Swoosie is the only child of author Margo and Air Force Colonel Frank Kurtz. Due to her father's job she moved 17 times during school, lived in 8 different states. At the University of Southern California she majored in drama; later she attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, collected Broadway's "triple crown" (the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards) for her portrayal of Gwen in Lanford Wilson's "The Fifth of July". Since then she achieved much: has appeared in many TV shows and movies, got several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy for her guest-starring performance on Carol Burnett's comedy series Carol & Company.



Her name "Swoosie" is derived from the airplane called the "Swoose" - half swan, half goose - which her father piloted in WW-II. May 28, 1991: Starred in the first production of Terrence McNally's play "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" with Nathan Lane, Christine Baranski and Anthony Heald. Appeared both in Dangerous Liaisons (1988), and a remake, Cruel Intentions (1999), in different roles. She was nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in a Principal Role for her performance in "The Philanthropist," at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.