Starting her acting career in 1989,Heidi Swedbergwas particularly busy throughout the entirety of the 1990s and into the early-2000s. She made her debut in a season 3 episode ofMatlockin 1989, and was also cast in a role for the filmIn Countryin the same year. After that, Swedberg remained consistent with her appearances on TV shows, playing in an episode or two of some of the best series on television at the time,likeStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, andGilmore Girls, while also popping up in a number of movies as well, includingHot Shots!andGalaxy Quest.
Besides being an actress, Swedberg was also a musician, having grown up in Hawaii playing the ukulele. In fact, Swedberg even started a band where she plays the instrument and sings. Named Heidi Swedberg and the Sukey Jump Band, the group put out two records;Play!(2009), andMy Cup of Tea(2013). Despite her long list of acting credits in her career, Heidi Swedberg is still by far most famous for her role as George Costanza’sill-fated fiancée, Susan Ross, inSeinfeld.
Hot Shots!
Cast
Hot Shots! is a 1991 comedic parody focusing on a renegade pilot recruited by the Air Force for a top-secret mission. As he navigates the challenges of military life, he deals with an incompetent admiral and a squadron of quirky, inept pilots.
Released in July 1991,Hot Shots!is one of the betterparody moviesout there, riffing off of the iconic ’80s Tom Cruise film,Top Gun. The film stars a number of major actors of the time, including Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, and Jon Cryer. Like all great spoof movies,Hot Shots!leans into absurd humor, resulting in a hilarious gem from the early 1990s.
10 Genre Parodies That Outdid Most Movies In That Genre
Sometimes a parody movie is so good that it ends up being a better entry in the genre it spoofs than most straight entries in that genre.
Heidi Swedberg has a smaller role in the film but was stillquite memorable as Mrs. Thompson, wife of pilot “Dead Meat” Thompson. Their interaction duringHot Shots!is hilarious, foreshadowing his eventual death in an increasing number of silly ways as he gets onto his jet. Of course, “Dead Meat” crashes his aircraft, but that isn’t what kills him. Instead, he is run over by the ambulance that is coming to save him, in silly parody fashion.
Sisters
Sisters is a television drama that follows the lives and relationships of the four diverse Reed sisters as they navigate personal and familial challenges in Winnetka, Illinois. The series examines the complexities of sisterhood and the bonds that hold the family together despite their differences.
Sisterswas a relatively popular American drama show that aired from 1991 to 1996 on NBC. Running for 127 episodes
across six seasons,Sistersfocused on the lives of four very different sisters who lived in the small town of Winnetka, Illinois. The cast was impressive with Sela Ward, Swoosie Kurtz, Patricia Kalember, and Julianna Phillips playing the four sisters as they try to navigate life after losing their father.
Heidi Swedberg once again has a relatively small but memorable role inSisters.She appears in two episodes of the second season, titled “Troubled Waters” and “Working Girls”. She plays Jill Parkins, one of the coworkers of the youngest sister, Frankie (Julianna Phillips), who begins to be harassed by the man who also harassed her in a previous episode but is stuck on what to do given that he helped Frankie secure the corporate vice president job she was hoping for.
Roswell
In Roswell, New Mexico, high school student Liz learns that three of her classmates are actually alien survivors of a UFO crash that took place years prior. She and her other human friends must keep the secret, but as Liz and the others form deeper bonds with their alien classmates, the situation becomes more and more complex.
Roswellwas a late-90s to early-2000s teen drama that originally ran for three seasons across two different networks; the first two seasons premiered on the WB, while season 3 was on UPN. It was based on the young adult book series,Roswell Highby author Melinda Metz, with the show’s premise being about a trio of aliens that hide in plain sight as teenagers, set in a timeline where the Roswell UFO actually existed. Despite having relatively lower ratings, a second adaption of the series was premiered in 2019 on The CW, titledRoswell, New Mexico.
Despite running for an extra season,Roswell, New Mexicoended up having fewer episodes than the originalRoswell.
Heidi Swedberg was featured in two season 2 episodes ofRoswell, playing Meredith Dupreein “Disturbing Behavior” and “How the Other Half Lives.” Like most of her acting roles, Swedberg’s part inRoswellis rather small, but she makes the most of it. During her episodes, Meredith Dupree is the sister of Laurie Dupree, and the main characters, Michael and Maria, hide out at their house after helping Laurie escape from the police.
