Highest Rated: 100% The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)
Lowest Rated: Not Available
Birthday: Feb 8, 1953
Birthplace: Newport, Arkansas, USA
Soft-spoken and endearing, Mary Steenburgen first achieved a measure of fame with her debut role in the Jack Nicholson-directed Western "Goin' South" (1978), before winning raves and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as Melvin's flustered but caring wife in Jonathan Demme's "Melvin and Howard" (1980). She starred alongside Steve Martin and an all-star ensemble cast in the Ron Howard family comedy "Parenthood" (1989), prior to falling in love with time-traveling Doc Brown in "Back to the Future III" (1990). She had a rare turn as an unlikable character when she reteamed with Demme for the heart-wrenching drama "Philadelphia" (1993), acting opposite Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. After a small, but memorable role in Oliver Stone's political docudrama "Nixon" (1995), she later began what would be a steady string of appearances as herself - along with her celebrated husband Ted Danson - on the hit comedy series "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (HBO, 2000- ). Increasingly cast in the role of family matriarch, Steenburgen infused these roles with an effervescence and wit that resulted in fully realized, eminently likable characters. She brought something extra to the role of James Caan's neglected wife in the Will Ferrell Christmas comedy "Elf" (2003), and showed an inordinate amount of patience as Ferrell's mother in "Step Brothers" (2008). Pulling off a feat few actresses could manage, Steenburgen successfully transitioned from charming waif to elegantly mature actress over the course of 30-plus years, without any signs of slowing down.
Highest rated movies
Photos
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Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46% | 84% | Book Club: The Next Chapter | Carol (Character) | $17.5M | 2023 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl | Self | - | 2022 |
| 80% | 68% | Nightmare Alley | Felicia Kimball (Character) | $11.3M | 2021 |
| No Score Yet | 85% | Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas | Maggie Clarke (Character) | - | 2021 |
| 89% | 94% | Best Summer Ever | Executive Producer | - | 2020 |
| 82% | 72% | Happiest Season | Tipper (Character) | - | 2020 |
| 74% | No Score Yet | Flannery | Flannery O'Connor (Voice) | - | 2019 |
| 100% | 81% | Antiquities | Dr. Margot (Character) | - | 2018 |
| 55% | 51% | Book Club | Carol (Character) | $68.5M | 2018 |
| 28% | 35% | I Do... Until I Don't | Cybil (Character) | $279.3K | 2017 |
| 48% | 69% | Katie Says Goodbye | Maybelle (Character) | - | 2016 |
| 65% | 66% | Dean | Carol (Character) | $248.8K | 2016 |
| 8% | 63% | The Book of Love | Julia (Character) | - | 2016 |
| 87% | 70% | 7 Days in Hell | Louisa Poole (Character) | - | 2015 |
| 60% | 43% | Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow | Aunt Cly (Character) | - | 2015 |
| 46% | 48% | A Walk in the Woods | Jeannie (Character) | $29.5M | 2015 |
| 33% | 29% | Song One | Karen (Character) | $20.2K | 2014 |
| 60% | No Score Yet | Brahmin Bulls | Helen West (Character) | - | 2013 |
| 100% | 90% | The Tale of the Princess Kaguya | The Bamboo Cutter's Wife/ | $681.1K | 2013 |
| 46% | 59% | Last Vegas | Diana (Character) | $63.9M | 2013 |
| 76% | 89% | The Help | Elaine Stein (Character) | $169.7M | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Outlaw Country | Anastasia Lee (Character) | - | 2011 |
| 35% | 53% | Dirty Girl | Peggy (Character) | $53.6K | 2010 |
| 12% | 27% | Did You Hear About the Morgans? | Emma (Character) | $29.6M | 2009 |
| 29% | 25% | The Open Road | Katherine (Character) | - | 2009 |
| 45% | 68% | The Proposal | Grace Paxton (Character) | $163.9M | 2009 |
| 54% | 34% | In the Electric Mist | Bootsie Robicheaux (Character) | - | 2009 |
| 25% | 47% | Four Christmases | Marilyn (Character) | $120.1M | 2008 |
| 55% | 69% | Step Brothers | Nancy (Character) | $100.5M | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Elvis And Annabelle | Geneva (Character) | - | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | American Outrage | Narrator | - | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | 74% | Elvis and Anabelle | Geneva (Character) | - | 2007 |
| 26% | 44% | Nobel Son | Sarah Michaelson (Character) | $333.9K | 2007 |
| 43% | 64% | The Brave One | Carol (Character) | $36.8M | 2007 |
| 76% | 65% | The Dead Girl | Beverley (Character) | $17.3K | 2006 |
| 72% | 75% | Inland Empire | Visitor #2 (Character) | - | 2006 |
| 22% | 62% | Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School | Marianne Hotchkiss (Character) | $247.1K | 2005 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | It Must Be Love | Clem Gazelle (Character) | - | 2004 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Capital City | Elaine Summer (Character) | - | 2004 |
| 86% | 79% | Elf | Emily (Character) | $177.1M | 2003 |
| 58% | 50% | Casa de los Babys | Gayle (Character) | $475.9K | 2003 |
| 25% | 27% | Hope Springs | Joanie Fisher (Character) | - | 2003 |
| 80% | 58% | Sunshine State | Francine Pickney (Character) | $3.1M | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | 82% | Talking to Heaven (Living with the Dead) | Unknown (Character) | - | 2002 |
