greenbaum
- *The White River Kid* (1999), as Mummy Weed
- *Outside Ozona* (1998), as Rosalee
- *The Wild Thornberrys* (1998), series, as Michelle Naidell (voice)
- *My Own Country* (1998), as Hope Flanders
- *More Tales of the City* (1998), series, as Betty Ramsey
- *Liar Liar* (1997), as Dana Appleton — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/liar-liar.md)
- *Little Girls in Pretty Boxes* (1997), as Allison Bryant
- *Citizen Ruth* (1996), as Diane Siegler
- *Harvey* (1996), as Veta Simmons
- *Suddenly Susan* (1996), series, as Liz Miller Keane
- *Party Girl* (1996), series, as Judy
- *A Promise to Carolyn* (1996), as Kay
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Justice Kendall Woods
- *Betrayed: A Story of Three Women* (1995), as Joan Bixler
- *Hope and Gloria* (1995), series, as Swoosie Kurtz
- *One Christmas* (1994), as Emily
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Libby Glaser
- *ER* (1994), series, as Tina Marie Chambliss — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *The Magic School Bus* (1994), series, as Dorothy Ann's Mom (voice)
- *Reality Bites* (1994), as Charlane McGregor
- *Storybook* (1994), as Queen Evilia
- *And the Band Played On* (1993), as Mrs. Johnstone
- *The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom* (1993), as Marla Harper
- *Terror on Track 9* (1992), as Marcia Hobbs
- *Walking the Dog* (1992), Actor
- *Sisters* (1991), series, as Alexandra 'Alex' Reed Halsey
- *A Shock to the System* (1990), as Leslie Marshall
- *Stanley & Iris* (1990), as Sharon
- *The Image* (1990), as Joanne Winstow-Darvish
- *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), as Madame de Volanges — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-liaisons.md)
- *Bright Lights, Big City* (1988), as Megan
- *Vice Versa* (1988), as Tina
- *Baja Oklahoma* (1988), as Doris Steadman
- *Trying Times* (1987), series, as Wanda
- *The House of Blue Leaves* (1987), as Bananas Shaughnessy
- *True Stories* (1986), as The Lazy Woman
- *Wildcats* (1986), as Verna McGrath
- *A Time to Live* (1985), as Patricia
- *Guilty Conscience* (1985), as Jackie Willis
- *Against All Odds* (1984), as Edie
- *A Caribbean Mystery* (1983), as Ruth Walter
- *Fifth of July* (1982), as Gwen Landis
- *The World According to Garp* (1982), as The Hooker
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Gwen Landis, Bananas Shaughnessy
- *Love, Sidney* (1981), series, as Laurie Morgan
- *The Mating Season* (1980), as Roberta
- *Marriage Is Alive and Well* (1980), as Jane Tremont
- *Uncommon Women and Others* (1979), as Rita Altabel
- *Walking Through the Fire* (1979), as Caria
- *Oliver's Story* (1978), as Gwen Simpson
- *First Love* (1977), as Marsha
- *Slap Shot* (1977), as Shirley Upton
- *Ah, Wilderness!* (1976), as Muriel McComber
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as Julie Di Nata — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Muriel McComber, Rita Altabel
- *The Donna Reed Show* (1958), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Swoosie Kurtz](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-9af5d7f4f5fb.jpg) Swoosie Kurtz — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Swoosie_Kurtz_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg/1280px-Swoosie_Kurtz_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cynthia Nixon, John Hurt and Swoosie Kurtz at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of An Englishman in New York. Photographer's blog post about the e](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-b7349cb24bc3.jpg) Cynthia Nixon, John Hurt and Swoosie Kurtz at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of An Englishman in New York. Photographer's blog post about the e — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Cynthia_Nixon_John_Hurt_Swoosie_Kurtz_2009_Tribeca.jpg/1280px-Cynthia_Nixon_John_Hurt_Swoosie_Kurtz_2009_Tribeca.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cynthia Nixon and Swoosie Kurtz at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of An Englishman in New York. Photographer's blog post about the event at whi](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-e007b3a17ccb.jpg) Cynthia Nixon and Swoosie Kurtz at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of An Englishman in New York. Photographer's blog post about the event at whi — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Cynthia_Nixon_and_Swoosie_Kurtz_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca.jpg/1280px-Cynthia_Nixon_and_Swoosie_Kurtz_Shankbone_2009_Tribeca.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![American singer and actress Ellen Greene. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-e7a5e7d79b46.jpg) American singer and actress Ellen Greene. (2008) — watchwithkristin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Ellen_Greene.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Swoosie Kurtz](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-5ee344317fd0.jpg) Swoosie Kurtz — Image via TMDB
- ![Swoosie Kurtz](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-39b4babed23d.jpg) Swoosie Kurtz — Image via TMDB
- ![Swoosie Kurtz](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-ad1ef535ca28.jpg) Swoosie Kurtz — Image via TMDB
- ![American singer and actress Ellen Greene. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-4b593f0878bc.jpg) American singer and actress Ellen Greene. (2008) — watchwithkristin; cropped by Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Ellen_Greene_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Swoosie Kurtz on the dance floor at the Governor's Ball following the Emmy Awards telecast, 1993 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post but pl](https://film.one/media/person/102019/gallery-4ab934e6fa5c.jpg) Swoosie Kurtz on the dance floor at the Governor's Ball following the Emmy Awards telecast, 1993 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post but pl — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Governors_Ball_%28251695028%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1990: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (won)

### Other awards — 5 won, 3 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2007: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1986: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (won)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical 1981: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (won), for *Fifth of July*
- Outer Critics Circle Award 1981: Outer Critics Circle Award (won), for *Fifth of July*
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1981: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (won)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 1978: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1978: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/swoosie-kurtz