Lea Thompson
Acting
Biography
Lea Katherine Thompson (born May 31, 1961) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director.
She is best known for her roles as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990), Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck (1986), and Amanda Jones in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987). Other films for which she is known include All the Right Moves (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Dennis the Menace (1993), and The Beverly Hillbillies (1993). In the 1990s, she played the title character in the sitcom Caroline in the City. From 2011 to 2017, she co-starred as Kathryn Kennish in the ABC Family-turned-Freeform series Switched at Birth.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Lea Thompson
Filmography
Acting (93)
2025
SEGALas Self
2024
BRATSas Self
6.1
2022
The Disappearance of Cari Farveras Nancy Farver
5.3
2022
Ten Tricksas Grace
4.4
8.0
2022
Unpluggingas Perkins
4.9
2021
Next Stop, Christmasas Evelyn
6.4
2021
Mark, Mary + Some Other Peopleas Aunty Carol
5.2
2020
Dinner in Americaas Betty
7.7
2019
You Are Hereas Helen
2019
Cool Cat's Crazy Dreamas Dream World Lea
1.0
2018
Little Womenas Margaret "Marmee" March
6.3
2018
Sierra Burgess Is a Loseras Mrs. Burgess
6.3
2018
The Year of Spectacular Menas Deb Klein
5.6
2018
Who We Are Nowas Alana
5.7
2018
Over the Hillas Sally
2017
Literally, Right Before Aaronas Deb (Adam's Mom)
4.8
2016
The Dog Loveras Liz Holloway
6.3
2016
Stars Are Already Deadas Aunt Sophia
2015
5.6
2015
Back in Timeas Self
6.5
2014
Left Behindas Irene Steele
4.3
2014
Ping Pong Summeras Mrs. Miracle
5.7
2014
My Mother's Future Husbandas René Henderson
5.7
2013
Call Me Crazy: A Five Filmas Julia
7.0
2013
Miliusas Self
7.1
2012
Love at the Christmas Tableas Elissa Beth
5.8
2012
2012
Bound by Fleshas Voiceover
5.9
2012
The Trouble with the Truthas Emily
5.7
2012
Thin Iceas Jo Ann Prohaska
6.5
2011
Game of Your Lifeas Abbie
10.0
2011
J. Edgaras Lela Rogers
6.2
2011
The Cabinas Lily MacDougal
6.2
2011
Mayor Cupcakeas Mary Maroni
5.3
2010
Tales from the Futureas Self
6.2
2010
Rock Slydeas Master Bartologist
5.4
2010
3.8
2009
Splinterheadsas Susan Frost
5.9
2009
Looking Back to the Futureas Self
6.6
2009
Fatal Secretsas Rebecca
3.8
2008
The Christmas Clauseas Sophie
5.7
2008
Exit Speedas Maudie McMinn
5.2
2008
Final Approachas Alicia Bender
5.1
2008
Senior Skip Dayas Cathleen Harris
4.7
2008
Spy Schoolas Claire Miller
4.7
2008
Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholderas Cathy Davis / Jane Doe
6.1
2007
Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Bossas Cathy Davis
6.0
2007
A Life Interruptedas Debbie Smith
5.6
2007
Jane Doe: Ties That Bindas Cathy Davis / Jane Doe
5.2
2007
California Dreamingas Ginger Gainor
4.0
2006
Looking Back at the Futureas Herself
6.7
2006
Jane Doe: The Harder They Fallas Cathy Davis
6.4
2006
Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Wellas Cathy Davis
6.1
2006
2005
Jane Doe: The Wrong Faceas Cathy Davis
6.4
2005
Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Partas Cathy Davis
6.0
2005
Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don'tas Cathy Davis
6.0
2005
Jane Doe: Vanishing Actas Cathy Davis
5.8
2005
Come Away Homeas Carol
6.7
2003
Stealing Christmasas Sarah Gibson
5.0
2003
Haunted Lighthouse 4-Das Peg Van Legge
5.3
2002
Fish Don't Blinkas Clara
6.0
1998
The Unknown Cyclistas Melissa Cavatelli
4.6
1996
The Right to Remain Silentas Christine Paley
5.2
1995
The Unspoken Truthas Brianne Hawkins
8.1
1994
The Little Rascalsas Ms. Roberts
6.8
1994
The Substitute Wifeas Amy Hightower
5.5
1993
The Beverly Hillbilliesas Laura Jackson
6.3
1993
Dennis the Menaceas Alice Mitchell
5.9
1993
Stolen Babiesas Annie Beales
5.5
1992
Article 99as Dr. Robin Van Dorn
6.1
1990
Back to the Future Part IIIas Maggie McFly / Lorraine McFly
7.5
1990
Montanaas Peg Guthrie
6.0
1989
Back to the Future Part IIas Lorraine
7.8
1989
Nightbreakeras Sally Matthews
6.7
1988
The Wizard of Lonelinessas Sybil
6.3
1988
Going Undercoveras Marigold de la Hunt
2.8
1988
Casual Sex?as Stacy
5.2
1987
Some Kind of Wonderfulas Amanda Jones
6.9
1986
7.6
1986
Howard the Duckas Beverly Switzler
5.5
1986
SpaceCampas Kathryn
5.9
1985
Back to the Futureas Lorraine Baines
8.3
1984
The Wild Lifeas Anita
6.1
1984
Red Dawnas Erica
6.3
1983
All the Right Movesas Lisa
5.8
1983
Jaws 3-Das Kelly Ann Bukowski
4.5
—
Queenas Dr. Page
—
A Pretty Good Movieas Ramona
Production & Directing (7)
2018
The Year of Spectacular MenDirector
5.6
2009
6.6
2009
Fatal SecretsAssociate Producer
3.8
2008
My Best Friend's GirlThanks
5.6
2008
Jane Doe: Eye of the BeholderDirector
6.1
2006
Jane Doe: The Harder They FallDirector
6.4
—
ManvilleDirector