1. Early life
Susan Swift was born in Houston, Texas. She has one sister named Kathryn. During the filming of Audrey Rose, Swift was attending Webster Intermediate School in Webster, Texas, indicating her early life was primarily spent in the Houston metropolitan area.
2. Acting career
Susan Swift's acting career began in the mid-1970s and included notable roles in both feature films and a variety of television productions. Her work encompassed horror, comedy, and dramatic roles, establishing her presence in the entertainment industry as a young performer.
2.1. Debut and early roles
Swift made her acting debut at the age of 13 in the 1977 horror film Audrey Rose. In this film, she portrayed Ivy Templeton, a young girl who experiences disturbing nightmares, believed to be the result of her being the reincarnation of a girl named Audrey Rose. The film's producer, Frank De Felitta, undertook a nationwide search to find the ideal young actress for the lead role. Swift was ultimately selected for the part after being discovered at a local theater group affiliated with her middle school. De Felitta intentionally sought to cast an unknown child actor, preferring to find a "perfect face" that embodied the character rather than a recognizable name.
2.2. Major film appearances
Following her debut, Swift continued to secure significant roles in feature films. In 1978, she appeared as 14-year-old Dee Johnson in the comedy Harper Valley PTA, starring alongside Barbara Eden and Ronny Cox. Her first leading role came in 1981, when she starred as Loreen Graham and Ann Putnam in the Bert I. Gordon film Burned at the Stake. Her final film appearance was in 1995, when she played the character Mary in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, which also featured Donald Pleasence, Paul Rudd, and Marianne Hagan.
2.3. Television appearances
In addition to her film work, Swift also had a presence in television during the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in several guest roles and telefilms. Her first television role was in The Chisholms, a CBS mini-series that aired for a total of 13 episodes over a year. She also appeared in the short-lived series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which ran for one season. Other notable television appearances include the Golden Globe-winning series Magnum, P.I., Amazing Stories, and Simon & Simon. Her credits in television films include Featherstone's Nest, The Six of Us, and A Killer in the Family.
3. Personal life
Susan Swift has been married to attorney Alan Arnall since 1993. Together, they have seven children. She and her husband currently reside in Glendale, California. Beyond her acting career, Swift is also identified as an attorney and an author, reflecting other professional engagements. She is also a contributor to Politichicks, a conservative political website.
4. Filmography
Swift's acting career includes appearances in various feature films and television productions from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s.
| Feature films | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Audrey Rose | Ivy Templeton | |
| 1978 | Harper Valley PTA | Dee Johnson | |
| 1979 | Featherstone's Nest | Kelly Featherstone | Television film |
| 1981 | Burned at the Stake | Loreen Graham/Ann Putnam | |
| 1982 | The Six of Us | Tessa Benjamin | Television film |
| 1983 | A Killer in the Family | Teresa | Television film |
| 1995 | Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers | Mary |
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | The Chisholms | Annabel Chisholm | Episodes: "Chapter I", "Chapter II" |
| 1982 | Seven Brides for Seven Brothers | Sally | Episode: "Rodeo" |
| 1985 | Magnum, P.I. | Sunshine | Episode: "Compulsion" |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Marsha | Episode: "What If...?" |
| 1987 | Simon & Simon | Jeanine | Episode: "Desperately Seeking Dacody" |