---
name: "Lois Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/lois-smith"
fi1m_id: "lois-smith"
imdb_id: "nm0809135"
tmdb_id: 2207
wikidata_id: "Q258246"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "3 November 1930"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-05T00:07:58.485900+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Lois Smith

## Identity

Lois Smith

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lois-smith
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** lois-smith
- **IMDb ID:** nm0809135
- **TMDB ID:** 2207
- **Wikidata ID:** Q258246
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q258246, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809135/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2207

Actor. Born 3 November 1930 in Topeka, Kansas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 3 November 1930, Topeka, Kansas, USA
- **Active:** 1970–present
- **Also known as:** Lois Arlene Humbert, Lois Arlene Smith, Lois Humbert
- **Frequently works with:** [Jan de Bont](https://film.one/person/jan-de-bont.md), [Michael Douglas](https://film.one/person/michael-douglas.md)
- **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 88 (1), 1980s 79 (2), 1990s 76 (5), 2000s 69 (3), 2010s 86 (1), 2020s 68 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 75 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 10, Comedy 5, Thriller 5, Crime 3, Action 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 21 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,557m across 11 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lois_Smith, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q258246, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809135/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2207

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Lady Bird*](https://film.one/film/lady-bird.md) (86), [*Dead Man Walking*](https://film.one/film/dead-man-walking.md) (84), [*Minority Report*](https://film.one/film/minority-report.md) (81)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Five Easy Pieces*](https://film.one/film/five-easy-pieces.md) (88), [*Killshot*](https://film.one/film/killshot.md) (55)
- **Hulu:** [*Fatal Attraction*](https://film.one/film/fatal-attraction.md) (70)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Twister*](https://film.one/film/twister.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Lois Smith is an American actress. Born Lois Arlene Humbert on 3 November 1930 in Topeka, Kansas, she made her film debut in *East of Eden* (1955). She has appeared in supporting roles in films including *Five Easy Pieces* (1970), *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), *Falling Down* (1993), *Dead Man Walking* (1995), *Twister* (1996), *Minority Report* (2002), *The Nice Guys* (2016) and *Lady Bird* (2017).

Smith has worked extensively in theatre. She received Tony Award nominations for her performances as Ma Joad in *The Grapes of Wrath* (1990) and as Halie in a revival of *Buried Child* (1996). In 2005 she starred in an Off-Broadway revival of *The Trip to Bountiful*, winning an Obie Award for Best Actress, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama Desk Award. She is an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (13)

- *The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun* (2021), Fi1m 68, as Upshur 'Maw' Clampette — [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun.md)
- *Lady Bird* (2017), Fi1m 86, as Sister Sarah Joan — [page](https://film.one/film/lady-bird.md)
- *Killshot* (2008), Fi1m 55, as Lenore — [page](https://film.one/film/killshot.md)
- *True Blood* (2008), Fi1m 71, as Adele Stackhouse — [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Minority Report* (2002), Fi1m 81, as Dr. Iris Hineman — [page](https://film.one/film/minority-report.md)
- *Twister* (1996), Fi1m 64, as Aunt Meg — [page](https://film.one/film/twister.md)
- *Dead Man Walking* (1995), Fi1m 84, as Helen's Mother — [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man-walking.md)
- *Falling Down* (1993), Fi1m 71, as D-Fens' Mother — [page](https://film.one/film/falling-down.md)
- *Frasier* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Moira — [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), Fi1m 75, as Mama Threadgoode — [page](https://film.one/film/fried-green-tomatoes.md)
- *Midnight Run* (1988), Fi1m 88, as Mrs. Nelson, Mardukas's Friend — [page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *Fatal Attraction* (1987), Fi1m 70, as Martha — [page](https://film.one/film/fatal-attraction.md)
- *Five Easy Pieces* (1970), Fi1m 88, as Partita Dupea — [page](https://film.one/film/five-easy-pieces.md)

## Complete filmography (132)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Gettysburg Address* (2025), as Elizabeth Crawford (voice)
- *Lightning Bug* (2025), as Lydia
- *On the End* (2025), as Trudie Ferreira
- *The Uninvited* (2025), as Helen
- *Elsbeth* (2024), series, as Delores Feinn
- *Mack & Rita* (2022), as Betty
- *This Fool* (2022), series, as Beverly
- *The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun* (2021), as Upshur 'Maw' Clampette — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun.md)
- *Gossip Girl* (2021), series, as Iris Lefferts
- *Law & Order: Organized Crime* (2021), series, as Doris 'Mama' Boone
- *Uncle Frank* (2020), as Aunt Butch
- *The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America* (2020), as Harper Pitt
- *Tesla* (2020), as The Grande Dame
- *On Becoming a God in Central Florida* (2019), series, as Mimi Waldenstock
- *Impulse* (2018), series, as Deirdre 'Dippy' Jones
- *9JKL* (2017), series, as Wrong Nana
- *Lady Bird* (2017), as Sister Sarah Joan — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/lady-bird.md)
- *Marjorie Prime* (2017), as Marjorie
- *The Comedian* (2016), as Miriam
- *The Nice Guys* (2016), as Mrs. Glenn
- *Sneaky Pete* (2015), series, as Reverend Ethel Landry
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, as Mrs. Hanson
- *Younger* (2015), series, as Belinda Lacroix
- *Run All Night* (2015), as Margaret Conlon
- *The Affair* (2014), series, as Mrs. Gunther
- *The Man Who Came Out Only at Night* (2013), as The Youngest Daughter (later)
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Lucy Game — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Mom* (2013), series, as Claire
- *Ray Donovan* (2013), series, as Dolores
- *The Americans* (2013), series, as Betty Turner — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md)
- *Ruth & Erica* (2012), series, as Ruth
- *The Odd Life of Timothy Green* (2012), as Aunt Mel
- *Roadie* (2012), as Mom
- *Please Give* (2010), as Mrs. Portman
- *A Dog Year* (2009), as Lois Blair
- *Killshot* (2008), as Lenore — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/killshot.md)
- *True Blood* (2008), series, as Adele Stackhouse — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *Diminished Capacity* (2008), as Belle
- *Turn the River* (2008), as Abby
- *Army Wives* (2007), series, as Elsie
- *Griffin & Phoenix* (2006), as Dr. Imberman
- *Hollywoodland* (2006), as Helen Bessolo
- *Little Fugitive* (2006), as Elizabeth, Social Worker
- *Sweet Land* (2005), as Inge (as an older woman)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Mrs. Dickerson — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *P.S.* (2004), as Ellie Silverstein
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Allison Scavo — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *LAX* (2004), series, as Rose Sinclair
- *Iron Jawed Angels* (2004), as Reverend Anna Howard Shaw
- *The Best Thief in the World* (2004), as Helen
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Fannie
- *A Foreign Affair* (2003), as Ma Adams
- *Red Betsy* (2003), as Helen Rounds
- *Minority Report* (2002), as Dr. Iris Hineman — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/minority-report.md)
- *The Laramie Project* (2002), as Lucy Thompson
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Betty Bennett
- *Powder Keg* (2001), as Mother
- *The Hire* (2001), series, as Mother
- *The Pledge* (2001), as Helen Jackson
- *Tumbleweeds* (1999), as Ginger
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Rebecca Tolliver
- *A Will of their Own* (1998), series, as Miss Maude
- *The Eternal* (1998), as Mrs. Ferriter
- *Hudson River Blues* (1997), as Julia
- *Eye of God* (1997), Thanks
- *Just Shoot Me!* (1997), series, as Libby
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Mary Beth Berluti
- *Larger Than Life* (1996), as Luluna
- *Twister* (1996), as Aunt Meg — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/twister.md)
- *Dead Man Walking* (1995), as Helen's Mother — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man-walking.md)
- *How to Make an American Quilt* (1995), as Sophia
- *Truman* (1995), as Madge Wallace Gates
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Mildred Mancini
- *ER* (1994), series, as Gracie — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Holy Matrimony* (1994), as Orna
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Moira — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Falling Down* (1993), as D-Fens' Mother — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/falling-down.md)
- *Skylark* (1993), as Lou Wheaton
- *Deadly Matrimony* (1992), Actor
- *The Donner Party* (1992), as voice
- *Keep the Change* (1992), as Lureen
- *Hard Promises* (1992), as Mrs. Bell
- *Fried Green Tomatoes* (1991), as Mama Threadgoode — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/fried-green-tomatoes.md)
- *White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd* (1991), as Alice Todd
- *Switched at Birth* (1991), series, as Margaret
- *The Grapes of Wrath* (1991), as Ma Joad
- *Coney Island* (1991), as (voice)
- *Good Sports* (1991), series, as Mrs. Tannen
- *Green Card* (1990), as Brontë's Mother
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Eunice Varick — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *American Experience* (1988), series, as (voice)
- *Midnight Run* (1988), as Mrs. Nelson, Mardukas's Friend — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *thirtysomething* (1987), series, Actor
- *Fatal Attraction* (1987), as Martha — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/fatal-attraction.md)
- *Black Widow* (1987), as Sara
- *Doubletake* (1985), as Sarah
- *The Execution of Raymond Graham* (1985), as Mary Neal
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Marie Ganucci, Dorothy Hermes
- *Twisted* (1985), as Helen Giles
- *Reckless* (1984), as Mrs. Prescott
- *Reuben, Reuben* (1983), as Mare Spofford
- *Rage of Angels* (1983), series, as Clara
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Ma Joad
- *Four Friends* (1981), as Mrs. Carnahan
- *The House of Mirth* (1981), as Bertha Dorset
- *Resurrection* (1980), as Kathy
- *The Jilting of Granny Weatherall* (1980), as Cornelia
- *Foxes* (1980), as Mrs. Axman
- *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Sara
- *Next Stop, Greenwich Village* (1976), as Anita Cunningham
- *Up the Sandbox* (1972), as Elinore
- *Particular Men* (1972), as Anne Starr
- *Dragon Country* (1970), as Woman (segment "Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen")
- *Five Easy Pieces* (1970), as Partita Dupea — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/five-easy-pieces.md)
- *The Way We Live Now* (1970), as Jane Aldridge
- *Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night* (1967), as Evelyn
- *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, as Evelyn
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Libby Clayton
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Esther Terranova
- *Route 66* (1960), series, as Dana, Lucy Brown
- *The Master Builder* (1960), as Hilda
- *Startime* (1959), series, as Cindy
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Dawn Garrison
- *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, Actor
- *Strange Lady in Town* (1955), as Spurs O'Brien
- *East of Eden* (1955), as Anne
- *The United States Steel Hour* (1953), series, as Jeannie
- *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Jenny Musgrave
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, Actor
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Lisa Molloy
- *The Steel Harp*, as Hanna

