Mary Steenburgen

February 8, 1953 (age 73) Newport, Arkansas, USA

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.

Her titles like Back to the Future Part III, The Proposal, and Philadelphia - her biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 16, 2026

Watched: 0/88

Weighted avg: 6.57 /10

1

1

Back to the Future Part III

1990May 1990 by Robert Zemeckis

Starring as Clara Clayton

Starring as Clara Clayton

7.13 Good++
2

2

The Proposal

2009June 2009 by Anne Fletcher

Supporting as Grace Paxton

Supporting as Grace Paxton

6.78 Good
3

3

Philadelphia

1993December 1993 by Jonathan Demme

Supporting as Belinda Conine

Supporting as Belinda Conine

7.36 Excellent--
4

4

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1993December 1993 by Lasse Hallström

Supporting as Betty Carver

Supporting as Betty Carver

7.30 Excellent--
5

5

Elf

2003November 2003 by Jon Favreau

Supporting as Emily

Supporting as Emily

6.22 Good--
6

6

Step Brothers

2008July 2008 by Adam McKay

Supporting as Nancy Huff

Supporting as Nancy Huff

6.11 Okay++
7

7

Nightmare Alley

2021December 2021 by Guillermo del Toro

Supporting as Mrs. Kimball

Supporting as Mrs. Kimball

6.52 Good-
8

8

Last Vegas

2013October 2013 by Jon Turteltaub

Supporting as Diana Boyle

Supporting as Diana Boyle

5.93 Okay++
9

9

Happiest Season

2020November 2020 by Clea DuVall

Starring as Tipper

Starring as Tipper

6.65 Good
10

10

Powder

1995October 1995 by Victor Salva

Lead role as Jessie Caldwell

Lead role as Jessie Caldwell

6.59 Good
11

11

I Am Sam

2001December 2001 by Jessie Nelson

Minor role as Dr. Blake

Minor role as Dr. Blake

7.19 Good++
12

12

Four Christmases

2008November 2008 by Seth Gordon

Supporting as Marilyn

Supporting as Marilyn

5.33 Okay-
13

13

Parenthood

1989July 1989 by Ron Howard

Starring as Karen Buckman

Starring as Karen Buckman

6.24 Good--
14

14

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

2009December 2009 by Marc Lawrence

Supporting as Emma Wheeler

Supporting as Emma Wheeler

4.90 Mediocre++
15

15

The Brave One

2007September 2007 by Neil Jordan

Supporting as Carol

Supporting as Carol

6.13 Good--
16

16

The Discovery

2017March 2017 by Charlie McDowell

Minor role as Interviewer

Minor role as Interviewer

5.79 Okay+
17

17

Book Club

2018May 2018 by Bill Holderman

Supporting as Carol

Supporting as Carol

5.76 Okay+
18

18

The Last Man on Earth

2015–2018 by Will Forte

Supporting as Gail Klosterman

Supporting as Gail Klosterman

5.93 Okay++
19

19

In the Electric Mist

2009April 2009 by Bertrand Tavernier

Supporting as Bootsie Robicheaux

Supporting as Bootsie Robicheaux

5.65 Okay
20

20

The One I Love

2014August 2014 by Charlie McDowell

Minor role as Mom (voice)

Minor role as Mom (voice)

