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Mary Steenburgen

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Mary Steenburgen

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 received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Steenburgen received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Miloš Forman's drama film Ragtime (1981). Her other films include A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982), Cross Creek (1983), Back to the Future Part III (1990), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Philadelphia (1993), Nixon (1995), The Brave One (2007), Last Vegas (2013), A Walk in the Woods (2015), Book Club (2018), Nightmare Alley (2021), and Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023). She also played mothers in a string of comedy films including Parenthood (1989), Elf (2003), Step Brothers (2008), Four Christmases (2008), The Proposal (2009), Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009), The Help (2011), and Happiest Season (2020). She received nominations for a BAFTA TV Award for the miniseries Tender Is the Night (1985) and a Primetime Emmy Award for the television film The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank (1988). Steenburgen has worked as a singer-songwriter for numerous films, in some of which she starred. For her song "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)", written for the musical film Wild Rose (2018), she received the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song. Steenburgen was awarded with Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2025.

Infobox

Born
Mary Nell Steenburgen (1953-02-08) February 8, 1953 Newport, Arkansas, U .
Education
Hendrix College Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
Occupations
Actress comedian singer songwriter
Years active
1978–present
Known for
Melvin and Howard Ragtime Back to the Future Part III
Spouses
Malcolm McDowell (m. 1980; div. 1990) Ted Danson (m. 1995)
Children
2, including Charlie McDowell
Relatives
Lily Collins (daughter-in-law)
Awards
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Tables

