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.
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
Self
2023
Book Club: The Next Chapter
Carol
2023
Nightmare Alley
Mrs. Kimball
2021
Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas
Maggie Clarke
2021
The Book of Love
Julia Mureaux
2017
Dean
Carol
2016
Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow
Aunt Cly
2015
A Walk in the Woods
Jeannie
2015
7 Days in Hell
Louisa Poole
2015
Song One
Karen Ellis
2014
Last Vegas
Diana Boyle
2013
Brahmin Bulls
Helen West
2013
Outlaw Country
Anastasia Lee
2012
Fight for Your Right Revisited
Café Patron
2011
Dirty Girl
Peggy
2010
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Emma Wheeler
2009
Clarkworld
Self
2009
The Proposal
Grace Paxton
2009
In the Electric Mist
Bootsie Robicheaux
2009
Four Christmases
Marilyn
2008
Step Brothers
Nancy Huff
2008
The Brave One
Carol
2007
Numb
Dr. Blaine
2007
Nobel Son
Sarah Michaelson
2007
Elvis & Anabelle
Geneva Leigh
2007
The Dead Girl
Beverley, Leah's Mother
2006
O Lucky Malcolm!
Self
2006
Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
Marienne Hotchkiss
2006
Remembering Ragtime
Mother (archive footage)
2004
It Must Be Love
Clem Gazelle
2004
Elf
Emily
2003
Casa de los Babys
Gayle
2003
Hope Springs
Joanie Fisher
2003
Sunshine State
Francine Pinkney
2002
Wish You Were Dead
Sally Rider
2002
Living with the Dead
Detective Karen Condrin
2002
Life as a House
Colleen Beck
2001
The Trumpet of the Swan
Mother (voice)
2001
Nobody's Baby
Estelle
2001
Picnic
Rosemary Sydney
2000
About Sarah
Sarah Elizabeth McCaffrey
1998
The Grass Harp
Sister Ida
1996
Nixon
Hannah Nixon
1995
Powder
Jessie Caldwell
1995
Pontiac Moon
Katherine Bellamy
1994
It Runs in the Family
Mrs. Parker (Mother)
1994
Clifford
Sarah Davis
1994
Philadelphia
Belinda Conine
1993
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Betty Carver
1993
The Butcher's Wife
Stella Keefover
1991
The Long Walk Home
Narrator (voice)
1990
Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret
Self
1990
The Secrets of the 'Back to the Future' Trilogy
Self
1990
Back to the Future Part III
Clara Clayton
1990
Parenthood
Karen Buckman
1989
Miss Firecracker
Elaine Rutledge
1989
The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank
Miep Gies
1988
The Whales of August
Young Sarah
1987
End of the Line
Rose Pickett
1987
Dead of Winter
Julie Rose / Katie McGovern / Evelyn
1987
One Magic Christmas
Ginny Grainger
1985
Romantic Comedy
Phoebe Craddock
1983
Cross Creek
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
1983
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
Adrian
1982
Ragtime
Mother
1981
Melvin and Howard
Lynda Dummar
1980
Time After Time
Amy Robbins
1979
Goin' South
Julia Tate
1978
Last Train to Fortune
Let's Have Kids!
Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl
Self
2022
Happiest Season
Tipper
2020
30 Rock: A One-Time Special
Mary Steenburgen
2020
Flannery
Flannery O'Connor (voice)
2019
Antiquities
Dr. Margot
2019
Book Club
Carol
2018
Katie Says Goodbye
Maybelle
2018
I Do... Until I Don't
Cybil Burger
2017
The Discovery
Interviewer
2017
The One I Love
Mom (voice)
2014
Finding Your Roots
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Clinton Foundation: Celebrity Division
Self
2011
The Help
Elaine Stein
2011
Tales from the Future
Self
2010
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Mrs. Yankovic
2010
The Open Road
Katherine
2009
Honeydripper
Amanda Winship
2007
Inland Empire
Visitor #2
2006
The Tony Danza Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2004
Joan of Arcadia
Helen Girardi · (45 episodes)
2003
Mrs. Pilgrim Goes to Hollywood
Mary
2003
I Am Sam
Dr. Blake
2001
Dinner for Five
(2 episodes)
2001
The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Grace Rinato · (1 episode)
1999
Becker
Patient (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1998
The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
Ink
Kate Montgomery · (26 episodes)
1996
My Family
Gloria
1995
Ellen
Self (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1994
Frasier
Marjorie (voice) · (1 episode)
1993
Earth and the American Dream
Reader (voice)
1992
Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre
Herself
1989
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. Mary
1983
The Dink
BULLDOZER
Kathy · (1 episode)
2025
In the Kitchen with Harry Hamlin
Self · (1 episode)
2024
Mr. Mayor
Adriana · (1 episode)
2021
Reunited Apart
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Stars in the House
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Maggie Clarke · (25 episodes)
2020
Bless the Harts
Crystalynn (voice) · (2 episodes)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2019
On Becoming a God in Central Florida
Ellen Joy Bonar · (2 episodes)
2019
The Conners
Marcy Bellinger · (1 episode)
2018
The Good Place
Teacher · (1 episode)
2016
Grace and Frankie
Miriam · (2 episodes)
2015
The Last Man on Earth
Gail Klosterman · (67 episodes)
2015
Togetherness
Linda · (2 episodes)
2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Orange Is the New Black
Delia Powell · (6 episodes)
2013
Wilfred
Catherine Newman · (4 episodes)
2011
Justified
Katherine Hale · (7 episodes)
2010
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
2009
30 Rock
Diana Jessup · (5 episodes)
2006
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self · (1 episode)
2005
E!'s 101
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Living with the Dead
Detective Karen Condrin · (2 episodes)
2002
Good Day Live
Self · (1 episode)
2001
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Mary Steenburgen · (6 episodes)
2000
Noah's Ark
Naamah · (2 episodes)
1999
Gulliver's Travels
Mary Gulliver · (2 episodes)
1996
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
Narrator (Voice) · (1 episode)
1992
Back to the Future
Clara Clayton (voice) · (27 episodes)
1991
Tender Is the Night
Nicole Warren Diver · (6 episodes)
1985
Faerie Tale Theatre
Mary / Little Red Riding Hood · (1 episode)
1982
The Oscars
Self · (2 episodes)
1953
Happiness Isn't Everything
Audrey Veill · (1 episode)