The Shocking Truth Behind Seinfeld's Season 7 Death: Unveiling the Untold Story of Susan's Fate

The sitcom Seinfeld, known for its darker comedy, made a surprising move by killing off Heidi Swedberg's character, Susan. Susan was introduced in season 4 as an NBC executive who hears Jerry and George's pitch for a show within the show. She later becomes George's love interest, and they have a brief relationship. After breaking up, they unexpectedly get back together in season 7 when George proposes to Susan as part of a pact with Jerry. Throughout the season, George desperately tries to find a way out of the engagement, but fails. The shocking twist comes in the season 7 finale, "The Invitations," when Susan is poisoned by toxic wedding invitations and dies. This unexpected death may have been influenced by behind-the-scenes issues. While Seinfeld often had minor antagonists, Susan's demise was particularly unusual for the quirky sitcom, where loyalties among the characters frequently shifted based on their selfish decisions. It was not uncommon for someone who started as a friend in one episode to quickly become an annoyance in the next.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus May Accidentally Have Killed Susan Behind The Scenes

The question of which episode Susan dies in is a common one. Heidi Swedberg portrayed Susan on Seinfeld, and according to comments from the show's main cast, she was not the easiest person to work with. In an interview with THR, actor Jason Alexander, who played George, admitted that he had difficulty figuring out how to interact with her. Alexander's co-stars also had similar issues, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus jokingly commenting, "Don't you just want to kill her?" This comment planted the idea in Larry David's mind.

During this conversation, it was uncertain whether George would go through with marrying Susan or not. The Seinfeld season 7 DVD set includes a behind-the-scenes look at "The Invitations," where David and the cast discuss the moment Susan dies on the show. Jerry Seinfeld explained that the crew felt it was necessary to kill off "at least one person" during the sitcom's run, and Susan seemed like the most fitting choice.

Behind-the-scenes interviews do not address any difficulties between the main cast and Swedberg; therefore, it might have been a combination of factors. It is important to note that the Seinfeld cast did not dislike Swedberg as a person (Alexander has previously clarified this). Their comments revolve around the lack of onscreen chemistry and nothing more. As for Swedberg, she accepted the plot twist gracefully and found Susan's death amusing.

Why Seinfeld Had To Get Rid Of Susan

The decision to kill off Susan in Seinfeld was a bold move by the creative team. However, ending George's engagement was a necessary choice to preserve the chemistry between the show's main stars and maintain the quality of future episodes. Susan's death was a shocking moment, accentuated by the group's lack of emotional response. Yet, it allowed the writers to definitively conclude Susan's storyline and avoid the temptation of bringing her back later on.

None Of The Characters Got A Happy Ending – And It Worked

The Seinfeld finale remains a controversial subject. Similar to Susan, none of the characters found happiness in the end, which ultimately complemented the tone of the series. Leading up to the final episode, it became evident that each member of the main cast portrayed unfavorable traits, as demonstrated by their reaction to Susan's passing and various other incidents. The finale ultimately brought consequences for their actions over the course of the show. As a result of their inaction during a carjacking incident, they found themselves incarcerated for violating the "Good Samaritan Law." Witnesses such as the Soup Nazi, Dr. Wexler, and the low-talker Leslie provided testimony against them, leading to their continued imprisonment. The conclusion remains true to the essence of Seinfeld, much like the unexpected turn of events surrounding Susan's demise in season 7. Despite potential challenges in working with Heidi Swedberg, her character's death served the narrative just as effectively as the ultimate ending of the show.

Killing Susan Was Very Seinfeld

The Seinfeld Susan dies arc may have seemed unconventional for a sitcom, but it actually aligns perfectly with the distinctive nature of the Seinfeld universe. One of the main attractions of the show is its unconventional and offbeat nature, setting it apart from other shows of its time. While most sitcoms would hesitate to eliminate a character without a valid reason, such as the actor's death, Seinfeld dared to break the mold. Killing off a major character like Susan was unprecedented in sitcoms, especially while competing with other popular NYC-based sitcoms like Friends and Mad About You. However, this bold move allowed Seinfeld to establish its own unique identity, staying true to its brand.

What Heidi Swedberg Has Done Since Seinfeld

The role of Susan on Seinfeld was Heidi Swedberg's most significant job at that point, despite having previous experience in movies and television with appearances in Hot Shots! and Kindergarten Cop. Although Swedberg received acclaim for her portrayal of Susan, she did not find another role as substantial. She made appearances in shows like Bones and Without a Trace, but her last acting role was in 2010, implying that she may have retired.

While some Seinfeld guest stars like Courteney Cox and Jon Favreau achieved fame after their appearances on the show, many of the main and supporting cast members did not reach the same level of success outside of Seinfeld. Julia Louise-Dreyfus, on the other hand, went on to win multiple Emmys and even joined the MCU, while Jerry Seinfeld continued his successful career as a stand-up comedian. Seinfeld has proven to be a tough project to surpass for many actors.