| 0% | 58% | Nobody's Baby | Estelle (Character) | - | 2001 |
| 36% | 86% | I Am Sam | Dr. Blake (Character) | $40.3M | 2001 |
| 47% | 88% | Life as a House | Coleen (Character) | $15.6M | 2001 |
| 14% | 38% | The Trumpet of the Swan | Louie's Mother (Voice) | $152.5K | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | 55% | Wish You Were Dead | Sally Rider (Character) | - | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Picnic | Rosemary Sydney (Character) | - | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | 17% | Noah's Ark | Unknown (Character) | - | 1999 |
| No Score Yet | 50% | About Sarah | Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey (Character) | - | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | 63% | Gulliver's Travels | Unknown (Character) | - | 1996 |
| 50% | 93% | The Grass Harp | Sister Ida (Character) | $511.6K | 1995 |
| 75% | 74% | Nixon | Hannah Nixon (Character) | $13.7M | 1995 |
| 50% | 69% | Powder | Jessie Caldwell (Character) | $30.9M | 1995 |
| 18% | 67% | Clifford | Sarah Davis (Character) | $6.5M | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | 45% | Pontiac Moon | Katherine Bellamy (Character) | $10.4K | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | 44% | It Runs in the Family | Mrs. Parker (Character) | - | 1994 |
| 90% | 89% | What's Eating Gilbert Grape | Betty Carver (Character) | $7.8M | 1993 |
| 81% | 89% | Philadelphia | Belinda Conine (Character) | $76.0M | 1993 |
| 24% | 30% | The Butcher's Wife | Stella (Character) | $8.9M | 1991 |
| 81% | 78% | Back to the Future Part III | Clara Clayton (Character) | - | 1990 |
| 88% | 84% | The Long Walk Home | Narrator | $1.8M | 1990 |
| 92% | 76% | Parenthood | Karen Buckman (Character) | $99.6M | 1989 |
| 75% | 52% | Miss Firecracker | Elain Rutledge (Character) | $646.9K | 1989 |
| 60% | 41% | End of the Line | Rose Pickett (Character), Executive Producer | - | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | 50% | The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank | Miep Gies (Character) | - | 1988 |
| 64% | 67% | The Whales of August | Young Sarah (Character) | $127.3K | 1987 |
| 77% | 47% | Dead of Winter | Julie Rose/ | $2.2M | 1986 |
| 47% | 68% | One Magic Christmas | Ginny Grainger (Character) | $12.4M | 1985 |
| 59% | 76% | Cross Creek | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Character) | - | 1983 |
| 29% | 42% | Romantic Comedy | Phoebe Craddock (Character) | - | 1983 |
| 74% | 57% | A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy | Adrian (Character) | - | 1982 |
| 84% | 76% | Ragtime | Mother (Character) | - | 1981 |
| 92% | 60% | Melvin and Howard | Lynda Dummar (Character) | - | 1980 |
| 88% | 72% | Time After Time | Amy Robbins (Character) | - | 1979 |
| 69% | 49% | Goin' South | Julia Tate/ | - | 1978 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin | Guest | 2024 |
| No Score Yet | 100% | Southern Storytellers | Guest | 2023 |
| No Score Yet | 9% | The View | Guest | 2023 |
| No Score Yet | 62% | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Guest | 2020-2021 2023 |
| No Score Yet | 64% | Mr. Mayor | Adriana (Guest Star) | 2022 |
| 81% | 81% | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | Maggie Clarke (Character) | 2020-2021 |
| 82% | 60% | Bless the Harts | Crystalynn (Guest Voice), Crystalynn Poole (Guest Star) | 2019-2021 |
| No Score Yet | 61% | Late Night With Seth Meyers | Guest | 2017 2021 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Talk | Guest | 2010-2011 2013-2015 2017-2018 2020 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen | Guest | 2018 |
| 85% | 81% | The Last Man on Earth | Gail (Character) | 2015-2018 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Finding Your Roots | Guest | 2017 |
| 92% | 91% | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Herself (Guest Star) | 2000 2007 2009 2017 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rachael Ray | Guest | 2008 2016 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Chew | Guest | 2016 |
| 90% | 82% | Orange Is the New Black | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2015 |
| 97% | 94% | Justified | Katherine Hale (Character), Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014-2015 |
| No Score Yet | 100% | The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson | Guest | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Guest | 2013 |
| 78% | 92% | 30 Rock | Diana Jessup (Guest Star) | 2012 |
| No Score Yet | 91% | Robot Chicken | Unknown (Guest Voice) | 2011 |
| 83% | 88% | Wilfred | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | 86% | Criminal Minds | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2009 |
| 96% | 62% | Joan of Arcadia | Helen Girardi (Character) | 2003-2005 |
| No Score Yet | 97% | Becker | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
| 78% | 81% | Grace Rinato (Guest Star) | 2002 | |
| 44% | No Score Yet | Ink | Kate Montgomery (Character), Executive Producer | 1996-1997 |
| 95% | 94% | Frasier | Marjorie (Guest Voice) | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | 85% | Back to the Future | Unknown (Voice) | 1991-1992 |
