Why? Now that we know why Swedberg was written off the showand have the benefit of 30 years hindsightit's time to look back at how her performance was ideal for this show. I couldnt figure out how to play off of her, he said. George only decides to marry Susan after making a deal with Jerry that theyd both get married. Hostility on the Set. Turns out, it was none other than Heidi Swedberg, who played George's fiance, Susan, on the show for some time. NBC during the 1990s was on a roll, and they had a line-up of amazing shows that dominated the small screen. But after a series of episodes in which Jerry Seinfeld and Louis-Dreyfus shared scenes with Swedberg, they agreed with Alexander. Now we gotta kill her! Alexander recalled on the Howard Stern Show on Sirius XM Radio. She was generous and gracious and I am so mad at myself for retelling this story in any way that would diminish her. I was 18 years old, and she treated me like I was in her way. Since Seinfeld is widely considered to be among the best sitcoms of all time, it makes sense that the shows stars continue to talk about the series years after its controversial finale. "And Julia actually said, 'Don't you want to just kill her?' For example, virtually all of the show's fans have no idea that before Seinfeld went into production the casting process was shockingly difficult. Swedberg hasnt said anything about the story yet, but onetimeSeinfeld actress Ali Wentworth who played Jerry Seinfelds PDA-prone girlfriend Sheila in the fan-favorite Soup Nazi episode discussed the matter with THR: I read a little bit about that, and I was a little bit like, Wow, now? Susan, of course, died from licking the cheap envelopes George picked for their wedding invitations. Eventually, things reached a head when both Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus voiced their complaints, with Dreyfus talking about killing off the character. For those of us raised outside the essential pop culture lexicon of Seinfeld, actress Heidi Swedberg recurred multiple times throughout the NBC series as George's on-off girlfriend (and NBC . But there's a good reason Esquirecalled Susan Ross (Heidi Swedberg) the "most tragic character" on the beloved sitcom. Kim Kardashian Shuts Down KKW Fragrance Following Divorce! If I had had more maturity or more security in my own work, I surely would have taken her query and possibly tried to adjust the scenes with her. Most sitcoms wouldn't dream of killing off a character without good reason, usually the actor themselves' death. Swedberg was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the daughter of Kay, a high school English teacher and Jim Swedberg, a laser physicist. After George and Susan break up, she dates a woman who then leaves her for Kramer. The finale finally showed some consequences for their actions throughout the show. To Heidi, I personally apologize. Needless to say, when Alexander found out Susan was to become . I think it made a lot of sense." In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Alexander said it just didnt work. And in a 2014 profile in Ukulele magazine she says: I dont think acting is all that important. The film, which also starred Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, and Jon Cryer, was a critical and commercial success. Her instincts for doing a scene where the comedy was and mine were always misfiring. by Gary Trock Posted on October 28, 2019 at 9:12 pm. It wouldn't have been funny if they were a great or even good match. Susan's death was a truly shocking moment (punctuated by the main group's morbidly unemotional response). "Larry said to me, Dont you understand how perfect she is for you? In fact, it was Julia Louis-Dreyfus who suggested killing off the character after finding actress Heidi Swedberg hard to work with, according to interviews with Alexander over the years. Chris has attended several events for Screen Rant, including San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Heidi Swedberg rose to prominence as Susan Ross, the fiance of George Costanza (played by Jason Alexander). After Swedberg left Seinfeld, she had small roles in shows like Roswell, Wizards of Waverly Place and Gilmore Girls.She has since left acting and pursued a career in music. She attended Sandia High School in Albuquerque from 1980 to 1984.[1]. In fact, one guest star was so difficult to work with, that the cast finally had to put their foot down. Yes, of course! So, shes dead? More laughs. Newly engaged, nearly every word out of Susans mouth irks George. Her staidness and composure plays off the absurdity of George, Kramer, Elaine, and Jerry. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heidi_Swedberg&oldid=1137146514, American television actor, 1960s birth stubs, BLP articles lacking sources from January 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", "The Gift", "Disturbing Behavior", "How the Other Half Lives", "One's Got Class and the Other Ones Dyes", This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 01:23. I feel officially awful, he wrote in a linked apology. [1] Whatever Happened To Seinfeld's Michael Richards? Her instincts and my instincts were diametrically opposed. But Swedberg has been left out of the conversation completely. Then Youll Love These Little-Known Facts. More telling signs about the casts thoughts about Swedberg include what happened after the cameras stopped. Singing and playing ukulele with them brought her so much joy that she found herself drifting away from auditions and into the classroom., The bio briefly mentions Swedberg's acting careerbut not her time on Seinfeld. Howard Stern had Jason Alexander in the hot seat recently, and the radio host took the opportunity to ask the actor about all the rumors surrounding Susan's death and actress Heidi Swedberg's . NBC executive Warren Littlefield called it, "the boldest comedy move I've ever seen" in the book Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must-See TV. The Seinfeld star relayed the story on Howard Stern's radio show in 2015 of how Susan's demise came about. I couldn't find an interview in which she's ever mentioned the show by name. She is best known for her role as Susan Ross, the fiance of George Costanza, on the television sitcom Seinfeld. Columbia. Having children re-focused her life, reads the biography on her website. Worse yet, even after the powers that be behind Seinfeld found the right actors to star in the series, there would go on to be further casting struggles. Amazingly enough, in that book, Alexander revealed that he didn't like working with Heidi Swedberg, the actor who brought Susan Ross to life. Despite what the former castmembers claim about their not actively disliking the actor herself, their supp. And Julia actually said, I know, dont you just want to just kill her? he said. Speaking to Morristown Green, Swedberg discussed her thoughts on the ukulele, Ukulele is easier to learn than guitar, its more portable, and it creates an aura of friendliness. Surprisingly, Jason Alexander, who played George Costanza on the show, didn't think it would be a hit. The movie, which was a box office success, also starred Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, the late Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, and Justin Long, who played Brandon himself. They have two children. But this is why Im not a lawyer., Seinfeld: These Major Stars Couldve Played George Costanza Instead of Jason Alexander. Im sorry, the doctor says to George. Susan was killed off in Seinfeld season 7 before she could say "I do" and become George Costanza's wife. From 1997 to 2010, she appeared in almost two dozen projects. In that episode, Susan became poisoned by toxic envelopes for the wedding invitations and died as a result. Im sure she felt the same way, but shes the guest, shes not going to complain about me.. NBC Getty Images 19 of 40 The pair broke up (an experience that seemingly drove Susan to lesbianism) but surprisingly got back together in Seinfeld season 7. When George goes back to herand proposes!she gives him another chance. Heidi Swedberg (born 1966/1967) [1] is an American actress and musician. By Christopher Covello | January 18, 2023. In an interview ( via THR ), George actor Jason Alexander admitted, "I couldn't figure out how to play off her." Alexander's co-stars had similar issues. In 1992, she was cast for one of her longest-running roles: George Constanzas girlfriend Susan Ross. After the characters' cold response to Susan's death aired on his network, Littlefield's children's pediatrician wouldn't speak to him. Heidi Swedberg, who played Seinfeld 's supporting character Susan Ross, was apparently the most difficult cast member to work withwhich is why the show's creator decided to kill her off.. She played Miss McCullough in the episodes When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and The Gift.. Her album Play! features traditional songs and original music. Heidi Swedberg is an American actress who is hailed for her role as Susan Ross on the television sitcom Seinfeld.Apart from being an actress, she is also a talented musician who is a member of a band called The Sukey Jump Band.. and "Galaxy Quest," as well as guest spots on "Gilmore Girls" and "Bones." She played the ill-fated Susan Ross, girlfriend of George Costanza, in Season Four and Season Seven of Seinfeld. How was she treated by the rest of the castand what was it like finding out why she was killed off? And Larry went, Ka-bang! There was nothing scandalous going on behind the scenes, though, as . Youve practically shit on her, and nobody feels bad for her. But I know, as a viewer, her episodes are an absolute delight to watch. Beaux Raymond Drops Jaws In Poolside Red Bikini Throwback, Robert Downey Jr. Sued For Alleged Elder Abuse Over New Podcast Series, Olivia Culpos Sister, Aurora, Files For Divorce From Survivor Star Husband, Dirty Dancing Star Jennifer Grey Getting THOUSANDS In Spousal Support From Ex-Husband, Vanderpump Rules Stars Take Over Downtown Las Vegas For Life is Beautiful, DJ Mustards Ex-Wife Demands Over $80,000 Per Month In Child Support. This content is imported from youTube. He even went out for coffee with actress Marisa Tomei, who played herself on the show. As he recalls, Julia Louis-Dreyfus said, "Don't you just want to kill her?" She eventually became a love interest for George, and the two had a short relationship over the course of season 4. What The Cast Of Seinfeld Really Think About The Show's Finale. Finally, they do an episode where Elaine and Jerry have a lot of material with her, Alexander recalled. Despite the fact that many guests seemed to have a good time on the show and that the feeling was mutual with the main cast, there was one performer who caused some friction. So, Which Band Inspired 'Daisy Jones & The Six'? The tense romance and engagement didnt last, as Susan was ultimately killed off the sitcom for reasons that go far beyond the show itself. [3], Swedberg was married to Philip Holahan from 1994 until their divorce in 2019. During the aforementioned documentary segment, Heidi Swedberg talked about fans being upset that her character passed away before revealing her own take on that storyline moment. She saw her role as the straight woman to the quirky cast of characters. At the time of this conversation, it was unknown if George would go through with the wedding or not. But in an episode of Seinfeld, George (Jason Alexander) and Susan (Heidi Swedberg) watch an episode of Mad About You in bed. When you really think about all of the decisions that have to go right for a show to become a hit, it almost is shocking that any show manages to come out well. Swedberg, who famously portrayed George Costanza's fiance, Susan . I couldnt get the right responses back. Then Youll Love These Little-Known Facts, Alexander revealed that he didn't like working with Heidi Swedberg, Every Seinfeld Actor Ranked (According To Their Net Worth, Jason Alexander revealed that Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus eventually agreed that Heidi Swedberg was hard to work with. The death of George's fiance Susan Ross ( Heidi Swedberg ), whose cause of death was from licking the poison glue from cheap envelopes, might have seemed abrupt and confused many Seinfeld. The decision to kill off George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) fiancee, Susan (Heidi Swedberg), in the Season 7 finale of "Seinfeld" was a pretty bold move. Most of the othercharacters on "Seinfeld"end up worse off for having met the main four friends. Heidi Swedberg y Jason Alexander en una escena de "Seinfeld". George gets her fired, which leads to her breaking up with him. Baseball star Keith Hernandez, for instance, had a memorable time with Elaine on the show. The latest movie news, trailers, reviews, and more. If I thought something had to move, shed go slow if I went slow, shed go fast. When he was told it was Susan, his response was, Great! She was generous and gracious and I am so mad at myself for retelling this story in any way that would diminish her, In response to Alexanders comments and subsequent apology, Swedberg said in Morristown Green, I tend not to like to say unkind things about anyone. If the four main stars had trouble playing off Swedberg, it could have negatively impacted the quality of the ensuing episodes. She was one of the colder people I've ever spoken with. She played Susan Ross, George Costanza's ill-fated fiancee on Seinfeld, and over the course of 28 episodes across 5 seasons, George, Jerry, Elaine, and Kramer made her life miserable. She also had guest roles in a number of television series, including Matlock, Thirtysomething, Quantum Leap, Brooklyn Bridge, Northern Exposure, Sisters, Roc and Touched by an Angel. Alexander, currently starring on Broadway in Larry Davids play, Fish in the Dark, told Stern that Swedberg had been unable to master her own domain. He later apologized for any possible miscommunication that painted Swedberg in a. Susan is far less eccentric than George and Kramer. Whats that? he asks as the laugh track cuts in. After that scene, Louis-Dreyfus and Seinfeld said, You know what? Shes a terrific girl. I actually launched into this on Stern to defend you. Swedberg appears at ukulele festivals and nightclubs with her other band, The Smoking Jackets, with multi-instrumentalists Daniel Ward, Craig McClelland and John Bartlit. I spent days trying to track Swedberg down to hear her side of the story, because its been three decades since the premiere of Seinfeldand it's time the shows most tragic character gets a much-deserved second look. NBC. To which Swedberg answers, "Why? I love how it can carry a song within itself. This article about an American television actor born in the 1960s is a stub. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. In an interview (via THR), George actor Jason Alexander admitted, "I couldn't figure out how to play off her." The actor, who played the hapless George Costanza, told Howard Stern that actress Heidi Swedberg was given the ax after co-stars Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus both agreed she was not jibing with the cast. The death of George's fiance Susan Ross (Heidi Swedberg), whose cause of death was from licking the poison glue from cheap envelopes, might have seemed abrupt and confused many Seinfeld viewers. This included movies such as "Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!" Related: Jason Alexander Says He Was Offered Big Bucks To Leak Seinfeld Secrets! (1991) and Dragonfly (2002). Heidi Swedberg (born March 3, 1966) is an American actress and musician, best known for her role as Susan Ross, the fiance of George Costanza, on the television sitcom Seinfeld. Im lucky enough to write about film and television for a living, with some fun trivia sprinkled in, too. Heidi would always ask if there was anything in the scenes she could do or if I had any thoughts. So Ill leave it at that, she said. Youve driven her to lesbianism. George Costanza might be known for his stinginess but the actor playing him wasn't stingy with the apologies and praises he heaped on Heidi Swedberg.. To set the record straight, Howard Stern asked the actor what the real story . Where the Cast of 'Boy Meets World' Is Now, Don't Despair, But 'The Last of Us' Is Nearly Over, 'The Last of Us' Season 2 Might Start Filming Soon, Facts You Didn't Know About That '70s Show, The Cast of 'The Mandalorian' in Real Life, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3, Episode 1 Recap, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence. At its peak, there was virtually no show on television that came close to matching its relevance and quality. Modern sitcoms like Community will make shocking moves like killing off a character for an in-universe joke, but this was rarely done in sitcoms like Seinfeld until Seinfeld did it. It was classic Seinfeld dark humorbut darker than most. George was admittedly pathetic while Susan was smart and ambitious, an accomplished professional when they met. Alexander, along with Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus complained to Larry David that Swedberg didn't mesh with the main cast and argued that she should be written off the . Swedbergs character, Susan Ross, was famously killed off in an 1996 episode titled The Invitations in which she dies after licking toxic wedding-invitation envelopes that had been bought by George on the cheap. Yes, she played George Costanza's doomed fianc, who, in one of the series' most outrageous and notorious episodes, died of toxic poisoning after licking hundreds of wedding invitation envelopes. Swedberg is currently dating Daniel Ward, a classically trained Flamenco guitarist, whom she often performs live with. You can also catch Heidi playing the ukulele with her band, Heidi Swedberg and the SukeyJump Band. Alexander told Howard Stern Wednesday that Heidi Swedberg,. Here's why Seinfeld killed off Susan in season 7, and why the show had to get rid of her in the first place. Although Seinfeld had some legendary guest stars, things weren't always great behind the scenes. Swedberg has also put out two albums, which are available for purchase or download. So what has Swedberg been doing since? Swedberg, who famously portrayed George Costanzas fiance, Susan Ross, filed documents Tuesday at an L.A. County Courthouse. Because the audience for this show is me, and I dont watch TV," the actor said. "I love Heidi Swedberg, but I could never figure out how to play off her. Meanwhile, George and his friends give Susan plenty of reasons to leave. Swedberg currently gives ukulele lessons and workshops to beginners and children interested in learning about the instrument. Her instincts for doing a scene, where the comedy was, and mine were always misfiring. Here's what actress Heidi Swedberg has been up to since playing Susan on "Seinfeld." She now teaches the ukelele in schools Jim D'Ville/YouTube Susan is far less eccentric than George and.