Lauren Keys Swinney, (1923 - 2020) - ForeverMissed.com Online Memorials ForeverMissed
Lauren Swinney 97 years old, born on February 25, 1923 and passed away on July 1, 2020. Lauren believed in charity and compassion.  She saw good in people and encouraged the creative spirit.  Her deeds and actions reflected her belief in the sanctity and dignity of all. She was a privately practicing Catholic, totally devoted to a loving God. She treated all with respect and compassion in the spirit of unification.

True to her style, Lauren Swinney passed after an entertaining repartee with the nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Fl. Her daughter Penny and son-in-law James were bedside, and the voices of many loved ones surrounded her before her spirit and soul embarked on their final voyage. Rest in peace beloved mother, friend, confidant, teacher, role model, writer, actor, entertainer, and smile charmer. You are within our hearts forever. Rest in Peace.

In her later years, macular degeneration took Lauren’s eyesight. NPR News was her sightline to the world. In lieu of flowers, please donate to WUSF in honor of Lauren Swinney here: http://wusf.org/swinneymemorial/

There will be a live online celebration of Lauren's life on Saturday, August 1, from 1:30 to 2:10 PM. 
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on February 25, 2022
Love you forever. The boys will have cake today in you honor.
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on February 25, 2021
Love you. I still hear your voice as I go through each day. I love your observations and the smile you bring to my heart. You are forever beautiful.
Posted by Judy Bolton on February 25, 2021
Happy Birthday Lauren! Last year it was on Mardi Gras Day... what a party it was!!
Posted by Marilyn Lauricella on July 31, 2020
I was first introduced to Lauren while visiting Judy Bolton in New Orleans a few years ago.
While it was a one time in person visit, I’ll never forget Lauren’s welcoming way of engaging me in lively conversation.
Over the next few years we often spoke on the telephone where we shared Joyful holiday and Birthday greetings.
I will miss her cheerful voice and optimistic view on life.
Peace, Love and Hope
Marilyn Lauricella
Posted by Rebecca Hale on July 26, 2020
It was my absolute privilege to know Lauren and to represent her as her talent agent. What a lovely lady who was very inspiring! She will be greatly missed.
Rest in peace, dear, sweet Lauren!
All my love,
Becky Hale, friend and talent agent
Posted by Judy Bolton on July 25, 2020
Actress, food critic, grammarian, and keeper of secrets!.. . I could bring anything to you and your would turn it into something worth keeping (or eating!). And no matter how I felt coming in I would leave with a laugh and a knock knock joke. You Always saw the best in everyone... I’m trying to be more like that. I miss you so much..

Judy
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on July 24, 2020
July 12, 2020

Lauren was the best book club I've ever joined! And now every time I read a new book I will tell her all about it, just as I always did.

Miss you to pieces.

Love always,

Cheech
Friend
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on July 24, 2020
July 12, 2020

Ms. Lauren was a Natural Born Lover of people and their stories, books, foods, acting, parties, fun and adventures! I was blessed to be her friend and neighbor!

Sally
Friend
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on July 24, 2020
July 23, 2020

Lauren Swinney became my neighbor soon after my husband and I moved to New Orleans. I told her of a home for sale , near our home and luckily for us -she bought it!!! Lauren was a wonderful neighbor and friend. She was our schill at art events...She could charm anyone with her wit and lovelyness! We found it inspiring that she took up acting in her 70s...Never too late to pursue your dreams!

Lauren had a way of making you feel upbeat...and hopefully we did the same for her.

She was special and we will miss her very much.

Pati D'Amico and Bill Warren
Posted by Austin Anthony on July 22, 2020
I was truly blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for introducing me to so many wonderful things. Rest In Peace Nana.
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on July 10, 2020
You are forever in my heart, Mom.


