Mary Steenburgen

Acting

Mary Steenburgen

Born 8 February 1953 · Newport, Arkansas, USA · 73

Mary Nell Steenburgen (born February 8, 1953) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and songwriter. After studying at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse in the 1970s, she made her professional acting debut in the Western comedy film Goin' South (1978). Steenburgen went on to earn critical acclaim for her role in Time After Time (1979) and Jonathan Demme's comedy-drama film Melvin and Howard (1980), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Known for

Highlights

The Help2011 · Film · Elaine Stein
Back to the Future Part III1990 · Film · Clara Clayton
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · Series · Grace Rinato
Philadelphia1993 · Film · Belinda Conine
What's Eating Gilbert Grape1993 · Film · Betty Carver
The Proposal2009 · Film · Grace Paxton

Filmography

Movies

86 films

Let's Have Kids!2026 · Film · Sue
Last Train to Fortune2026 · Film · Miss Maybelle
The Dink2026 · Film · Candace
Easy's Waltz2025 · Film
Book Club: The Next Chapter2023 · Film · Carol
Nightmare Alley2021 · Film · Mrs. Kimball
Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas2021 · Film · Maggie Clarke
Happiest Season2020 · Film · Tipper
30 Rock: A One-Time Special2020 · Film · Mary Steenburgen
Flannery2019 · Film · Flannery O'Connor (voice)
Antiquities2019 · Film · Dr. Margot
Book Club2018 · Film · Carol
Katie Says Goodbye2018 · Film · Maybelle
I Do... Until I Don't2017 · Film · Cybil Burger
The Discovery2017 · Film · Interviewer
The Book of Love2017 · Film · Julia Mureaux
Dean2016 · Film · Carol
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow2015 · Film · Aunt Cly
A Walk in the Woods2015 · Film · Jeannie
7 Days in Hell2015 · Film · Louisa Poole
The One I Love2014 · Film · Mom (voice)
Song One2014 · Film · Karen Ellis
Last Vegas2013 · Film · Diana Boyle
Brahmin Bulls2013 · Film · Helen West
Outlaw Country2012 · Film · Anastasia Lee
The Help2011 · Film · Elaine Stein
Fight for Your Right Revisited2011 · Film · Café Patron
Dirty Girl2010 · Film · Peggy
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story2010 · Film · Mrs. Yankovic
Did You Hear About the Morgans?2009 · Film · Emma Wheeler
The Proposal2009 · Film · Grace Paxton
In the Electric Mist2009 · Film · Bootsie Robicheaux
The Open Road2009 · Film · Katherine
Four Christmases2008 · Film · Marilyn
Step Brothers2008 · Film · Nancy Huff
The Brave One2007 · Film · Carol
Honeydripper2007 · Film · Amanda Winship
Numb2007 · Film · Dr. Blaine
Nobel Son2007 · Film · Sarah Michaelson
Elvis & Anabelle2007 · Film · Geneva Leigh
Inland Empire2006 · Film · Visitor #2
The Dead Girl2006 · Film · Leah's Mother
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School2006 · Film · Marienne Hotchkiss
It Must Be Love2004 · Film · Clem Gazelle
Elf2003 · Film · Emily
Casa de los Babys2003 · Film · Gayle
Hope Springs2003 · Film · Joanie Fisher
Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to Hollywood2003 · Film · Mary
Sunshine State2002 · Film · Francine Pinkney
Wish You Were Dead2002 · Film · Sally Rider
Living with the Dead2002 · Film · Detective Karen Condrin
I Am Sam2001 · Film · Dr. Blake
Life as a House2001 · Film · Colleen Beck
The Trumpet of the Swan2001 · Film · Mother (voice)
Nobody's Baby2001 · Film · Estelle
The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story2000 · Film
Picnic2000 · Film · Rosemary Sydney
About Sarah1998 · Film · Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
The Grass Harp1996 · Film · Sister Ida
Nixon1995 · Film · Hannah Nixon
Powder1995 · Film · Jessie Caldwell
My Family1995 · Film · Gloria
Pontiac Moon1994 · Film · Katherine Bellamy
It Runs in the Family1994 · Film · Mrs. Parker (Mother)
Clifford1994 · Film · Sarah Davis
Philadelphia1993 · Film · Belinda Conine
What's Eating Gilbert Grape1993 · Film · Betty Carver
Earth and the American Dream1992 · Film · Reader (voice)
Back to the Future: Dickens of a Christmas1991 · Film · Clara Clayton Brown (voice)
The Butcher's Wife1991 · Film · Stella Keefover
Back to the Future Part III1990 · Film · Clara Clayton
Parenthood1989 · Film · Karen Buckman
Miss Firecracker1989 · Film · Elaine Rutledge
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank1988 · Film · Miep Gies
The Whales of August1987 · Film · Young Sarah
End of the Line1987 · Film · Rose Pickett
Dead of Winter1987 · Film · Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
One Magic Christmas1985 · Film · Ginny Grainger
Little Red Riding Hood1983 · Film · Little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary
Romantic Comedy1983 · Film · Phoebe Craddock
Cross Creek1983 · Film · Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy1982 · Film · Adrian
Ragtime1981 · Film · Mother
Melvin and Howard1980 · Film · Lynda Dummar
Time After Time1979 · Film · Amy Robbins
Goin' South1978 · Film · Julia Tate

Filmography

Series

28 shows

A Man on the Inside2024 · Series · Mona Margadoff
Mr. Mayor2021 · Series · Adriana
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist2020 · Series · Maggie Clarke
Bless the Harts2019 · Series · Crystalynn (voice)
On Becoming a God in Central Florida2019 · Series · Ellen Joy Bonar
The Conners2018 · Series · Marcy Bellinger
The Good Place2016 · Series · Teacher
Grace and Frankie2015 · Series · Miriam
The Last Man on Earth2015 · Series · Gail Klosterman
Togetherness2015 · Series · Linda
Orange Is the New Black2013 · Series · Delia Powell
Wilfred2011 · Series · Catherine Newman
Justified2010 · Series · Katherine Hale
Bored to Death2009 · Series · Josephine
30 Rock2006 · Series · Diana Jessup
American Dad!2005 · Series · (voice)
Joan of Arcadia2003 · Series · Helen Girardi
Living with the Dead2002 · Series · Detective Karen Condrin
Curb Your Enthusiasm2000 · Series · Mary Steenburgen
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · Series · Grace Rinato
Noah's Ark1999 · Series · Naamah
Becker1998 · Series · Patient (uncredited)
Ink1996 · Series · Kate Montgomery
Gulliver's Travels1996 · Series · Mary Gulliver
Frasier1993 · Series · Marjorie (voice)
Back to the Future1991 · Series · Clara Clayton (voice)
Tender Is the Night1985 · Series · Nicole Diver (née Warren)
Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · Series · Mary / Little Red Riding Hood