Swoosie Kurtz – Bio, Age, Weight, Sisters, Husband, Gay, Net Worth

Quick Facts

Swoosie Kurtz couldn’t have found a career farther removed from her growing days as she has in the world of acting and entertainment. The lady from Nebraska started out with showings in prestigious Broadway productions beginning in the mid-1970s. She officially made it to the big screen in 1977 when she appeared as Shirley in the movie Slap Shot. Since then, Swoozie has shown up in well over 100 television, film and stage productions combined.

The Hollywood veteran’s time as an actress has been fruitful, to say the least. Her character interpretations have seen her bag a Golden Globe Award, two Tony Awards, three Broadway titles and a plethora of nominations across the board. Some of her most popular works include Fifth of July (1981); Tartuffe (1988); LiarLiar (1997); Pushing Daisies (2007 – 2009); and Overboard (2018.)

Swoosie Kurtz’s Bio, Age

Kurtz knew from an early age what it meant to never really have a place to call home. She was born to an Airforce army bomber pilot and an author on September 6, 1944. She moved around a lot thanks to her father’s occupation so that by the time she was ready for college, she had resided in eight states across the country. Swoosie enrolled at the University of Southern California, where she obtained a degree in drama. She would go on to further her training at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

When she was just a wide-eyed seventeen-year-old, she made her first ever appearance on television, a guest appearance on an episode of the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1962) along with her father. Broadway came calling in 1975 and the then-30-year-old embraced the stage with her debut appearance in Ah, Wilderness!.

As her stock rose, she was involved in more and more plays including Uncommon Women and Others (1977), A History of the American Film (1978). For the latter, she was given her first award, A Drama Desk Award and by the time she played Gwen in Fifth of July (1980), she achieved a rare fit. Swoosie clinched Broadway’s famous “triple crown” by winning the Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for the same play. Another Tony was added to her trophy chest after she portrayed Bananas in 1986’s The House of Blue Leaves.

In the late 1970s, Kurtz teamed up with television veterans like , , and David Letterman for the comedy-variety show Mary. She then followed this up with a double season appearance on NBC’s comedy series Love, Sidney. Her excellent representation of her character Laurie Morgan saw the Nebraska native bag her debut Emmy nomination – she would finally clinch her first Emmy 9 years later for her guest role on Carol & Company.

To date, the actress’s joint longest-serving project saw her play Alex Reed Halsey on Sisters. She played the character from 1991 to 1996, appearing in a total of 127 episodes and recording another two Emmy nominations for her troubles. Some of her more recent works, leading from the late 1990s saw Swoosie Kurtz make appearances on popular television series like ER (1998); Desperate Housewives (2009); Lost (2005); Pushing Daisies (2007 – 2009); Heroes (2009); and Rita Rocks (2009).

She was also Joyce Flynn in NBC’s Mike & Molly from 2010 to 2016, racking up 127 episodes along the way. More recently she has been on Man With A Plan (2018); Furst Born (2016); American Dad! (2006 – 2014); and The Dangerous Book for Boys (2018).

Her Time on Sisters

When NBC brought Kurtz on to join the ensemble cast of their series Sisters, she had no idea that it would make up a very impactful time in her career. She didn’t foresee that it would air for as long as it did either. Sisters premiered in May 1991, and aired for six seasons, ending in May 1996.

Over the course of the show, it gained accolades for its portrayal of female power and gained a massive female following and viewership as a result. Kurtz joined forces with Patricia Kalember, Sela Ward, and to make up the four-sister force that the series was reckoned for.

Maybe it is from her time on the series Sisters that the assumption spread that the Omaha girl may actually have a real-life sister. However, as it turns out, Swoosie does not have any sisters or siblings. She is the only child of her parents.

Swoosie Kurtz’ Net Worth?

Her time on Broadway, television, and film has seen her grow a portfolio that will make budding actors and veterans alike feel dizzy. Having racked much more than 100 projects and counting, it is little wonder that Swoosie Kurtz has seen her net worth pegged at $50 million.

Parents and Husband

Swoosie’s father, Colonel Frank Allen Kurtz Jr. flew the last surviving Boeing B-17D bomber craft – nicknamed “The Swoose” during the Second World War, which is where her first name came from. Swoosie’s mother Magaret made a living as a writer.

Even though Kurtz did find time for love and romance, albeit briefly, the Sisters actress has never been in a marriage. At the age of 20, she started going out with American artist and video maker Joshua White who was known mostly for The Joshua White Show. Their relationship lasted until 1970. There is no record of her dating anyone since then, neither does she have any kids.

Is She Gay?

Swoosie Kurtz over the years has become a favorite of sorts with the LGBT community given her open support for their cause. But perhaps more telling is the fact that the actress has played a handful of gay characters over the course of her career. Movies like Nurse Jackie and Love, Sidney immediately come to mind.

However, even though she remains an outspoken advocate for the gay community and gay rights, Kurtz is as straight as they come.

Height, Weight, and Measurements

The actress has definitely aged gracefully. With all her work she still looks as stunning as she always has. Swoosie Kurtz stands at a cute height of 1.63 m (5 feet 4 inches). And cutting down her weight recently, she now weighs a much more acceptable 54 kg (119 lbs). The brown-haired, blue-eyed Omaha gal has a bust size of 34 inches; waist size of 24 inches; and hip size of 35 inches.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.