Mary Steenburgen
Acting
Biography
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Mary Steenburgen
The Help
2011
Filmography
Acting (99)
2026
A Dog’s Perfect Christmasas Claire
2026
Last Train to Fortuneas Miss Maybelle
10.0
2026
The Dinkas Candace
6.4
2025
2.0
2023
7.0
2023
Book Club: The Next Chapteras Carol
6.3
7.0
2021
Nightmare Alleyas Mrs. Kimball
6.9
2021
Zoey's Extraordinary Christmasas Maggie Clarke
6.4
2020
Happiest Seasonas Tipper
7.1
2020
30 Rock: A One-Time Specialas Mary Steenburgen
6.2
2019
Flanneryas Flannery O'Connor (voice)
2019
Antiquitiesas Dr. Margot
4.3
2018
Book Clubas Carol
6.2
2018
Katie Says Goodbyeas Maybelle
6.5
2017
I Do... Until I Don'tas Cybil Burger
4.7
2017
The Discoveryas Interviewer
6.3
2017
The Book of Loveas Julia Mureaux
6.5
2016
Deanas Carol
5.8
2015
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollowas Aunt Cly
5.6
2015
A Walk in the Woodsas Jeannie
6.1
2015
7 Days in Hellas Louisa Poole
6.5
2014
The One I Loveas Mom (voice)
6.9
2014
Song Oneas Karen Ellis
5.7
2013
Last Vegasas Diana Boyle
6.4
2013
Brahmin Bullsas Helen West
5.0
2012
Outlaw Countryas Anastasia Lee
6.0
2011
The Helpas Elaine Stein
8.2
2011
Fight for Your Right Revisitedas Café Patron
6.5
2010
Tales from the Futureas Self
6.2
2010
Dirty Girlas Peggy
6.0
2010
Weird: The Al Yankovic Storyas Mrs. Yankovic
6.7
2009
Did You Hear About the Morgans?as Emma Wheeler
5.4
2009
Clarkworldas Self
10.0
2009
The Proposalas Grace Paxton
7.2
2009
In the Electric Mistas Bootsie Robicheaux
6.1
2009
The Open Roadas Katherine
5.2
2008
Four Christmasesas Marilyn
5.8
2008
Step Brothersas Nancy Huff
6.6
2007
The Brave Oneas Carol
6.6
2007
Honeydripperas Amanda Winship
5.9
2007
Numbas Dr. Blaine
5.9
2007
Nobel Sonas Sarah Michaelson
6.0
2007
Elvis & Anabelleas Geneva Leigh
6.8
2006
Inland Empireas Visitor #2
7.0
2006
The Dead Girlas Leah's Mother
6.0
2006
O Lucky Malcolm!as Self
6.1
2006
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm Schoolas Marienne Hotchkiss
5.9
2004
Remembering Ragtimeas Mother (archive footage)
2004
Elf: That's a Wrapas Self
2004
It Must Be Loveas Clem Gazelle
4.9
2003
Elfas Emily
6.7
2003
Casa de los Babysas Gayle
5.6
2003
Hope Springsas Joanie Fisher
5.3
2003
2002
Sunshine Stateas Francine Pinkney
6.4
2002
Wish You Were Deadas Sally Rider
5.0
2002
Living with the Deadas Detective Karen Condrin
5.5
2002
2001
I Am Samas Dr. Blake
7.6
2001
Life as a Houseas Colleen Beck
7.1
2001
The Trumpet of the Swanas Mother (voice)
5.6
2001
Nobody's Babyas Estelle
5.2
2000
Picnicas Rosemary Sydney
5.3
1998
About Sarahas Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
6.8
1996
The Grass Harpas Sister Ida
5.9
1995
Nixonas Hannah Nixon
6.8
1995
Powderas Jessie Caldwell
7.1
1995
My Familyas Gloria
7.4
1994
Pontiac Moonas Katherine Bellamy
5.5
1994
It Runs in the Familyas Mrs. Parker (Mother)
5.4
1994
Cliffordas Sarah Davis
5.1
1993
Philadelphiaas Belinda Conine
7.7
1993
What's Eating Gilbert Grapeas Betty Carver
7.7
1992
Earth and the American Dreamas Reader (voice)
6.7
1991
Back to the Future: Dickens of a Christmasas Clara Clayton Brown (voice)
6.0
1991
The Butcher's Wifeas Stella Keefover
5.7
1990
The Long Walk Homeas Narrator (voice)
7.6
5.0
1990
Back to the Future Part IIIas Clara Clayton
7.5
1989
Parenthoodas Karen Buckman
6.7
1989
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatreas Self (voice)
1989
Miss Firecrackeras Elaine Rutledge
5.8
1988
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frankas Miep Gies
7.1
1987
The Whales of Augustas Young Sarah
7.0
1987
End of the Lineas Rose Pickett
5.2
1987
Dead of Winteras Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
6.0
1985
One Magic Christmasas Ginny Grainger
5.9
1983
Little Red Riding Hoodas Little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary
5.8
1983
Romantic Comedyas Phoebe Craddock
5.2
1983
Cross Creekas Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
6.6
1982
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedyas Adrian
6.5
1981
Ragtimeas Mother
7.0
1980
Melvin and Howardas Lynda Dummar
6.5
1979
Time After Timeas Amy Robbins
6.8
1978
Goin' Southas Julia Tate
5.8
—
Let's Have Kids!as Sue
Production & Directing (4)
2020
Best Summer EverExecutive Producer
6.7
2014
The One I LoveThanks
6.9
2006
Bye Bye BenjaminExecutive Producer
2.0
1987
End of the LineExecutive Producer
5.2