Biography
Who is Mary Steenburgen?
Early life and education
Mary Steenburgen was born in Newport, Arkansas, on February 8, 1953. Her mother, Nellie Mae Wall, worked as a schoolboard secretary, while her father, Maurice Hoffman Steenburgen, was a freight-train conductor for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Growing up in Arkansas, she built a foundation that later led her into the arts.
In 1971, she enrolled at Hendrix College to pursue drama studies. At the suggestion of her drama teacher, she traveled to Dallas and successfully auditioned for New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. She officially moved to Manhattan in 1972 after the Playhouse offered her a chance to study acting under William Esper.
How Mary became famous
Before her big break, Mary worked as a server at The Magic Pan and for Doubleday in New York. Her career changed direction when actor Jack Nicholson discovered her in the reception room of Paramount Pictures's New York office. He cast her as the female lead in his Western comedy Goin' South in 1978.
Following her film debut, she starred in the time-travel film Time After Time in 1979. Her performance earned her the Saturn Award for Best Actress and introduced her to wider audiences, setting the stage for major critical acclaim in the early years of her professional acting career.
Career highlights and awards
In only her third film role, Mary won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for Melvin and Howard in 1980. She played Lynda Dummar in the comedy-drama directed by Jonathan Demme. This major milestone secured her status as a respected film actress.
Throughout the following decades, she appeared in numerous well-known films, including Back to the Future Part III as Clara Clayton, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Nixon, and Elf. She also expanded into television, appearing in series like Justified, The Last Man on Earth, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, while building a successful career as a songwriter.
Family and personal life
While co-starring in Time After Time, Mary met actor Malcolm McDowell. They married and had two children together, including film director Charlie McDowell, before divorcing in 1990. On October 7, 1995, she married actor Ted Danson after meeting him on the set of Pontiac Moon, becoming stepmother to his two daughters.
Beyond acting, she underwent surgery on her arm in 2007 that sparked a sudden interest in music, leading to numerous songwriting credits and a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group. She is also active in political campaigns and humanitarian causes alongside her husband.
Birthday and age
Mary Steenburgen was born on February 8, 1953, which makes Mary 73 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Mary shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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