---
name: "Mary Steenburgen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mary-steenburgen"
fi1m_id: "mary-steenburgen"
imdb_id: "nm0005460"
tmdb_id: 2453
wikidata_id: "Q108935"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 February 1953"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-19T04:22:30.184107+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."
---

# Mary Steenburgen

## Identity

Mary Steenburgen

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/mary-steenburgen
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** mary-steenburgen
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005460
- **TMDB ID:** 2453
- **Wikidata ID:** Q108935
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Steenburgen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108935, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2453

Actor. Born 8 February 1953 in Newport, Arkansas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 February 1953, Newport, Arkansas, USA
- **Active:** 1989–present
- **Also known as:** Mary Nell Steenburgen
- **Frequently works with:** [Jason Robards](https://film.one/person/jason-robards.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 78 (1), 1990s 79 (3), 2000s 62 (2), 2010s 66 (1), 2020s 66 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 65 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 6, Drama 6, Crime 3, Family 2, Action & Adventure 1, Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 12 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $818m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Steenburgen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108935, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005460/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2453

## Coming up

- *A Dog’s Perfect Christmas* (2026-11-04), as Claire — [page](https://film.one/film/a-dogs-perfect-christmas.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Parenthood*](https://film.one/film/parenthood.md) (78), [*A Man on the Inside*](https://film.one/tv/a-man-on-the-inside.md) (72)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Dink*](https://film.one/film/the-dink.md) (59)

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

## Fi1m on Mary Steenburgen

> Mary Steenburgen makes everyone else in the scene comfortable, and for more than forty years directors have cast her accordingly: mothers, wives, the person holding the ensemble together. She is at her most interesting when the warmth is a disguise, as in *Philadelphia*.

Mary Steenburgen's first job in most of her scenes is to put the other people at ease. Directors noticed early, and they have kept casting her as the mother, the wife, the one who steadies an ensemble while the leads get on with the plot. She is good at it, and she brings the same charm to parts that do not deserve it. The interesting question is what happens when a film asks her to use that warmth for something less kind.

The career began oddly. Jack Nicholson found her and put her in *Goin' South* (1978), and two years later *Melvin and Howard* (1980), as Lynda Dummar, made her name. The 1980s and 1990s were supporting work, steadily done: Clara Clayton in *Back to the Future Part III* (1990), Belinda Conine in *Philadelphia* (1993), one of two films she made with Jonathan Demme. Since then it has been comedies and television, three films alongside Ted Danson, and a late sideline in songwriting. The parts are almost always supporting, and she has built a long career on them.

*Philadelphia* is where we would send anyone who thinks they know what she does. As Belinda Conine, the counsel on the other side of the case, she plays a woman doing a job rather than a villain doing a turn, and it unsettled us more than open hostility would have: the film wants us to know which side we are on, and she keeps declining to make that easy. Ron Nyswaner's screenplay hands out attitudes rather neatly, and she and Jason Robards do most of the work of making theirs look like the attitudes of actual people. It is a small part. It is also one of the reasons the courtroom stretches hold, in a film whose screenplay leaves too little room for the lives beyond the case. She has said, "I love to play horrible, evil, mean people." On this evidence she should be allowed to more often.

The recent work is thinner. As Mrs Kimball in *Nightmare Alley* (2021) she is one face among many in a film that spends a superb first hour in the tents and then moves to the city and repeats itself, and we came out unable to say much about what she had done in it, which is del Toro's fault more than hers. A supporting actor is at the mercy of the scenes she is given, and here there are few.

She has also said she wishes people would not underestimate her. A director who took that seriously and gave her a whole film's worth of being quietly awful would be doing the rest of us a favour.

## Biography

Mary Steenburgen is an American actress. She was born Mary Nell Steenburgen on 8 February 1953 in Newport, Arkansas.

She studied at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse in the 1970s and made her film debut in *Goin' South* (1978). Steenburgen received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in *Melvin and Howard* (1980). Her other film credits include *Time After Time* (1979), *Back to the Future Part III* (1990), *What's Eating Gilbert Grape* (1993), *Philadelphia* (1993) as Belinda Conine, *Elf* (2003), *Step Brothers* (2008), *The Proposal* (2009) and *Nightmare Alley* (2021). She has also appeared in television series including *Orange Is the New Black*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, encyclopediaofarkansas.net, britannica.com, hollywoodreporter.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *The Dink* (2026), Fi1m 59, as Candace — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dink.md)
- *A Man on the Inside* (2024), Fi1m 72, as Mona Margadoff — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-man-on-the-inside.md)
- *Nightmare Alley* (2021), Fi1m 66, as Mrs. Kimball — [page](https://film.one/film/nightmare-alley-2021.md)
- *The Help* (2011), Fi1m 66, as Elaine Stein — [page](https://film.one/film/the-help.md)
- *Bored to Death* (2009), Fi1m 50, as Josephine — [page](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md)
- *Elf* (2003), Fi1m 75, as Emily — [page](https://film.one/film/elf.md)
- *Gulliver's Travels* (1996), Fi1m 73, as Mary Gulliver — [page](https://film.one/tv/gullivers-travels.md)
- *Frasier* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Marjorie (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Philadelphia* (1993), Fi1m 76, as Belinda Conine — [page](https://film.one/film/philadelphia.md)
- *Parenthood* (1989), Fi1m 78, as Karen Buckman — [page](https://film.one/film/parenthood.md)

