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Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen

60 movies on Netflix

Biography

Mary Steenburgen is an American actress, singer and songwriter who studied acting at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse before Jack Nicholson cast her in his Western comedy Goin' South (1978). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as the wife of a trucker in Melvin and Howard (1980), and earned a Golden Globe nomination for Ragtime (1981). She became a familiar face playing mothers in comedies such as Parenthood (1989), Elf (2003) and Step Brothers (2008), and appeared in Philadelphia (1993) and Nightmare Alley (2021). On television she had roles in Joan of Arcadia, Justified, The Last Man on Earth and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, and she wrote songs for several films, winning a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Glasgow (No Place Like Home) from Wild Rose (2018).

73years old

Turns 74 on February 8in 89 days

  • Born Newport
  • Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
  • Mary Nell Steenburgen (birth name)

Movie Career

Films
60
Career span
48 years1978 to 2026

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Mary Steenburgen, photo 1 of 3
  • Mary Steenburgen, photo 2 of 3
  • Mary Steenburgen, photo 3 of 3

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  1. Big break

    Jack Nicholson discovered Steenburgen while she was in the reception room at Paramount Pictures's New York office, and he cast her as the female lead in Goin' South, the Western comedy that was his second directorial work.

  2. Early training

    Steenburgen studied acting at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre after traveling to Dallas at her drama teacher's suggestion and auditioning successfully.

  3. Behind the award

    Steenburgen wrote "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)", which Jessie Buckley sang as the climactic musical moment of the film Wild Rose. The composition earned Steenburgen several awards, among them the 2019 Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song.

  4. A first

    Steenburgen was given the 1,337th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 16, 2009, an honor that came on top of her other recognitions.

Mary Steenburgen movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. Back to the Future Part III1990 Comedy, Sci-Fi, Westernas Clara Clayton

    IMDb rating 7.5527K votes

  2. Step Brothers2008 Comedyas Nancy Huff

    IMDb rating 6.9345K votes

  3. The Proposal2009as Grace Paxton

    IMDb rating 6.8404K votes

  4. Philadelphia1993as Belinda Conine

    IMDb rating 7.7277K votes

  5. What's Eating Gilbert Grape1993as Betty Carver

    IMDb rating 7.7271K votes

  6. Elf2003as Emily

    IMDb rating 7.1349K votes

  7. Parenthood1989as Karen Buckman

    IMDb rating 7.160K votes

  8. Last Vegas2013as Diana Boyle

    IMDb rating 6.6141K votes

Most often with

Jonathan Demme directed two of these films, Charlie McDowell two and Bill Holderman two. Ted Danson appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Ted Danson, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Ted DansonKevin Kline, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Kevin KlineJason Robards, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Jason RobardsCraig T. Nelson, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Craig T. NelsonMalcolm McDowell, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Malcolm McDowellJohn Goodman, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with John GoodmanJonathan DemmeDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Jonathan DemmeCharlie McDowellDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Charlie McDowellBill HoldermanDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Bill Holderman

Films together

Box office

What Mary Steenburgen's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$2.2 billion

40 of the 59 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 59 films: 40 worldwide figure; 7 us gross only; 5 never in cinemas; 7 figure not found.

  • 40Worldwide figure
  • 7US gross only
  • 5Never in cinemas
  • 7Figure not found

Top grosser

The Proposal2009as Grace Paxton$317 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 72% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    The Proposal2009as Grace Paxton
    $317M14.7% of the total
  2. 2
    Back to the Future Part III1990as Clara Clayton
    $245M11.3% of the total
  3. 3
    Elf2003as Emily
    $229M10.6% of the total
  4. 4
    Philadelphia1993as Belinda Conine
    $207M9.5% of the total
  5. 5
    Four Christmases2008as Marilyn
    $164M7.6% of the total
  6. 6
    Last Vegas2013as Diana Boyle
    $134M6.2% of the total
  7. 7
    Step Brothers2008as Nancy Huff
    $128M5.9% of the total
  8. 8
    Parenthood1989as Karen Buckman
    $126M5.8% of the total
Book Club (2018), $104 millionI Am Sam (2001), $92.5 millionDid You Hear About the Morgans? (2009), $85.3 millionThe Brave One (2007), $69.8 millionNightmare Alley (2021), $39.6 millionA Walk in the Woods (2015), $37.5 millionPowder (1995), $30.9 millionBook Club: The Next Chapter (2023), $27.8 millionLife as a House (2001), $23.9 millionNixon (1995), $13.7 millionOne Magic Christmas (1985), $13.7 millionTime After Time (1979), $13.0 millionWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), $10.0 millionThe Butcher's Wife (1991), $9.7 millionA Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982), $9.1 millionGoin' South (1978), $7.4 million

$615 millionfrom the other 32 films with a worldwide figure, 28% of the total

Awards

Nine awards and honors from 1980 to 2018, three of them major.

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Mary Steenburgen's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Academy Awards
1981Best Supporting ActressMelvin and HowardWon
Golden Globes
1980Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureMelvin and HowardWon
SAG Awards
2012Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureThe HelpWon
Other honors
2018Arkansas Women's Hall of FameWon
2011Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best CastThe HelpWon
2011Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion PictureThe HelpWon
1996Arkansas Entertainers Hall of FameWon
1980National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressMelvin and HowardWon
Star on Hollywood Walk of FameHonored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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