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Recent Tributes
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on February 25, 2022
Love you forever. The boys will have cake today in you honor.
Posted by Aurelie Anthony on February 25, 2021
Love you. I still hear your voice as I go through each day. I love your observations and the smile you bring to my heart. You are forever beautiful.
Posted by Judy Bolton on February 25, 2021
Happy Birthday Lauren! Last year it was on Mardi Gras Day... what a party it was!!
her Life

Lauren's Life

Lauren was born in LaSalle, Illinois.  She attended Catholic Boarding schools in her youth, receiving a scholarship at Crawford Manor, an exclusive boarding school for young ladies in Wisconsin. She won a national poetry contest for "Genuine Pearls." After high school, she patriotically worked at the Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation Mill during the war years, while attending Gary Junior College at night. The nearby Golden Nugget was a favorite spot that served coffee, Cokes, donuts, and a dance or two with chivalrous young service men. Much of her young life is revealed in an interview for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana:

https://www.ww2online.org/view/lauren-swinney#refl....

Lauren started in radio on WJKS at the age of 4 in Gary, In. She went on to be a Producer/Director/Actor/Newscaster on WIND (Gary), WLRN (Miami) and WAVV/WCVU/WHEW & WIXI (Naples). She wrote commercials, documentary scripts, columns for neighborhood newspapers in Alameda, Ca., Atlanta, Ga., Kendall, Fl. and New Orleans, La.

She always longed to be an actor and attended Northwestern School of Speech, obtaining her B.B.S. and M.A. alongside Paul Lynde, Charlotte Raye, Charlton Heston and Lydia Clarke. Her loving parents encouraged a non-acting career path because of the Hollywood reputation of the 1940s.She became a speech therapist, a Dean of Massey Jr. College in Atlanta, Ga.; a Miami Dade County School teacher at Riverside and Shenandoah Elementary schools; taught English (ESOL) to many Cuban exiles in the 1960s and early 1970s; produced an Emmy Award winning weekly television show called Volunteers In-Sight for the Dade County School System; and was a Professor at Miami International Fine Arts Institute, and a college instructor in several Florida colleges. She loved to travel and experience unfamiliar cultures. She retired to Naples, FL and eventually moved to New Orleans to pursue her acting career. In 2011, her memoir, Je Suis Une Parapluie was published. In New Orleans, she acted in a dozen or more T.V. and motion pictures as mentioned in this article in a New Orleans local publication “ViaNolaVie”: https://www.vianolavie.org/2015/03/11/new-orleans-actress-lauren-swinney-still-loops-the-loop-23161/
Recent stories

Fairy Wing, By Lauren Swinney

Shared by Aurelie Anthony on July 8, 2020
O.K. It was the wing of a dragonfly.  Where Cousin Dorothy found it, I don't know, but she had no difficulty convincing younger me that it was a true fairy's wing that would enable her to communicate with the garden fairies.

Trustingly I asked, "How do you do that?"

Quick-witted Cousin Dorothy had a ready answer.  "You write a tiny note and put it in the petals of a flower with the fairy wing.  Then you go away and wait."

It worked.  It really worked.  Because I played the game fairly and never peeked, the fairy answered.  I was enraptured.  I had many questions.  Cousin Dorothy guarded the wing and limited my queries.

Not a single suspicion did I have until one of the fairy responses contained a misspelled word.  I have no idea what caused me to believe fairies were good spellers.

Cousin Dorothy freely admitted she had authored the fairy responses.  Game over.



Filmography--Lauren Swinney

Shared by Aurelie Anthony on July 9, 2020
Scream Queens (2015 T.V. Series)

Creators: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan
Satirical Comedy Slasher
Starring: Emma Roberts, Skyler Samuels, Lea Michele, Glen Powell, Diego Boneta, Abigail Breslin, Keke, Palmer, Oliver Hudson, Nasim Pedrad, Lucien Laviscount, Billie Lourd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kirstie Alley, Taylor Lautner, James Earl, John Stamos
Lauren Swinney plays Adorable Old Lady—Episode 5, Pumpkin Patch
Events reignite a 20-year-old murder mystery, with the reemergence of the serial killer dressed as the Red Devil mascot, who begins targeting the sorority members.