Brooklyn Bridge
Set in 1950s Brooklyn, this series follows a Jewish American family navigating post-war life. Portraying the era with authenticity, it explores familial bonds and cultural heritage through the experiences of the young protagonist as he grows up amid the social changes of mid-20th century America.
Brooklyn Bridgewas an American sitcom that ran for two seasons on CBS between 1991 and 1993. The series revolves around a Jewish-American family living in Brooklyn in the 1950s, and in 1992, it won a Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.Brooklyn Bridgestarred Danny Gerard alongside sitcom legend Marion Ross. Despite being well-regarded, the series was cancelled after just two seasons, but could have been grown into one of the best sitcoms ever if it was given more time.
Heidi Swedberg played Miss McCullough for two episodes ofBrooklyn Bridge. She was first in the pilot episode, “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” before reprising her role for season 1, episode 12, “The Gift.” Miss McCullough is Nathaniel’s teacher who he is in love with, and must come to terms with her moving away. Even though her role as Miss McCullough is rather small, Swedberg does a fantastic job portraying a supportive teacher to Nathaniel.
Quantum Leapwas a late ’80s to early ’90s science fiction television show that ran for five seasons and a total of 97 episodes. The series centers on Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), who gets stuck in the past after time traveling and must “leap” into the lives of other people to alter the timeline so he can return home. Despite starting off with relatively low ratings, the series eventually found an audience and was quite successful throughout its run. A reboot of the series ran for two seasons from 2022-2024.
Quantum Leap Season 3: Cancelation & Everything We Know
Quantum Leap season 3 would have continued the story of Dr. Ben Song in NBC’s reboot, but the network pulled the plug after season 2.
Heidi Swedberg was only cast in one episode ofQuantum Leap, where she plays Valerie Nevskyin season 3, episode 14, “Private Dancer.” In the episode, Sam leaps into the body of a male dancer at Mario’s Hideaway, and has to stop Diana from turning to a life of prostitution. Valerie Sky is Mario’s assistant at the nightclub and also runs an escort service on the side, where she sets up Diana for a job.
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure was a comedy-drama series created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey and was released in 1990. The series follows Joel Fleischman, a physician who travels to Alaska to practice medicine and pay off his debt to the state for his schooling. Unfortunately for Joel, he finds himself sent into the middle of nowhere and must live amongst the residents in the small town of Cicely.
Northern Exposurewas an American comedy-drama series that revolved around the lives of eccentric residents in a small Alaskan town. Starring Rob Marrow as Joel Fleischman, it ran for six seasons from July 1990 to July 1995.Northern Exposurewas well received since its beginning and eventually earned seven Emmy Awards during its six seasons. There were talks of a revival in the late 2010s, but nothing has come to fruition, with the latest news being in 2019.
Heidi Swedberg plays a small role as Lindain an early season 3 episode, titled “Only You.” As her role inNorthern Exposurewas one of her earlier credits, Linda isn’t a significant character, even in her only appearance on the show. Still, it showed that Swedberg was capable of booking smaller roles to keep her career going until she was able to be cast in more major parts.
Gilmore Girls
In the fictional town of Star’s Hollow, single mother Lorelai Gilmore raises her high-achieving teenage daughter Rory. Mother and daughter rely on each other throughout their own life changes, romantic entanglements, and friendships.
Initially premiering on July 23, 2025,Gilmore Girlsis a beloved dramedy series that ran for seven seasons, on the WB and then the CW before premiering its final episode on June 10, 2025. The series follows the lives of single mother Lorelai Gilmore and her teenage daughter, Rory Gilmore, living in the small town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.Gilmore Girlsis best known for its sharp, witty dialogue and cozy atmosphere, helping it stand apart from other shows that touch on the same scenarios and themes.
10 Funniest Episodes Of Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls was often as dramatic as it was funny, but that doesn’t mean that the dramedy’s funniest episodes weren’t laugh-out-loud classics.
Despite only appearing in season 3, episode 4, “One’s Got Class and the Other One Dyes,” Heidi Stenberg has a short but memorable moment in it.She plays Debbie Fincher, mother of Kathy Fincher, and one of the members of the Stars Hollow High School Parents and Teachers Association. Debbe Fincher calls Lorelai Gilmore asking her if she would be willing to speak to the school about running a successful business. Stenberg channels that PTA high school mom energy perfectly during her scene.
