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Mary Steenburgen

Actor

Mary Steenburgen

Born February 8, 1953 in Newport, Arkansas, USA85 films

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.

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The best way into Mary Steenburgen's work
The Help posterFirst watchThe Help20118.2as Elaine SteinAibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Back to the Future Part III poster7.5Back to the Future Part III1990Philadelphia poster7.7Philadelphia1993What's Eating Gilbert Grape poster7.7What's Eating Gilbert Grape1993The Proposal poster7.2The Proposal2009I Am Sam poster7.6I Am Sam2001Elf poster6.7Elf2003Nightmare Alley poster6.9Nightmare Alley2021Step Brothers poster6.6Step Brothers2008

Filmography

85 films as actor
  1. 2026A Dog’s Perfect ChristmasClaire
  2. 2026Let's Have Kids!Sue
  3. 2026Last Train to FortuneMiss Maybelle
  4. 2026The DinkCandace
  5. 2025Easy's Waltz
  6. 2023Book Club: The Next ChapterCarol
  7. 2021Nightmare AlleyMrs. Kimball
  8. 2021Zoey's Extraordinary ChristmasMaggie Clarke
  9. 2020Happiest SeasonTipper
  10. 202030 Rock: A One-Time SpecialMary Steenburgen
  11. 2019AntiquitiesDr. Margot
  12. 2018Book ClubCarol
  13. 2018Katie Says GoodbyeMaybelle
  14. 2017I Do... Until I Don'tCybil Burger
  15. 2017The DiscoveryInterviewer
  16. 2017The Book of LoveJulia Mureaux
  17. 2016DeanCarol
  18. 2015Jim Henson's Turkey HollowAunt Cly
  19. 2015A Walk in the WoodsJeannie
  20. 20157 Days in HellLouisa Poole
  21. 2014The One I LoveMom (voice)
  22. 2014Song OneKaren Ellis
  23. 2013Last VegasDiana Boyle
  24. 2013Brahmin BullsHelen West
  25. 2012Outlaw CountryAnastasia Lee
  26. 2011The HelpElaine Stein
  27. 2011Fight for Your Right RevisitedCafé Patron
  28. 2010Dirty GirlPeggy
  29. 2010Weird: The Al Yankovic StoryMrs. Yankovic
  30. 2009Did You Hear About the Morgans?Emma Wheeler
  31. 2009The ProposalGrace Paxton
  32. 2009In the Electric MistBootsie Robicheaux
  33. 2009The Open RoadKatherine
  34. 2008Four ChristmasesMarilyn
  35. 2008Step BrothersNancy Huff
  36. 2007The Brave OneCarol
  37. 2007HoneydripperAmanda Winship
  38. 2007NumbDr. Blaine
  39. 2007Nobel SonSarah Michaelson
  40. 2007Elvis & AnabelleGeneva Leigh
  41. 2006Inland EmpireVisitor #2
  42. 2006The Dead GirlLeah's Mother
  43. 2006Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm SchoolMarienne Hotchkiss
  44. 2004It Must Be LoveClem Gazelle
  45. 2003ElfEmily
  46. 2003Casa de los BabysGayle
  47. 2003Hope SpringsJoanie Fisher
  48. 2003Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to HollywoodMary
  49. 2002Sunshine StateFrancine Pinkney
  50. 2002Wish You Were DeadSally Rider
  51. 2002Living with the DeadDetective Karen Condrin
  52. 2001I Am SamDr. Blake
  53. 2001Life as a HouseColleen Beck
  54. 2001The Trumpet of the SwanMother (voice)
  55. 2001Nobody's BabyEstelle
  56. 2000PicnicRosemary Sydney
  57. 1998About SarahSarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
  58. 1996The Grass HarpSister Ida
  59. 1995NixonHannah Nixon
  60. 1995PowderJessie Caldwell
  61. 1995My FamilyGloria
  62. 1994Pontiac MoonKatherine Bellamy
  63. 1994It Runs in the FamilyMrs. Parker (Mother)
  64. 1994CliffordSarah Davis
  65. 1993PhiladelphiaBelinda Conine
  66. 1993What's Eating Gilbert GrapeBetty Carver
  67. 1991Back to the Future: Dickens of a ChristmasClara Clayton Brown (voice)
  68. 1991The Butcher's WifeStella Keefover
  69. 1990The Long Walk HomeNarrator (voice)
  70. 1990Back to the Future Part IIIClara Clayton
  71. 1989ParenthoodKaren Buckman
  72. 1989Miss FirecrackerElaine Rutledge
  73. 1988The Attic: The Hiding of Anne FrankMiep Gies
  74. 1987The Whales of AugustYoung Sarah
  75. 1987End of the LineRose Pickett
  76. 1987Dead of WinterJulie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
  77. 1985One Magic ChristmasGinny Grainger
  78. 1983Little Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary
  79. 1983Romantic ComedyPhoebe Craddock
  80. 1983Cross CreekMarjorie Kinnan Rawlings
  81. 1982A Midsummer Night's Sex ComedyAdrian
  82. 1981RagtimeMother
  83. 1980Melvin and HowardLynda Dummar
  84. 1979Time After TimeAmy Robbins
  85. 1978Goin' SouthJulia Tate