6.41 Good-
21

21

Time After Time

1979September 1979 by Nicholas Meyer

Starring as Amy Robbins

Starring as Amy Robbins

6.32 Good--
22

22

A Walk in the Woods

2015September 2015 by Ken Kwapis

Minor role as Jeannie

Minor role as Jeannie

5.65 Okay
23

23

Life as a House

2001October 2001 by Irwin Winkler

Supporting as Colleen Beck

Supporting as Colleen Beck

6.63 Good
24

24

A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy

1982July 1982 by Woody Allen

Supporting as Adrian

Supporting as Adrian

6.01 Okay++
25

25

7 Days in Hell

2015July 2015 by Jake Szymanski

Minor role as Louisa Poole

Minor role as Louisa Poole

6.03 Okay++
26

26

Song One

2014January 2014 by Kate Barker-Froyland

Starring as Karen Ellis

Starring as Karen Ellis

5.32 Okay-
27

27

Nixon

1995December 1995 by Oliver Stone

Minor role as Hannah Nixon

Minor role as Hannah Nixon

6.36 Good-
28

28

Dead of Winter

1987February 1987 by Arthur Penn

Lead role as Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn

Lead role as Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn

5.65 Okay
29

29

Goin' South

1978October 1978 by Jack Nicholson

Starring as Julia Tate

Starring as Julia Tate

5.45 Okay
30

30

One Magic Christmas

1985November 1985 by Phillip Borsos

Lead role as Ginny Grainger

Lead role as Ginny Grainger

5.57 Okay
31

31

The Book of Love

2017January 2017 by Bill Purple

Supporting as Julia Mureaux

Supporting as Julia Mureaux

5.99 Okay++
32

32

Book Club: The Next Chapter

2023May 2023 by Bill Holderman

Supporting as Carol

Supporting as Carol

5.85 Okay+
33

33

A Man on the Inside

Airing since 2024 by Michael Schur

Supporting as Mona Margadoff

Supporting as Mona Margadoff

6.45 Good-
34

34

Dirty Girl

2010September 2010 by Abe Sylvia

Supporting as Peggy

Supporting as Peggy

5.59 Okay
35

35

The Butcher's Wife

1991October 1991 by Terry Hughes

Supporting as Stella Keefover

Supporting as Stella Keefover

5.34 Okay-
36

36

Hope Springs

2003May 2003 by Mark Herman

Supporting as Joanie Fisher

Supporting as Joanie Fisher

5.05 Okay--
37

37

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

2020–2021 by Austin Winsberg

Minor role as Maggie Clarke

Minor role as Maggie Clarke

6.52 Good-
38

38

The Dead Girl

2006November 2006 by Karen Moncrieff

Minor role as Leah's Mother

Minor role as Leah's Mother

5.57 Okay
39

39

The Dink

2026July 2026 by Josh Greenbaum

Starring as Candace

Starring as Candace

Needs more reviews
40

40

Clifford

1994April 1994 by Paul Flaherty

Starring as Sarah Davis

Starring as Sarah Davis

4.96 Mediocre++
41

41

Nobel Son

2007April 2007 by Randall Miller

Supporting as Sarah Michaelson

Supporting as Sarah Michaelson

5.65 Okay
42

42

Ragtime

1981November 1981 by Miloš Forman

Minor role as Mother

Minor role as Mother

6.47 Good-
43

43

Melvin and Howard

1980September 1980 by Jonathan Demme

Starring as Lynda Dummar

Starring as Lynda Dummar

6.02 Okay++
44

44

Elvis & Anabelle

2007March 2007 by Will Geiger

Supporting as Geneva Leigh

Supporting as Geneva Leigh

6.22 Good--
45

45

Joan of Arcadia

2003–2005 by Barbara Hall

Starring as Helen Girardi

Starring as Helen Girardi

6.29 Good--
46

46

Numb

2007April 2007 by Harris Goldberg

Supporting as Dr. Blaine

Supporting as Dr. Blaine

5.55 Okay
47

47

I Do... Until I Don't

2017September 2017 by Lake Bell

Starring as Cybil Burger

Starring as Cybil Burger

4.88 Mediocre++
48

48

The Trumpet of the Swan

2001May 2001 by Terry L. Noss

Starring as Mother (voice)

Starring as Mother (voice)

5.46 Okay
49

49

Gulliver's Travels

1996 by Jonathan Swift

Minor role as Mary Gulliver

Minor role as Mary Gulliver

6.30 Good--
50

50

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

2006January 2006 by Randall Miller

Supporting as Marienne Hotchkiss

Supporting as Marienne Hotchkiss

5.66 Okay
51

51

Dean

2016April 2016 by Demetri Martin

Supporting as Carol

Supporting as Carol

5.56 Okay
52

52

The Open Road

2009February 2009 by Michael Meredith

Supporting as Katherine

Supporting as Katherine

5.18 Okay--
53

53

The Whales of August

1987October 1987 by Lindsay Anderson

Supporting as Young Sarah

Supporting as Young Sarah

6.36 Good-
54

54

Katie Says Goodbye

2018March 2018 by Wayne Roberts

Supporting as Maybelle

Supporting as Maybelle

6.06 Okay++
55

55

Back to the Future

1991–1992

Starring as Clara Clayton (voice)

Starring as Clara Clayton (voice)

5.60 Okay
56

56

Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas

2021December 2021 by Richard Shepard

Minor role as Maggie Clarke

Minor role as Maggie Clarke

5.92 Okay++
57

57

Living with the Dead

2002April 2002 by Stephen Gyllenhaal

Lead role as Detective Karen Condrin

Lead role as Detective Karen Condrin

5.63 Okay
58

58

Cross Creek

1983September 1983 by Martin Ritt

Lead role as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Lead role as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