Galaxy Quest
An homage to classic science fiction and its fandom, Galaxy Quest follows a group of actors from a fictional cult classic sci-fi series who are unwittingly embroiled in a real space conflict when aliens who believe the series is real abduct them and ask for their help defeating a tyrant threatening their people. Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Daryl Mitchell, and Sam Rockwell, the film features many references and parodies of classic sci-fi films and shows, mainly Star Trek.
Galaxy Questis a beloved 1999 satire film, parodying a number of science-fiction properties withStar Trekand its fandom being the film’s biggest source of inspiration. In the film, the cast of a fictional cult TV series calledGalaxy Questis suddenly pulled into an actual interstellar conflict among aliens who believe the show is a documentary. The cast is incredibly impressive, featuring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, and Darryl Mitchell as the original crew of the series.
Although Heidi Swedberg’s most notable roles in her career mostly came from television, the best movie she ever appeared in was definitelyGalaxy Quest. She plays Brandon’s mom, whose son is a mega-fan of the “Galaxy Quest” television series. Brandon is played by Justin Long, and although Swedberg’s role is limited,she does a great job playing a suburban mom who is confused about her son’s love for his favorite TV show.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
Not only isStar Trek: Deep Space Nineone of thebest series in theStar Trekfranchise, but it is a staple of science fiction television. The fourthStar Trekseries at the time,Star Trek: Deep Space Nineran for 7 seasons and 176 episodes, from July 18, 2025 to June 10, 2025. This time, the series is centered around the space station Deep Space 9, and was the first series to be created without the involvement ofStar Trek’screator, Gene Roddenberry.
Swedberg is able to instill that resilient humanity in Rekelen thatStar Trekis known for.
Heidi Swedberg played Rekelen in season 2, episode 18, “Profit and Loss.” Although her time as Rekelen was only one episode, it was a memorable one asshe was a member of the Cardassian underground movement and student to Professor Natima Lang. Along with another student, Professor Lang and Rekelen seek refuge at Deep Space 9, after being forced to flee Cardassia Prime for their political views. Swedberg is able to instill that resilient humanity in Rekelen thatStar Trekis known for, making it one of her best roles.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
Seinfeldis largely considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, highly influencing every sitcom that came after it in the 90s. It was a massive success during its run, airing for nine seasons and a total of 190 episodes. Jerry Seinfeld (a fictionalized version of himself), George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) make up the core cast of members.Seinfeldhas regularly been described as a “show about nothing,” which is one of the biggest reasons for its success, showing the day-to-day lives of its central cast.
Not only isSeinfeldthe best project that Heidi Swedberg ever played in, but it is also her most significant role in her career, spanning 28 episodes, beginning with season 4, returning for season 7, and once more in season 9. She plays Susan Ross, George Costanza’s on-and-off girlfriend, then fiancée, who eventually dies by licking cheap, toxic wedding invitations that George bought.
Why The Seinfeld Cast Hated Working With Heidi Swedberg
Despite being her biggest role, Heidi Swedberg’s time as Susan Ross was also not the most pleasant, as theSeinfeldcast actually hated working with her, with multiple members going on record talking about that experience. Jason Alexander told Howard Stern that it was impossible to work with his TV fiancée, stating:
I couldn’t figure out how to play off of her. Her instincts for doing a scene, where the comedy was, and mine were always misfiring. And she would do something, and I would go, ‘OK, I see what she’s going to do — I’m going to adjust to her.’ And I’d adjust, and then it would change.
Stern continued talking about Larry David and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' opinions on Heidi Swedberg after finally working on some scenes with her, stating:
What [David] said was, what Heidi brought to the character is, we could do the most horrible things to her, and the audience was still on my side…They go, ‘You know what? It’s f—ing impossible. It’s impossible…And Julia actually said, ‘Don’t you want to just kill her?’ And Larry went, ‘Ka-bang!'
This, of course, sealed the fate of Heidi Swedberg’s Susan Ross, and she was eventually killed off despite being engaged to George. It’s a shame that the behind-the-scenes didn’t work out between Swedberg and the rest of the cast duringSeinfeld, asSusan served as a good foil to the main characters, being the more sensible, “normal” personalongside the rest of the group.