## Complete filmography (123)

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

- *A Dog’s Perfect Christmas* (2026), as Claire — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/a-dogs-perfect-christmas.md)
- *Last Train to Fortune* (2026), as Miss Maybelle
- *The Dink* (2026), as Candace — Fi1m 59, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dink.md)
- *Easy's Waltz* (2025), Actor
- *BULLDOZER* (2025), series, as Kathy
- *A Man on the Inside* (2024), series, as Mona Margadoff — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-man-on-the-inside.md)
- *Book Club: The Next Chapter* (2023), as Carol
- *Nightmare Alley* (2021), as Mrs. Kimball — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/nightmare-alley-2021.md)
- *Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas* (2021), as Maggie Clarke
- *Mr. Mayor* (2021), series, as Adriana
- *Happiest Season* (2020), as Tipper
- *Best Summer Ever* (2020), Executive Producer
- *30 Rock: A One-Time Special* (2020), as Mary Steenburgen
- *Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist* (2020), series, as Maggie Clarke
- *Flannery* (2019), as Flannery O'Connor (voice)
- *Bless the Harts* (2019), series, as Crystalynn (voice)
- *On Becoming a God in Central Florida* (2019), series, as Ellen Joy Bonar
- *Antiquities* (2019), as Dr. Margot
- *The Conners* (2018), series, as Marcy Bellinger
- *Book Club* (2018), as Carol
- *Katie Says Goodbye* (2018), as Maybelle
- *I Do... Until I Don't* (2017), as Cybil Burger
- *The Discovery* (2017), as Interviewer
- *The Book of Love* (2017), as Julia Mureaux
- *The Good Place* (2016), series, as Teacher — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Dean* (2016), as Carol
- *Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow* (2015), as Aunt Cly
- *A Walk in the Woods* (2015), as Jeannie
- *7 Days in Hell* (2015), as Louisa Poole
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, as Miriam
- *The Last Man on Earth* (2015), series, as Gail Klosterman
- *Togetherness* (2015), series, as Linda
- *The One I Love* (2014), as Mom (voice) · Thanks
- *Song One* (2014), as Karen Ellis
- *Last Vegas* (2013), as Diana Boyle
- *Brahmin Bulls* (2013), as Helen West
- *Orange Is the New Black* (2013), series, as Delia Powell — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/orange-is-the-new-black.md)
- *Outlaw Country* (2012), as Anastasia Lee
- *The Help* (2011), as Elaine Stein — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-help.md)
- *Wilfred* (2011), series, as Catherine Newman
- *Fight for Your Right Revisited* (2011), as Café Patron
- *Dirty Girl* (2010), as Peggy
- *Weird: The Al Yankovic Story* (2010), as Mrs. Yankovic
- *Justified* (2010), series, as Katherine Hale — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Did You Hear About the Morgans?* (2009), as Emma Wheeler
- *Bored to Death* (2009), series, as Josephine — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/bored-to-death.md)
- *The Proposal* (2009), as Grace Paxton
- *In the Electric Mist* (2009), as Bootsie Robicheaux
- *The Open Road* (2009), as Katherine
- *Four Christmases* (2008), as Marilyn
- *Step Brothers* (2008), as Nancy Huff
- *The Brave One* (2007), as Carol
- *Honeydripper* (2007), as Amanda Winship
- *Numb* (2007), as Dr. Blaine
- *Nobel Son* (2007), as Sarah Michaelson
- *Elvis & Anabelle* (2007), as Geneva Leigh
- *Inland Empire* (2006), as Visitor #2
- *The Dead Girl* (2006), as Leah's Mother
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, as Diana Jessup — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Bye Bye Benjamin* (2006), Executive Producer
- *Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School* (2006), as Marienne Hotchkiss
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as (voice), Dr. Fay Petit (voice)
- *Remembering Ragtime* (2004), as Mother (archive footage)
- *It Must Be Love* (2004), as Clem Gazelle
- *Elf* (2003), as Emily — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/elf.md)
- *Joan of Arcadia* (2003), series, as Helen Girardi
- *Casa de los Babys* (2003), as Gayle
- *Hope Springs* (2003), as Joanie Fisher
- *Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to Hollywood* (2003), as Mary
- *Sunshine State* (2002), as Francine Pinkney
- *Wish You Were Dead* (2002), as Sally Rider
- *Living with the Dead* (2002), as Detective Karen Condrin
- *Living with the Dead* (2002), series, as Detective Karen Condrin
- *I Am Sam* (2001), as Dr. Blake
- *Life as a House* (2001), as Colleen Beck
- *The Trumpet of the Swan* (2001), as Mother (voice)
- *Nobody's Baby* (2001), as Estelle
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Mary Steenburgen — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story* (2000), Actor
- *Picnic* (2000), as Rosemary Sydney
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Grace Rinato
- *Noah's Ark* (1999), series, as Naamah
- *Becker* (1998), series, as Patient (uncredited)
- *About Sarah* (1998), as Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
- *Ink* (1996), series, as Kate Montgomery · Producer
- *The Grass Harp* (1996), as Sister Ida
- *Gulliver's Travels* (1996), series, as Mary Gulliver — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/gullivers-travels.md)
- *Nixon* (1995), as Hannah Nixon
- *Powder* (1995), as Jessie Caldwell
- *My Family* (1995), as Gloria
- *Pontiac Moon* (1994), as Katherine Bellamy
- *It Runs in the Family* (1994), as Mrs. Parker (Mother)
- *Clifford* (1994), as Sarah Davis
- *Philadelphia* (1993), as Belinda Conine — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/philadelphia.md)
- *What's Eating Gilbert Grape* (1993), as Betty Carver
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Marjorie (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Earth and the American Dream* (1992), as Reader (voice)
- *Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Back to the Future: Dickens of a Christmas* (1991), as Clara Clayton Brown (voice)
- *The Butcher's Wife* (1991), as Stella Keefover
- *Back to the Future* (1991), series, as Clara Clayton (voice)
- *The Long Walk Home* (1990), as Narrator (voice)
- *Back to the Future Part III* (1990), as Clara Clayton
- *Parenthood* (1989), as Karen Buckman — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/parenthood.md)
- *Miss Firecracker* (1989), as Elaine Rutledge
- *The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank* (1988), as Miep Gies
- *The Whales of August* (1987), as Young Sarah
- *End of the Line* (1987), as Rose Pickett · Executive Producer
- *Dead of Winter* (1987), as Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
- *One Magic Christmas* (1985), as Ginny Grainger
- *Tender Is the Night* (1985), series, as Nicole Diver (née Warren)
- *Little Red Riding Hood* (1983), as Little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary
- *Romantic Comedy* (1983), as Phoebe Craddock
- *Cross Creek* (1983), as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Mary / Little Red Riding Hood
- *A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy* (1982), as Adrian
- *Ragtime* (1981), as Mother
- *Melvin and Howard* (1980), as Lynda Dummar
- *Time After Time* (1979), as Amy Robbins
- *Goin' South* (1978), as Julia Tate
- *Let's Have Kids!*, as Sue
- *Southern Discomfort*, series, as Mary Lou Dobson
- *Happiness Isn't Everything*, series, as Audrey Veill

## Gallery

- ![This file is a derivate work of the above named images to illustrate the cast of the 1990 film w:Back to the Future Part III. (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-e16a54f50477.png) This file is a derivate work of the above named images to illustrate the cast of the 1990 film w:Back to the Future Part III. (2021) — Derivative work by Theknine2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Bttf3cast.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mary Steenburgen at a party.](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-22edfa3d018d.jpg) Mary Steenburgen at a party. — Jared Purdy at https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredpurdy/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/MarySteenburgen2000.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at a ceremony for Steenburgen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-d7262fcb0d2f.jpg) Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at a ceremony for Steenburgen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009) — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/MarySteenburgenDec09_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-8010a2bc70ef.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/MarySteenburgenDec09_%28square-trim%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-720910a55e4c.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-865578089b9b.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-23ed01729a5c.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Image via TMDB
- ![Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at a ceremony for Steenburgen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-5e21f2bae2f0.jpg) Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at a ceremony for Steenburgen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2009) — Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Mary_Steenburgen_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-f6d723d0dae6.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-7605013df361.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Image via TMDB
- ![Mary Steenburgen](https://film.one/media/person/82627/gallery-2026be924929.jpg) Mary Steenburgen — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won

- 1981: Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Melvin and Howard*

### BAFTA Television Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1986: Best Actress (nominated)

### Golden Globes — 1 won, 2 nominated

- 1981: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (nominated), for *Ragtime*
- 1980: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *Melvin and Howard*
- 1978: New Star of the Year – Actress (nominated)

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1988: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank*

### SAG Awards — 1 won, 2 nominated

- 2012: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (won), for *The Help*
- 1999: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (nominated), for *About Sarah*
- 1996: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Nixon*

### Other awards — 5 won

- Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame 2018: Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame (won)
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 2011: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast (won), for *The Help*
- Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture 2011: Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture (won), for *The Help*
- Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame 1996: Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame (won)
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress 1980: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress (won), for *Melvin and Howard*

*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/mary-steenburgen