6.04 Okay++
59

59

My Family

1995May 1995 by Gregory Nava

Minor role as Gloria

Minor role as Gloria

6.68 Good
60

60

Noah's Ark

1999

Starring as Naamah

Starring as Naamah

4.84 Mediocre++
61

61

Fight for Your Right Revisited

2011April 2011 by Adam Yauch

Minor role as Café Patron

Minor role as Café Patron

6.09 Okay++
62

62

Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow

2015November 2015 by Kirk R. Thatcher

Lead role as Aunt Cly

Lead role as Aunt Cly

5.75 Okay+
63

63

Romantic Comedy

1983October 1983 by Arthur Hiller

Starring as Phoebe Craddock

Starring as Phoebe Craddock

5.50 Okay
64

64

It Runs in the Family

1994September 1994 by Bob Clark

Starring as Mrs. Parker (Mother)

Starring as Mrs. Parker (Mother)

5.57 Okay
65

65

Miss Firecracker

1989April 1989 by Thomas Schlamme

Starring as Elaine Rutledge

Starring as Elaine Rutledge

5.74 Okay+
66

66

Casa de los Babys

2003September 2003 by John Sayles

Supporting as Gayle

Supporting as Gayle

5.60 Okay
67

67

Pontiac Moon

1994November 1994 by Peter Medak

Starring as Katherine Bellamy

Starring as Katherine Bellamy

5.72 Okay+
68

68

Outlaw Country

2012August 2012 by Adam Arkin

Lead role as Anastasia Lee

Lead role as Anastasia Lee

5.90 Okay++
69

69

Sunshine State

2002June 2002 by John Sayles

Minor role as Francine Pinkney

Minor role as Francine Pinkney

5.98 Okay++
70

70

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

2010March 2010 by Eric Appel

Supporting as Mrs. Yankovic

Supporting as Mrs. Yankovic

6.04 Okay++
71

71

Nobody's Baby

2001January 2001 by David Seltzer

Supporting as Estelle

Supporting as Estelle

5.51 Okay
72

72

The Grass Harp

1996October 1996 by Charles Matthau

Minor role as Sister Ida

Minor role as Sister Ida

5.76 Okay+
73

73

Tender Is the Night

1985 by Dennis Potter

Starring as Nicole Diver (née Warren)

Starring as Nicole Diver (née Warren)

5.87 Okay+
74

74

The Secrets of the 'Back to the Future' Trilogy

1990June 1990 by Peyton Reed

Supporting as Self

Supporting as Self

5.70 Okay+
75

75

The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank

1988April 1988 by John Erman

Lead role as Miep Gies

Lead role as Miep Gies

Needs more reviews
76

76

Wish You Were Dead

2002May 2002 by Valerie McCaffrey

Supporting as Sally Rider

Supporting as Sally Rider

5.68 Okay+
77

77

It Must Be Love

2004February 2004 by Steven Schachter

Starring as Clem Gazelle

Starring as Clem Gazelle

Needs more reviews
78

78

O Lucky Malcolm!

2006August 2006 by Jan Harlan

Starring as Self

Starring as Self

Needs more reviews
79

79

End of the Line

1987August 1987 by Jay Russell

Minor role as Rose Pickett

Minor role as Rose Pickett

5.71 Okay+
80

80

Little Red Riding Hood

1983November 1983 by Graeme Clifford

Starring as Little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary

Starring as Little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary

Needs more reviews
81

81

Antiquities

2019January 2019 by Daniel Campbell

Supporting as Dr. Margot

Supporting as Dr. Margot

5.63 Okay
82

82

Last Train to Fortune

2025November 2025 by Adam Rifkin

Starring as Miss Maybelle

Starring as Miss Maybelle

Needs more reviews
83

83

About Sarah

1998October 1998 by Susan Rohrer

Starring as Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey

Starring as Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey

Needs more reviews
84

84

Ink

1996–1997 by Diane English

Starring as Kate Montgomery

Starring as Kate Montgomery

Needs more reviews
85

85

Tales from the Future

2010October 2010 by Laurent Bouzereau

Minor role as Self

Minor role as Self

Needs more reviews
86

86

Picnic

2000April 2000 by Ivan Passer

Supporting as Rosemary Sydney

Supporting as Rosemary Sydney

Needs more reviews
87

87

Living with the Dead

2002

Starring as Detective Karen Condrin

Starring as Detective Karen Condrin

Needs more reviews
88

88

Earth and the American Dream

1992October 1992 by Bill Couturié

Minor role as Reader (voice)

Minor role as Reader (voice)

Needs more reviews