Mary Steenburgen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Steenburgen
Steenburgen at the 2009 ceremony to receive her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Born	Mary Nell Steenburgen (1953-02-08) February 8, 1953 (age 72) Newport, Arkansas, U.S.
Education	Hendrix College Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
Occupation	Actress comedian singer songwriter
Years active	1978–present
Known for	Melvin and Howard Ragtime Back to the Future Part III
Spouse(s)	Malcolm McDowell ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1990)​ Ted Danson ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	2, including Charlie McDowell
Relatives	Lily Collins (daughter-in-law)
Awards	Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Mary Nell Steenburgen (born February 8, 1953) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and songwriter. She is known for her many roles in movies and TV shows.

Mary started acting in the 1970s after studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York. Her first movie was the Western comedy Goin' South in 1978. She quickly gained praise for her acting in films like Time After Time (1979).

In 1980, Mary won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for her role in Melvin and Howard. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for the film Ragtime (1981). Mary is also well-known for playing mothers in many comedy films. Some of these include Parenthood (1989), Elf (2003), and Step Brothers (2008).

Besides acting, Mary Steenburgen is also a talented singer and songwriter. She has written songs for several films, including some she starred in. Her song "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)" from the movie Wild Rose (2018) won her a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Song.

Early Life and Education

Mary Steenburgen was born on February 8, 1953, in Newport, Arkansas. Her mother, Nellie Mae, worked as a school-board secretary. Her father, Maurice, was a freight-train conductor. Mary has a sister named Nancy.

In 1971, Mary started studying drama at Hendrix College. Her drama teacher suggested she try out for the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. She got in and moved to Manhattan in 1972 to continue her acting studies. While studying, she worked as a server and for a publishing company.

Acting Career Highlights

Mary Steenburgen got her big break when she was discovered by famous actor and director Jack Nicholson. He cast her as the main female character in his movie Goin' South (1978).

Film Roles

Mary had a leading role in Time After Time (1979). In this film, she played a modern woman who falls in love with the author H. G. Wells. She won the Saturn Award for Best Actress for this role.

Her third movie, Melvin and Howard (1980), brought her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She played Lynda Dummar, the wife of a truck driver who claimed to be friends with the famous and mysterious Howard Hughes.

Mary also starred in Cross Creek (1983). In this movie, she played Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the author of the classic book The Yearling. In 1985, she starred in the heartwarming Christmas movie One Magic Christmas.

One of her most famous roles was in Back to the Future Part III (1990). She played Clara Clayton, a schoolteacher who falls in love with Doc Brown. Her own children and fans of the Back to the Future movies convinced her to take the role. She even voiced the character in the animated TV series.

Mary Steenburgen at the Toronto Film Festival in 2001

Mary has continued to appear in many popular comedy films. She played the mother of Will Ferrell's character in Step Brothers (2008). Other comedies include Four Christmases (2008) and The Proposal (2009). She also had a role in the highly praised film The Help (2011). In 2018, she starred with Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen in the romantic comedy Book Club.

Television Roles

Mary Steenburgen has also had a successful career in television. She played Kate Montgomery in the TV series Ink (1996). She also co-starred as Mary Gulliver in the miniseries Gulliver's Travels (1996).

She had a recurring role as herself in the comedy show Curb Your Enthusiasm. From 2003 to 2005, Mary played Helen Girardi, the mother of the main character in Joan of Arcadia. She also appeared in the sitcom Bored to Death and 30 Rock.

From 2014 to 2015, she had a recurring role as Katherine Hale in the TV series Justified. From 2015 to 2018, she starred as Gail Klosterman in the comedy series The Last Man on Earth. More recently, from 2020 to 2021, she played Maggie Clarke in the musical comedy-drama series Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. She even returned for the TV movie Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas.

Music Career

In 2007, Mary Steenburgen had a small surgery. After that, she started hearing music in her head all the time! She decided to take music lessons so she could write down the songs she was hearing. By 2013, she had written almost 50 songs.

She has worked with musicians in Nashville and signed a deal with Universal Music Group as a songwriter. She even performed one of her own songs in the movie Last Vegas. In 2018, her song "Glasgow (No Place Like Home)" was a big part of the movie Wild Rose. This song won her several awards, including a Critics' Choice Award.

Personal Life

In 1978, Mary Steenburgen met actor Malcolm McDowell while they were filming Time After Time. They got married and had two children, including their son Charlie McDowell. They later divorced in 1990.

On October 7, 1995, Mary married actor Ted Danson. They met on the set of the movie Pontiac Moon. Mary became a stepmother to Ted's two daughters. Mary and Ted Danson live in the Los Angeles area with their family.

Mary is a graduate of Hendrix College and has received honorary degrees from both Hendrix College and Lyon College. She is also involved in various groups that support human rights and environmental causes. She is a friend of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and has supported her political campaigns.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Recognitions

Mary Steenburgen has won many awards for her acting and music.

Mary Steenburgen also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She received the 1,337th star on December 16, 2009.

See also

In Spanish: Mary Steenburgen para niños