· Filmography › Film
1978
Role(s)
Julia Tate Moon
1979
Role(s)
Amy Robbins
1980
Role(s)
Lynda West Dummar
1981
Role(s)
Mother
1982
1983
Role(s)
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Role(s)
Phoebe Craddock
1985
Role(s)
Ginny Grainger
1987
Role(s)
Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
Role(s)
Young Sarah
Role(s)
Rose Pickett
1989
Role(s)
Elaine Rutledge
Role(s)
Karen Buckman
1990
Role(s)
Clara Clayton
Role(s)
Narrator
Notes
Voice role
1991
Role(s)
Stella Keefover
1993
Role(s)
Betty Carver
Role(s)
Belinda Conine
1994
Role(s)
Sarah Davis Daniels
Role(s)
Katherine Bellamy
Role(s)
Mrs. Parker (mother)
1995
Role(s)
Gloria
Role(s)
Sister Ida
Role(s)
Jessie Caldwell
Role(s)
Hannah Milhous Nixon
2001
Role(s)
Estelle
Role(s)
Mother
Notes
Voice role
Role(s)
Colleen Beck
Role(s)
Dr. Blake
2002
Role(s)
Francine Pinkney
Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to Hollywood
Role(s)
Mary
Wish You Were Dead
Role(s)
Sally Rider
2003
Role(s)
Joanie Fisher
Role(s)
Gayle
Elf
Role(s)
Emily Hobbs
2005
2006
Role(s)
Leah's mother
Role(s)
Visitor No. 2
2007
Role(s)
Geneva
Role(s)
Sarah Michaelson
Role(s)
Dr. Blaine
Role(s)
Carol
Role(s)
Amanda Winship
2008
Role(s)
Nancy Huff
Role(s)
Marilyn
2009
Role(s)
Narrator
Notes
Documentary film
Role(s)
Bootsie Robicheaux
Role(s)
Grace Paxton
Role(s)
Katherine
Role(s)
Emma Wheeler
2010
Role(s)
Peggy
2011
Keepin' It Real Estate
Role(s)
Claire
Notes
Short film
Role(s)
Elaine Stein
2013
Role(s)
Diana Boyle
Role(s)
Helen West
Role(s)
The Bamboo Cutter's Wife
Notes
Voice role
2014
Role(s)
Karen
2015
Role(s)
Jeannie
2016
Role(s)
Julia
Role(s)
Carol
Role(s)
Maybelle
2017
Role(s)
Interviewer
Role(s)
Cybil Burger
2018
Role(s)
Carol
Role(s)
Dr. Margot
2019
Role(s)
Narrator
Notes
Voice role
2020
Role(s)
Tipper Caldwell
2021
Role(s)
Mrs. Kimball
2023
2025
Bulldozer
Role(s)
Cathy
Notes
Short film
Role(s)
TBA
Notes
2025 Toronto International Film Festival feature
Role(s)
TBA
Notes
2025 Ojai Film Festival feature
2026
Role(s)
Candace
Notes
Post-production
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1978
Goin' South
Julia Tate Moon
1979
Time After Time
Amy Robbins
1980
Melvin and Howard
Lynda West Dummar
1981
Ragtime
Mother
1982
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Adrian
1983
Cross Creek
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Romantic Comedy
Phoebe Craddock
1985
One Magic Christmas
Ginny Grainger
1987
Dead of Winter
Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
The Whales of August
Young Sarah
End of the Line
Rose Pickett
1989
Miss Firecracker
Elaine Rutledge
Parenthood
Karen Buckman
1990
Back to the Future Part III
Clara Clayton
The Long Walk Home
Narrator
Voice role
1991
The Butcher's Wife
Stella Keefover
1993
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Betty Carver
Philadelphia
Belinda Conine
1994
Clifford
Sarah Davis Daniels
Pontiac Moon
Katherine Bellamy
It Runs in the Family
Mrs. Parker (mother)
1995
My Family
Gloria
The Grass Harp
Sister Ida
Powder
Jessie Caldwell
Nixon
Hannah Milhous Nixon
2001
Nobody's Baby
Estelle
The Trumpet of the Swan
Mother
Voice role
Life as a House
Colleen Beck
I Am Sam
Dr. Blake
2002
Sunshine State
Francine Pinkney
Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to Hollywood
Mary
Wish You Were Dead
Sally Rider
2003
Hope Springs
Joanie Fisher
Casa de los Babys
Gayle
Elf
Emily Hobbs
2005
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
Marienne Hotchkiss
2006
The Dead Girl
Leah's mother
Inland Empire
Visitor No. 2
2007
Elvis and Anabelle
Geneva
Nobel Son
Sarah Michaelson
Numb
Dr. Blaine
The Brave One
Carol
Honeydripper
Amanda Winship
2008
Step Brothers
Nancy Huff
Four Christmases
Marilyn
2009
American Outrage
Narrator
Documentary film
In the Electric Mist
Bootsie Robicheaux
The Proposal
Grace Paxton
The Open Road
Katherine
· Filmography › Television
1983
Role(s)
Mary / Little Red Riding Hood
Notes
Episode: "Little Red Riding Hood"
1985
Tender Is the Night
Role(s)
Nicole Warren Diver
Notes
Miniseries
1988
Role(s)
Miep Gies
Notes
TV movie
1991–1992
Role(s)
Back to the Future
Notes
Clara Clayton
1994
Role(s)
Catherine
Notes
TV short film
1995
Role(s)
Marjorie
Notes
Voice role, episode: "Retirement Is Murder"
1996
Role(s)
Mary Gulliver
Notes
Miniseries, main cast
1996–1997
Role(s)
Ink
Notes
Kate Montgomery
1998
About Sarah
Role(s)
Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
Notes
TV movie
1999
Role(s)
Naamah
Notes
Miniseries
2000
Picnic
Role(s)
Rosemary Sydney
Notes
TV movie
2000–2017
Role(s)
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Notes
Mary Steenburgen
2002
Role(s)
Detective Karen Condrin
Notes
TV movie
Role(s)
Grace Rinato
Notes
Episode: "Denial"
2003–2005
Role(s)
Joan of Arcadia
Notes
Helen Girardi
2004
Role(s)
Patient
Notes
Episode: "DNR"
Role(s)
Clem Gazelle
Notes
TV movie
Capital City
Role(s)
Elaine Summer
Notes
TV movie
2007
Reinventing the Wheelers
Role(s)
Claire Wheeler
Notes
TV movie
2009
Happiness Isn't Everything
Role(s)
Audrey Veil
Notes
TV movie
2010
Southern Discomfort
Role(s)
Mary Lou Dobson
Notes
TV movie
2011–2013
Role(s)
Wilfred
Notes
Catherine Newman
2011
Role(s)
Athena
Notes
Voice role, episode: "The Core, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover"
Role(s)
Josephine
Notes
Main cast (season 3)
2012
Role(s)
Diana Jessup
Notes
5 episodes
Role(s)
Anastasia Lee
Notes
TV movie
2014–2015
Role(s)
Justified
Notes
Katherine Hale
2015
Role(s)
Linda
Notes
2 episodes
2015–2017
Role(s)
Orange Is the New Black
Notes
Delia Powell
2015–2018
Role(s)
The Last Man on Earth
Notes
Gail Klosterman
Role(s)
Louisa Pool
Notes
TV movie
Role(s)
Aunt Cly
Notes
TV movie
2016
Role(s)
Margaret Rudolph
Notes
4 episodes
2017
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Episode: "Puritans and Pioneers"
2018
Role(s)
Marcy Bellinger
Notes
Episode: "Keep on Truckin'"
2019–2021
Role(s)
Bless the Harts
Notes
Crystalynn Poole
2019
Role(s)
Ellen Joy Bonar
Notes
5 episodes
2020–2021
Role(s)
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Notes
Maggie Clarke
2020
Role(s)
Miriam
Notes
2 episodes
Role(s)
