Mary Steenburgen
UPCOMING View Movie
as Candace The Dink Premieres
July 23, 2026 Comedy
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.
Filmography
Back to the Future Part III
as Clara Clayton
The Help
as Elaine Stein
The Proposal
as Grace Paxton
Philadelphia
as Belinda Conine
Elf
as Emily
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
as Betty Carver
Step Brothers
as Nancy Huff
Nightmare Alley
as Mrs. Kimball
I Am Sam
as Dr. Blake
Last Vegas
as Diana Boyle
The Discovery
as Interviewer
Happiest Season
as Tipper
Inland Empire
as Visitor #2
Four Christmases
as Marilyn
The Brave One
as Carol
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
as Emma Wheeler
Book Club
as Carol
The One I Love
as Mom (voice)
A Walk in the Woods
as Jeannie
Parenthood
as Karen Buckman