Swoosie Kurtz
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Swoosie Kurtz ( ; born September 6, 1944) is an American actress. She is the recipient of an
Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
and two
Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...
. Kurtz made her Broadway debut in the 1975 revival of '' Ah, Wilderness''. She has received five Tony Award nominations, winning for both ''
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'' (1981) and '' The House of Blue Leaves'' (1986); her other nominations were for '' Tartuffe'' (1988), '' Frozen'' (2004), and ''
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'' (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 A sister is a woman or a girl who shares parents or a parent with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to r ...
'' (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
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, the only child of author Margaret "Margo" (née Rogers) and
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Colonel Frank Allen Kurtz Jr., a decorated
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
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 World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 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 ''
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'' at eighteen, identifying her father from two impostors. She made her debut as a series regular on the daytime drama ''
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'' 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 The Drama Desk Awards are among the most esteemed honors in New York theater, recognizing outstanding achievements across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions within the same categories. The awards are considered a signific ...
. Kurtz was soon awarded Broadway's "triple crown" (the
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards) for her portrayal of Gwen in Lanford Wilson's ''
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''. She won a second Tony for her performance as Bananas in a 1986 revival of ''The House of Blue Leaves'' by
John Guare John Guare ( ; born February 5, 1938) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He is best known as the author of '' The House of Blue Leaves'' and '' Six Degrees of Separation''. Early life He was raised in Jackson Heights, Queens.Druckma ...
. She starred as playwright
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in the 2002
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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 David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer, and auto racing team owner. He hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of ''Late N ...
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 The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...
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 sister is a woman or a girl who shares parents or a parent with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to r ...
'', 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 ''
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'' and has also had recurring roles as Valerie on the drama '' That's Life'', as Judy's mother Helen on the
sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...
'' Still Standing'', as Madeleine Sullivan on the Showtime drama series '' Huff'', and most recently as part of a lesbian married couple with
Blythe Danner Blythe Katherine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American actress. Accolades she has received include two Primetime Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Best Supporting Actress in a Dra ...
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 Mayim Chaya Bialik ( ; born December 12, 1975) is an American actress, author, and former game show host. From 1991 to 1995, she played the title character of the NBC sitcom ''Blossom (American TV series), Blossom''. From 2010 to 2019, she play ...
'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 James Eugene Carrey (; born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian and American actor and comedian. Known primarily for his energetic slapstick performances, he has received two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for BAFTA Awards and ...
in '' Liar Liar'' (1997).


Personal life

From 1964 to 1970, Kurtz was romantically involved with Joshua White of '' The Joshua Light Show''.


Filmography


Film


Television


Theatre credits


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kurtz, Swoosie 1944 births Living people 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses Actresses from Omaha, Nebraska American people of German descent American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses American voice actresses Drama Desk Award winners Primetime Emmy Award winners Tony Award winners USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni