Lois Smith
Born
November 3, 1930 (94 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Topeka, Kansas, USA
Lois Arlene Smith (née Humbert; born November 3, 1930) is an American actress. She made her film debut in the 1955 drama film East of Eden, and later played supporting roles in a number of movies, including Five Easy Pieces (1970), Resurrection (1980), Fatal Attraction (1987), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Dead Man Walking, Twister (1996), Minority Report (2002), The Nice Guys (2016) and Lady Bird (2017).
In 2017, Smith received critical acclaim for her leading performance in the science-fiction drama film Marjorie Prime, for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards and Saturn Award, and well as won Satellite Award. Smith also has had many roles on television, both daytime and prime time. She was regular cast member in the HBO horror drama True Blood, and well as received Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series nomination for The Americans.
Smith also is known for her extensive work in the theatre, receiving two Tony Award nominations for originating the role of Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1990) and for the role of Halie in a revival of Buried Child in 1996. She also starred in an acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of The Trip to Bountiful in 2005 for which she received an Obie Award for Best Actress, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, and a Drama Desk Award. Smith is an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.
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Known For
The Uninvited
Helen
2025
Mack & Rita
Betty
2022
Showing Up
Self
2014
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Aunt Mel
2012
Roadie
Mom
2012
A Dog Year
Lois Blair
2009
Turn the River
Abby
2008
Hollywoodland
Helen Bessolo
2006
Little Fugitive
Elizabeth
2006
Little Fugitive
Social Worker
2006
Sweet Land
Inge (as an older woman)
2005
P.S.
Ellie Silverstein
2004
Iron Jawed Angels
Reverend Anna Howard Shaw
2004
The Best Thief in the World
Helen
2004
Red Betsy
Helen Rounds
2003
Minority Report
Dr. Iris Hineman
2002
The Eternal
Mrs. Ferriter
1998
Twister
Aunt Meg
1996
Dead Man Walking
Helen's Mother
1995
How to Make an American Quilt
Sophia
1995
Holy Matrimony
Orna
1994
Falling Down
D-Fens' Mother
1993
Skylark
Lou Wheaton
1993
The Donner Party
voice
1992
Fried Green Tomatoes
Mama Threadgoode
1991
Coney Island
(voice)
1991
Hello Actors Studio
Self
1988
Black Widow
Sara
1987
Doubletake
Sarah
1985
The Execution of Raymond Graham
Mary Neal
1985
Twisted
Helen Giles
1985
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Anita Cunningham
1976
Five Easy Pieces
Partita Dupea
1970
Dragon Country
Woman (segment "Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen")
1970
Strange Lady in Town
Spurs O'Brien
1955
East of Eden
Anne
1955
The Steel Harp
The Gettysburg Address
Elizabeth Crawford (voice)
2025
This Fool
Beverly · (1 episode)
2022
The French Dispatch
Upshur 'Maw' Clampette
2021
Gossip Girl
Iris Lefferts · (1 episode)
2021
Law & Order: Organized Crime
Doris 'Mama' Boone · (3 episodes)
2021
Uncle Frank
Aunt Butch
2020
The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America
Harper Pitt
2020
Tesla
The Grande Dame
2020
On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Mimi Waldenstock · (2 episodes)
2019
Impulse
Deirdre 'Dippy' Jones · (1 episode)
2018
9JKL
Wrong Nana · (1 episode)
2017
Lady Bird
Sister Sarah Joan
2017
Marjorie Prime
Marjorie
2017
The Comedian
Miriam
2016
The Nice Guys
Mrs. Glenn
2016
Sneaky Pete
Reverend Ethel Landry · (2 episodes)
2015
Grace and Frankie
Mrs. Hanson · (2 episodes)
2015
Younger
Belinda Lacroix · (1 episode)
2015
Run All Night
Margaret Conlon
2015
The Man Who Came Out Only at Night
The Youngest Daughter (later)
2013
Mom
Claire · (1 episode)
2013
The Blacklist
Lucy Game · (1 episode)
2013
Ray Donovan
Dolores · (2 episodes)
2013
The Americans
Betty Turner · (1 episode)
2013
Ruth & Erica
Ruth · (7 episodes)
2012
Please Give
Mrs. Portman
2010
True Blood
Adele Stackhouse · (14 episodes)
2008
Diminished Capacity
Belle
2008
Griffin & Phoenix
Dr. Imberman
2006
James Dean: Sense Memories
Self
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Mrs. Dickerson · (1 episode)
2005
Desperate Housewives
Allison Scavo · (2 episodes)
2004
LAX
Rose Sinclair · (1 episode)
2004
Cold Case
Fannie · (1 episode)
2003
The Laramie Project
Lucy Thompson
2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Betty Bennett · (1 episode)
2001
Powder Keg
Mother
2001
The Hire
Mother · (1 episode)
2001
The Pledge
Helen Jackson
2001
Tumbleweeds
Ginger
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Rebecca Tolliver · (1 episode)
1999
A Will of their Own
Miss Maude · (2 episodes)
1998
Hudson River Blues
1997
Just Shoot Me!
Libby · (1 episode)
1997
The Practice
Mary Beth Berluti · (1 episode)
1997
Larger Than Life
Luluna
1996
Truman
Madge Wallace Gates
1995
Touched by an Angel
Mildred Mancini · (1 episode)
1994
ER
Gracie · (4 episodes)
1994
Frasier
Moira · (1 episode)
1993
Deadly Matrimony
1992
Keep the Change
Lureen
1992
Hard Promises
Mrs. Bell
1992
White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd
Alice Todd
1991
Switched at Birth
Margaret
1991
The Grapes of Wrath
Ma Joad
1991
Good Sports
(1 episode)
1991
Green Card
Brontë's Mother
1990
Law & Order
Eunice Varick · (1 episode)
1990
American Experience
(voice) · (2 episodes)
1988
Midnight Run
Mrs. Nelson, Mardukas's Friend
1988
thirtysomething
(1 episode)
1987
Fatal Attraction
Martha
1987
Spenser: For Hire
(1 episode)
1985
The Equalizer
Marie Ganucci · (1 episode)
1985
The Equalizer
Dorothy Hermes · (1 episode)
1985
Reckless
Mrs. Prescott
1984
Reuben, Reuben
Mare Spofford
1983
Rage of Angels
Clara · (2 episodes)
1983
Four Friends
Mrs. Carnahan
1981
The House of Mirth
Bertha Dorset
1981
Resurrection
Kathy
1980
The Jilting of Granny Weatherall
Cornelia
1980
Foxes
Mrs. Axman
1980
Tales of the Unexpected
Sara · (1 episode)
1979
Up the Sandbox
Elinore
1972
Particular Men
1972
The Way We Live Now
Jane Aldridge
1970
Somerset
Zoe Cannell · (283 episodes)
1970
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Evelyn
1967
CBS Playhouse
(1 episode)
1966
Dr. Kildare
Libby Clayton · (1 episode)
1961
The Defenders
Esther Terranova · (1 episode)
1961
Route 66
(2 episodes)
1960
Route 66
Dana · (1 episode)
1960
Route 66
Lucy Brown · (1 episode)
1960
The Master Builder
Hilda
1960
Startime
(1 episode)
1959
Naked City
Dawn Garrison · (1 episode)
1958
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee/Performer · (1 episode)
1956
Matinee Theater
(2 episodes)
1955
The United States Steel Hour
Jeannie · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Jenny Musgrave · (1 episode)
1953
Robert Montgomery Presents
(1 episode)
1950
Studio One
Lisa Molloy · (1 episode)
1948