Known for her ability to play a broad array of characters -- from tender, soft-spoken women to passionate ladies with invincible spirit -- Mary Steenburgen was born Feb. 8, 1953, in Newport, Ark. She pursued drama in college but at 19 left for the Big Apple, where she spent several years with an improvisational theatrical company at the Neighborhood Playhouse.Thanks to actor Jack Nicholson, Steenburgen was cast in her first film, Goin' South, in 1978. Her role in Melvin and Howard launched her to stardom two years later, and she took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar and a Golden Globe for her beguiling performance. Among Steenburgen's other noteworthy movies are Cross Creek (1983), Back to the Future III (1990), Philadelphia (1996), Nixon (1995) and the 2003 comedy hit Elf.
Despite her busy work schedule, Steenburgen devotes time to ecological and human rights issues.
ParenthoodDirector Ron Howard teams with Steve Martin for a heartwarming comedy about life's most rewarding occupation: parenthood. Gil (Martin) and Karen Buckman (Mary Steenburgen) are facing the age-old dilemma of trying to raise their children the "right" way. But as Gil and the rest of his clan (including... Read More
Talking to HeavenMedium James Van Praagh (Ted Danson) aids in a 30-year-old murder investigation in this crime thriller based on Van Praagh's autobiography. Plagued by ghostly voices and gruesome images, James must uncover the truth to release the tortured souls of the deceased. This two-part television movie pairs... Read More
Cross CreekBased on the protagonist's real-life memoirs, frustrated newspaper reporter Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Mary Steenburgen) abandons her career and moves to a Florida bayou to concentrate on writing fiction. Here, Marjorie's life is changed by a devoted servant (Alfre Woodard) who befriends her, a local... Read More
Joan of ArcadiaThis heartfelt drama follows teenager Joan Girardi (Amber Tamblyn), who is shocked to learn that, as a modern-day version of Joan of Arc, she can communicate directly with God, who appears in different guises and asks her to help out people in trouble. Joan's police chief father, Will (Joe... Read More
Dead of WinterWhen actress Katie McGovern (Mary Steenburgen) is summoned to an isolated estate to rehearse a role for her next film, she finds herself in a strange situation. The film's aging producer never fully explains the extent of her role, and when the man's behavior becomes increasingly suspicious, Katie... Read More
