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Swoosie Kurtz

Swoosie Kurtz

Actor · Born September 6, 1944 (82) · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Swoosie Kurtz (born September 6, 1944) is an American actress. She began her career in theater during the 1970s and shortly thereafter began a career in television, garnering ten nominations and winning one Emmy Award. Her most famous television project was her role on the 1990s NBC drama Sisters. She has also appeared somewhat sporadically in films from the late 1970s up until today, including prominent roles in such films as Dangerous Liaisons, Citizen Ruth, and Liar Liar among others. Throughout her career she has remained active in theater, earning five Tony Award nominations and winning two over the last three decades. Description above from the Wikipedia article Swoosie Kurtz, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 6, 1944 (82)
From
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 93 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Up 8% in 30 days

What are Swoosie Kurtz's films like?

Across their 40 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Thriller2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Thriller movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Self
26%
Morality
21%
Survival
9%
Power
7%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 23 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 20 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 13 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 9 of 17 analyzed roles.

Ally
9 of 17
Threshold guardian
3 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Shadow
1 of 17
Mentor
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
14
Warm
13
Joyful
11
Absurd
11
Other
40

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Swoosie Kurtz's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Swoosie Kurtz's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

93 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • It's Florida, Man(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Myrtle

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Rugrats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Minka (voice) · as Minka / Frau Klump (voice)

  • Call Me Kat(2021)

    Show 53 episodes · as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Bless the Harts(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mee-Maw (voice)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Overboard(2018)

    as Grace

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Dangerous Book for Boys(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Tiffany McKenna

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Man with a Plan(2016)

    Show 25 episodes · as Beverly

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Lethal Weapon(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruthie · as Ruthie Krumholz

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Grace and Frankie(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Janet

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Mike & Molly(2010)

    Show 127 episodes · as Joyce Flynn

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Hank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Nurse Jackie(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Scheinhorn

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • An Englishman in New York(2009)

    as Connie Clausen

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Living Proof(2008)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Rita Rocks(2008)

    Show as Marilyn

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Pushing Daisies(2007)

    Show 22 episodes · as Lily Charles

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Chuck(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Turner

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Superman: Doomsday(2007)

    as Martha Kent (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Heroes(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · as Millie Houston

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Category 7: The End of the World(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Penny Hall

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows

  • Nadine in Dateland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Mrs. M

  • American Dad!(2005)

    Show 8 episodes · as Betty Smith (voice) · as Marylin Thacker (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Huff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Jessie

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Locke

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Duplex(2003)

    as Jean

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Rules of Attraction(2002)

    as Mrs. Jared

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Still Standing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helen Michaels

  • Street Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Victoria Van Kleek

  • The Wilde Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Sierra Lambert

  • Bubble Boy(2001)

    as Mrs. Livingston

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Get Over It(2001)

    as Beverly Landers

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes(2000)

    as Binny Redwine

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Love & Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 13 episodes · as Effie Conklin

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilda Marsden

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Harvey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Veta Simmons

  • Cruel Intentions(1999)

    as Dr. Greenbaum

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The White River Kid(1999)

    as Mummy Weed

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Outside Ozona(1998)

    as Rosalee

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Wild Thornberrys(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Michelle Naidell (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • My Own Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Hope Flanders

  • More Tales of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · as Betty Ramsey

  • Liar Liar(1997)

    as Dana Appleton

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Little Girls in Pretty Boxes(1997)

    as Allison Bryant

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Citizen Ruth(1996)

    as Diane Siegler

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Harvey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Veta Simmons

  • Suddenly Susan(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Liz Miller Keane

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Party Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · as Judy

  • A Promise to Carolyn(1996)

    as Kay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Justice Kendall Woods

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Betrayed: A Story of Three Women(1995)

    as Joan Bixler

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Hope and Gloria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Swoosie Kurtz

  • One Christmas(1994)

    as Emily

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Libby Glaser

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Tina Marie Chambliss

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Magic School Bus(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dorothy Ann's Mom (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Reality Bites(1994)

    as Charlane McGregor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Storybook(1995)

    as Queen Evilia

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • And the Band Played On(1993)

    as Mrs. Johnstone

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom(1993)

    as Marla Harper

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Terror on Track 9(1992)

    as Marcia Hobbs

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Walking the Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 127 episodes · as Alexandra 'Alex' Reed Halsey

  • A Shock to the System(1990)

    as Leslie Marshall

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Stanley & Iris(1990)

    as Sharon

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Joanne Winstow-Darvish

  • Dangerous Liaisons(1988)

    as Madame de Volanges

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Bright Lights, Big City(1988)

    as Megan

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Vice Versa(1988)

    as Tina

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Baja Oklahoma(1988)

    as Doris Steadman

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Trying Times (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Wanda

  • The House of Blue Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Bananas Shaughnessy

  • True Stories(1986)

    as The Lazy Woman

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Wildcats(1986)

    as Verna McGrath

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • A Time to Live(1985)

    as Patricia

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Guilty Conscience(1985)

    as Jackie Willis

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Against All Odds(1984)

    as Edie

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Caribbean Mystery(1983)

    as Ruth Walter

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Fifth of July (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Gwen Landis

  • The World According to Garp(1982)

    as The Hooker

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Bananas Shaughnessy · as Gwen Landis

  • Love, Sidney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 44 episodes · as Laurie Morgan

  • The Mating Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Roberta

  • Marriage Is Alive and Well (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Jane Tremont

  • Uncommon Women and Others (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Rita Altabel

  • Walking Through the Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Caria

  • Oliver's Story(1978)

    as Gwen Simpson

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • First Love(1977)

    as Marsha

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Slap Shot(1977)

    as Shirley Upton

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ah, Wilderness! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Muriel McComber

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Di Nata

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Muriel McComber · as Rita Altabel

  • The Donna Reed Show(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 92 titles from 1958 to 2024; peak year 1989.

Biggest box office

Liar Liar (1997)

$303M worldwide

Highest rated

Pushing Daisies (2007)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Man with a Plan (2016)

Film career

19582024

Peak 1989 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting92 of 92: 92 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s8 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 24 roles
77879202

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Swoosie Kurtz's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 39; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 65 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · actor

Call Me Kat (2021)

87th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Pushing Daisies (2007)

Midcredits 95th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Swoosie Kurtz's work okay for kids?

Across up to 20 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles7–64 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity20 titles22–57 · median 44 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles27–63 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs13 titles25–62 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles5–48 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Swoosie Kurtz work with?

People who share at least 2 of Swoosie Kurtz's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Ritchie shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles