Kristy Swanson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kristy Swanson
Swanson in 2024
Born	(1969-12-19) December 19, 1969 (age 55) Laguna Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1984–present
Spouse(s)	Lloyd Eisler ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	1

Kristy Swanson (born December 19, 1969) is an American actress. She is well-known for playing Buffy Summers in the 1992 movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appeared in the 1996 film The Phantom.

Kristy Swanson's first main role was in the horror film Deadly Friend (1986). She also played Catherine "Cathy" Dollanganger in the 1987 movie Flowers in the Attic. Swanson has starred in many other films, including Hot Shots! (1991), Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991), The Program (1993), Big Daddy (1999), and Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). She also had roles in classic films like Pretty in Pink (1986) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986).

Early Life and First Roles

Kristy Swanson grew up in Mission Viejo, California. When she was nine years old, she told her parents she wanted to act. She started looking for roles in TV commercials.

Her first acting job was in a commercial for a doll house. After that, she appeared in several more commercials.

Acting Career Highlights

Swanson began her acting career at The Actors Workshop. Soon, she started getting roles in TV commercials and guest spots on TV shows. These included Cagney and Lacey and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

In 1986, she made her big screen debut in two films by director John Hughes. She had a small role in Pretty in Pink. She also played a character who made an excuse for Ferris's absence in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Later in 1986, she got her first starring role in Wes Craven's Deadly Friend. The next year, she played Cathy in Flowers in the Attic. This movie was based on the popular novel by V. C. Andrews.

Kristy Swanson explained how she got her role in Pretty in Pink. Director John Hughes needed to reshoot the ending of the movie. He asked her to be in a scene with the character Ducky. This was because the original ending didn't work well with test audiences.

By 1990, Swanson had appeared in many TV shows. These included Knots Landing (1987–1988) and Nightingales (1989). Nightingales was her first main role in a TV series, but it only lasted one season.

Starring Roles in the 1990s

Throughout the 1990s, Kristy Swanson mostly starred in movies. In 1992, she played the main character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While it wasn't a huge box office hit at first, it became very popular when people rented it.

She also appeared in the movie based on the comic book The Phantom. Another film she starred in was the comedy 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag with Joe Pesci. Many of these films did not do well in theaters. Because of this, she started working more on television in the late 1990s.

In the 1998–99 season of Early Edition, Swanson played Erica Paget. This character was a love interest for the main character, Gary Hobson. In 1999, Swanson played Vanessa, the ex-girlfriend of Adam Sandler in the movie Big Daddy.

In 2000, she returned to TV as the star of Grapevine. This was a new version of an older TV series. It was canceled after only five episodes. That same year, she starred in the successful movie Dude, Where's My Car?. She acted alongside Ashton Kutcher, Seann William Scott, and Jennifer Garner.

Recent Work and Appearances

In 2006, Kristy Swanson appeared on and won the Fox TV show Skating with Celebrities. Her skating partner was Lloyd Eisler.

In 2007, she became a spokesperson for the Medifast diet. The next year, she guest-starred in three episodes of the web series 3Way. She also appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

In 2021, a movie called Just Another Dream was released. Kristy Swanson co-starred in it with her long-time friend Dean Cain.

Personal Life

Kristy Swanson married her Skating with Celebrities partner Lloyd Eisler in 2009. They have one son together. Lloyd Eisler also has two children from a previous marriage.

Swanson is a member of the Republican Party. In 2020, she co-starred in a stage play called Obamagate with Dean Cain. The play focused on Donald Trump.

In 2021, Kristy Swanson was hospitalized after getting COVID-19. She had serious breathing problems.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Wins

• 1989: Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Horror or Mystery Motion Picture—Flowers in the Attic
• 2019: Independent Women's Forum Annual Award Gala—Resilience Award

Nominations

• 2021: Royal Starr Film Festival for Best Feature Film—Just Another Dream
• 2012: Movieguide Awards for Most Inspirational Television Acting—A Christmas Wish
• 2011: Movieguide Awards for Most Inspiring Movie Acting—What If...
• 1992: Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress—Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• 1988: Young Artist Award for Best Young Female Superstar in Motion Pictures—Deadly Friend
• 1987: Young Artist Award for Exceptional Young Actress Starring in a Television Special or Movie of the Week—Mr. Boogedy
• 1986: Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress—Guest in a Television Series—Cagney & Lacey episode "On the Street"

See also

In Spanish: Kristy Swanson para niños