## Gallery

- ![Lois Smith at the premier of "Marjorie Prime" (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/79728/gallery-7b70aaf84bc2.jpg) Lois Smith at the premier of "Marjorie Prime" (2017) — Vera de Kok, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Lois_Smith_-_IFFR_2017-1.jpg/1280px-Lois_Smith_-_IFFR_2017-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lois Smith at the premier of "Marjorie Prime" (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/79728/gallery-daa790d0f654.jpg) Lois Smith at the premier of "Marjorie Prime" (2017) — Vera de Kok, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Lois_Smith_-_IFFR_2017-1_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Lois_Smith_-_IFFR_2017-1_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lois Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79728/gallery-5f980d723aef.jpg) Lois Smith — Vera de Kok, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Lois_Smith_at_the_2017_International_Film_Festival_Rotterdam.jpg/1280px-Lois_Smith_at_the_2017_International_Film_Festival_Rotterdam.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lois Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79728/gallery-979a8db2ad8a.jpg) Lois Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Lois Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79728/gallery-f250b8b90034.jpg) Lois Smith — Image via TMDB
- ![Lois Smith](https://film.one/media/person/79728/gallery-873ad281ba3d.jpg) Lois Smith — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### SAG Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1996: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *How to Make an American Quilt*

### Other awards — 3 won, 2 nominated

- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play 2006: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play (won)
- Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress 2006: Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1996: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1990: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress 1970: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Five Easy Pieces*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/lois-smith