Where is Kristy Swanson now? How she broke into Hollywood

 

Who is Kristy Swanson?

American actress Kristen Noel Swanson was born in Mission Viejo, California USA on 19 December 1969, making Sagittarius her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in close to 100 TV series and movies, but is perhaps still known best for playing the lead character Buffy in the hit 1992 action fantasy comedy movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, which Fran Rubel Kuzui directed, and which also starred Paul Reubens and Donald Sutherland. It follows teenager Buffy Summers as she’s fighting vampires; the film was nominated for only a single award.

Kristy’s still today active in the film industry, and is currently shooting for the upcoming movie “Reapers Night”.

Education and early life

Kristy was raised in Mission Viejo alongside her brother Rob Swanson Junior, by their mother Rosemary Swanson and father Robert Swanson Sr; not a lot has been disclosed about Kristy’s family, as they prefer to stay away from media, but Kristy was nine when she told her parents that she wanted to act, and they thus drove her to various auditions. It took a couple of months until she was cast to appear in a doll house commercial, while she was then invited to appear in a number of other commercials.

Kristy was still attending a local elementary school when she made her debut TV series appearance, playing Laura in the 1984 episode “Love Letters” of the comedy “It’s Your Move”, and she’s been active in the film industry ever since.

She studied at El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California, and upon matriculating in 1988 didn’t pursue a college degree.

Roles in TV series

Kristy appeared in an episode or two of various series in the second half of the ‘80s, and 1989 saw her play one of the main characters Rebecca ‘Becky’ Granger in all the 13 episodes of the drama “Nightingales”, created by Frank Furino and Howard Lakin, and which also starred Suzanne Pleshette and Chelsea Field; it follows the lives of five nursing students and their mentor Leonore.

Kristy had only a single TV series role in the ‘90s, portraying the supporting character Erica Paget in the adventure comedy “Early Edition”, which Bob Brush and Ian Abrams created, and which starred Fisher Stevens, Shanesia Davis and Kyle Chandler. The series follows a man who receives tomorrow’s newspaper today, it aired from 1996 through 2000, and won three of its 14 award nominations.

Kristy made a guest appearance in an episode or two of only a couple of series in the 2000s, such as the crime action “CSI: Miami”, the crime mystery “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, and the comedy “3Way”.

Yeeesss so fun and awesome! 🙌🏼 https://t.co/aopN6tRiIG

— Kristy Swanson (@KristySwansonXO) September 6, 2018

From 2011 through 2014, she played Marlowe Viccellio in the crime mystery comedy “Psych”, which Steve Franks created, and which starred Timothy Omundson, Dule Hill and James Roday Rodriguez. The series follows a man who’s convinced the police that he has psychic powers, and is now helping them solve difficult cases; the series won five of its 37 award nominations.

Kristy’s since appeared in only two TV series, playing Julia Logan in four episodes of the 2019 war action “SEAL Team”, and Linda Gibson in six episodes of the 2022 drama “Sons of Thunder”.

Roles in movies

Kristy made her debut film appearance in the hit 1986 romantic comedy “Pretty in Pink”, which Howard Deutch directed, and which starred Harry Dean Stanton, Jon Cryer and Molly Ringwald. It tells the story of a poor girl who can choose whether she wants to be with a wealthy playboy or her high school sweetheart, and the fillm won a BMI Film Music Award. Some of Kristy’s other roles in the ‘80s were in the 1986 comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, the 1987 mystery thriller “Flower in the Attic”, and the 1988 action “The Loner”.

The year 1994 saw her play one of the main characters Natalie Voss in the popular action adventure comedy “The Chase”, written and directed by Adam Rifkin, and which also starred Charlie Sheen and Henry Rollins. It follows convict Jack Hammond who’s escaped from prison, and has taken a woman hostage. Kristy could then have been seen appearing in the 1996 action thriller “Marshal Law”, the 1997 adventure crime comedy “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag”, and the 1999 action crime adventure “Supreme Sanction”.

She starred as Louise Bauer in the 2001 crime thriller “Zebra Lounge”, directed by Kari Skogland, also starred Stephen Baldwin and Cameron Daddo. and tells the story of a husband and wife who’ve taken up a life of crime. In 2003, Kristy portrayed Dr. Kelli Raymond in the action crime adventure “Red Water”, while the year 2005 saw her star in both the crime thriller “Bound by Lies”, and the crime mystery “Forbidden Secrets”.

In 2010, she played the main character Wendy Walker in the family fantasy “What If…”, directed by Dallas Jenkins, and which also starred Kevin Sorbo and John Ratzenberger. It follows Ben Walker, who’s been allowed to see what his life would’ve become if he’d chosen love over his career; the movie won one of its three award nominations.

What marked the 2010s for Kristy was perhaps starring alongside Dean Cain in the 2018 romantic family drama “Winter’s Dream”, directed by David Winning, and which follows former professional skier Kat who’s fallen in love with the widowed father of a girl whom she’s teaching to ski.

Kristy’s three most recent movie roles have been in the drama “Worst Nightmare”, the family drama “Courting Mom and Dad” and the action “Just Another Dream”, all released in 2021.

Other credits

Kristy sang the song “Feelings” in the 1992 movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

She produced the 2005 crime thriller movie “Bound by Lies”.

Kristy received special thanks for the 2017 family movie “Cupid’s Proxy”.

Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “Fox Files”, “Women of the Bible Speak” and “Fox News Primetime”.

Awards and nominations

Kristy won a 1999 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Horror or Mystery Motion Picture, for her performance in “Flowers in the Attic”.

She’s been nominated for seven other awards, which include three Young Artist Awards from 1986 through 1988, for her performance in “Cagney & Lacey”, “Mr. Boogedy” and “Deadly Friend”, a 1992 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actress, for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, and a 2012 MovieGuide Award for Most Inspirational Television Acting for “A Christmas Wish”.

Love life and relationships

Kristy avoids speaking about her love life in public, but some details about it are still known.

She was 17 when she began dating American actor and screenwriter Alan Thicke, who was 40 at the time; they were together for only a couple of months.

Kristy met former Canadian professional skater Lloyd Edgar Eisler in 2006, when they were paired up for the figure skating talent show “Skating with Celebrities”. They married in a private ceremony on 7 February 2009, two years after Kristy had given birth to their son Magnus Hart Swanson Eisler on 16 February 2007; Lloyd has two children from a former marriage.

Kristy’s married to Lloyd Eisler as of April 2023, and they have a son together.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Kristy was addicted to cocaine, and was arrested after she overdosed; she was also an alcoholic, and was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after she was arrested for drink-driving. She was also arrested in October 2007, after she physically assaulted her husband Lloyd’s former wife Marcia O’Brien.

Kristy and famous American actor, screenwriter and producer Charlie Sheen co-starred in three movies: “The Chase”, “Hot Shots!” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.

She’s appeared in two movies in which her characters jump through a second story window: “Deadly Friend” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

One of her best friends is American actor Dean Cain.

Kristy’s favorite actor is Robert De Niro, and some of her favorite movies include “The King of Comedy”, “Heat” and “Mean Streets”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Kristy’s age is 53. Her eyes and hair are brown, she’s 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall and weighs around 130lbs (60kgs).

Kristy’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million, as of April 2023.