Music Teacher
Notes
Episode: "Whenever You're Ready"
2021
Role(s)
Maggie Clarke
Notes
TV movie
2022
Role(s)
Adriana
Notes
Episode: "Murder in the Old West"
2025
Role(s)
Mona Margadoff
Notes
Main cast (season 2)
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1983
Faerie Tale Theatre
Mary / Little Red Riding Hood
Episode: "Little Red Riding Hood"
1985
Tender Is the Night
Nicole Warren Diver
Miniseries
1988
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank
Miep Gies
TV movie
1991–1992
Back to the Future
Clara Clayton
Main cast, voice role
1994
The Gift
Catherine
TV short film
1995
Frasier
Marjorie
Voice role, episode: "Retirement Is Murder"
1996
Gulliver's Travels
Mary Gulliver
Miniseries, main cast
1996–1997
Ink
Kate Montgomery
Main cast
1998
About Sarah
Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
TV movie
1999
Noah's Ark
Naamah
Miniseries
2000
Picnic
Rosemary Sydney
TV movie
2000–2017
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Mary Steenburgen
6 episodes
2002
Living with the Dead
Detective Karen Condrin
TV movie
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Grace Rinato
Episode: "Denial"
2003–2005
Joan of Arcadia
Helen Girardi
Main cast
2004
Becker
Patient
Episode: "DNR"
It Must Be Love
Clem Gazelle
TV movie
Capital City
Elaine Summer
TV movie
2007
Reinventing the Wheelers
Claire Wheeler
TV movie
2009
Happiness Isn't Everything
Audrey Veil
TV movie
2010
Southern Discomfort
Mary Lou Dobson
TV movie
2011–2013
Wilfred
Catherine Newman
4 episodes
2011
Robot Chicken
Athena
Voice role, episode: "The Core, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover"
Bored to Death
Josephine
Main cast (season 3)
2012
30 Rock
Diana Jessup
5 episodes
Outlaw Country
Anastasia Lee
TV movie
2014–2015
Justified
Katherine Hale
Recurring role (seasons 5–6)
2015
Togetherness
Linda
2 episodes
2015–2017
Orange Is the New Black
Delia Powell
6 episodes
2015–2018
The Last Man on Earth
Gail Klosterman
Main cast
2015
7 Days in Hell
Louisa Pool
TV movie
Turkey Hollow
Aunt Cly
TV movie
2016
Blunt Talk
Margaret Rudolph
4 episodes
2017
Finding Your Roots
Herself
Episode: "Puritans and Pioneers"
2018
The Conners
Marcy Bellinger
Episode: "Keep on Truckin
2019–2021
Bless the Harts
Crystalynn Poole
Recurring role, voice role
2019
On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Ellen Joy Bonar
5 episodes
2020–2021
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Maggie Clarke
Main cast
2020
Grace and Frankie
Miriam
2 episodes
The Good Place
Music Teacher
Episode: "Whenever You're Ready"
2021
Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas
Maggie Clarke
TV movie
2022
Mr. Mayor
Adriana
Episode: "Murder in the Old West"
2025
A Man on the Inside
Mona Margadoff
Main cast (season 2)
· Filmography › Stage
1992
Role(s)
Candida
Notes
Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1992
Candida
Candida
Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway
· Awards and nominations
1978
Role(s)
New Star of the Year – Actress
Notes
Goin' South
1979
Role(s)
Best Actress
Notes
Time After Time
1980
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Melvin and Howard
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Notes
Won
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Won
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Won
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Won
1981
Golden Globe Awards
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Notes
Ragtime
1985
Role(s)
Actress in a Leading Role
Notes
One Magic Christmas
Role(s)
Best Actress
Notes
Tender Is the Night
1988
Role(s)
Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie
Notes
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank
1989
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Miss Firecracker
1990
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress
Notes
Back to the Future Part III
1995
Role(s)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Notes
Nixon
2004
Role(s)
Best Supporting Actress – Television Series
Notes
Joan of Arcadia
2011
Screen Actors Guild
Role(s)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Notes
The Help
2019
Role(s)
Best Song
Notes
Wild Rose for "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)"
Role(s)
Best Original Song
Notes
Won
2025
Role(s)
Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
Notes
—N/a
Year
Association
Category
Work
Result
1978
Golden Globe Awards
New Star of the Year – Actress
Goin' South
Nominated
1979
Saturn Awards
Best Actress
Time After Time
Won
1980
Academy Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Melvin and Howard
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics
Best Supporting Actress
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Best Supporting Actress
Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Won
New York Film Critics Circle
Best Supporting Actress
Won
1981
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Ragtime
Nominated
1985
Genie Awards
Actress in a Leading Role
One Magic Christmas
Nominated
1985
British Academy Television Awards
Best Actress
Tender Is the Night
Nominated
1988
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank
Nominated
1989
Chicago Film Critics Association
Best Supporting Actress
Miss Firecracker
Nominated
1990
Saturn Awards
Best Supporting Actress
Back to the Future Part III
Nominated
1995
Screen Actors Guild
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nixon
Nominated
1998
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
About Sarah
Nominated
2004
Satellite Awards
Best Supporting Actress – Television Series
Joan of Arcadia
Won
2011
Screen Actors Guild
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Help
Won
2019
Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Best Song
Wild Rose for "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)"
Won
Hollywood Critics Association
Best Original Song
Won
Houston Film Critics Society
Won
2025
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Bob Hope Humanitarian Award
—N/a
Honored
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