Left Behind (2014 Film)

(USA Release Sep 2011)
Director: Vic Armstrong
Thriller Drama
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Chad Michael Murray, Cassi Thomson, Nicky Whelan,
and Jordin Sparks
Lauren Swinney plays one of Buck Williams’ seat mates on Pan Con 257. #LeftBehindMovie #Trooper
2014 American apocalyptic thriller film



Paradise (2013 Film)

Director: Diablo Cody
Thriller Drama
Starring: Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Iliza Shlesinger, Holly Hunter, and Kathleen Rose Perkins
Comedy Drama
Lauren Swinney plays Old White Woman
After surviving a plane crash, feeling both angry and inexperienced in life, a young girl heads to Las Vegas to indulge in pleasures that are objected in her religious community



Hateship, Loveship (2013 Film)

Director: Liza Johnson
DramaStarring: Kristen Wiig as Kristen Wiig, Hailee Steinfeld, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, Sami Gayle & Christine Lahti

Lauren Swinney as Mrs. Willets

[first lines] Mrs. Willets: Johanna? Johanna Parry: I'm here. Mrs. Willets: Yes. Mrs. Willets: I'd like to wear my blue dress…

Story of a quiet caregiver starting a new job working for an elderly man with teenage granddaughter who transforms her awkward doom into real contentment.



Mardi Gras (2011)

Director: Phil Dornfeld
Comedy
Starring: Nicholas D'Agosto, Josh Gad, Bret Harrison, Arielle Kebbel, Danneel Harris, Regina Hall, and Carmen Electra.
Lauren Swinney as Old Lady in Elevator (28 minutes in "1 or 2?")
A group of college buddies sow their wild oats in New Orleans.




Memphis Beat (2010)

TV Series - Season 2, Episode 2 "Inside Man"
Air Date June 21 2011
Creators: Joshua Harto, Liz W. Garcia
Starring: Jason Lee, Sam Hennings, DJ Qualls,
Lauren Swinney as Crazy Woman (Opening scene "He was covered in feathers...")




Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

(Limited USA Release Nov. 11, 2009)
Director: Werner Herzog
Drama
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Coolidge, Val Kilmer, Brad Dourif, Alvin 'Xzibit' Joiner, Fairuza Balk
Lauren Swinney as Mrs. Fahrington
Update of the Abel Ferrara cult classic.





The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Director: David Fincher
Drama, Fantasy, Romance, 159 min
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett,
Lauren Swinney as Mrs. Carter (124 minutes in tells Ben "...Queeny's dead"). Lauren Swinney also appears in the Garden Party scene as Nolan House Resident in Wheelchair.

Tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with consequences.



Waiting (2005)

Director: Rob McKittrick
Comedy, 94 min
Starring:Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Justin Long, David Koechner, John Francis Daley, Kaitlin Doubleday, Alanna Ubach, Chi McBride, Luis Guzmán
Lauren Swinney as Elderly Woman (66 minutes in wants "a hot pink center")
Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics.


Lauren Swinney as Elderly Woman (66 minutes in wants "a hot pink center")
Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics.




Frankenstein (2004)

Director: Marcus Nispel
Horror, Thriller, TV, 88 min.
Starring: Parker Posey, Vincent Perez, Thomas Kretschmann, Adam Goldberg, Ivana Milicevic, Michael Madsen, Tom Nowicki, Gordon Catlin, Lauren Swinney, Ann Mahoney
Lauren Swinney as Christine a governess (17 minutes in "I didn't do any ...)
TV Pilot - Detective Carson O'Conner and her partner Detective Michael Sloane investigate murders of a serial-killer that mutilates and removes the internal organs of the victims.