# Mary Steenburgen > American actress, singer and songwriter **Wikidata**: [Q108935](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108935) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Steenburgen) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mary-steenburgen ## Summary Mary Steenburgen is an American actress, singer, and songwriter born on February 8, 1953. She is best known for her Oscar-winning performance as a Southern housewife in the 1980 film " Melvin and Howard," which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. With a career spanning over four decades, she has established herself as a versatile performer in film, television, and music, earning multiple prestigious awards including a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. ## Biography - **Born**: February 8, 1953 - **Nationality**: American (citizenship: United States) - **Birth Name**: Mary Nell Steenburgen - **Education**: Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City (drama school founded in 1928) - **Known for**: Academy Award-winning actress with diverse roles in film, television, and music - **Field(s)**: Acting, singing, songwriting, film production, television production, voice acting - **Work Period Start**: 1978 ## Contributions Mary Steenburgen's career encompasses multiple facets of entertainment: - **Acting Career**: Established herself as a prominent film and television actor, appearing in numerous productions across multiple decades - **Film Production**: Worked as a film producer, supervising the making of films - **Television Work**: Performed as a television actor in various TV productions and served as a television producer - **Voice Acting**: Provided voice work for characters in films, animation, video games, and other media - **Music Career**: Pursued singing and songwriting, demonstrating versatility beyond acting - **Notable Film Achievement**: Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Melvin and Howard" (1980) ## FAQs **What awards has Mary Steenburgen won?** Mary Steenburgen has received numerous prestigious awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. **Where was Mary Steenburgen educated?** Mary Steenburgen attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, a renowned drama school founded in 1928 that has trained numerous prominent actors. **What is Mary Steenburgen's height?** Mary Steenburgen is 173.0 centimeters tall. **When did Mary Steenburgen begin her career?** Mary Steenburgen began her professional work period in 1978, launching a career that has spanned over four decades in the entertainment industry. **What other roles has Mary Steenburgen held in the industry?** Beyond acting, Mary Steenburgen has worked as a film producer, television producer, voice actor, singer, and songwriter, demonstrating versatility across multiple entertainment disciplines. ## Why They Matter Mary Steenburgen matters as an Oscar-winning actress who broke through with her remarkable debut performance in "Melvin and Howard," which not only earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress but also established her as a significant talent in Hollywood. Her ability to transition seamlessly between film, television, and music demonstrates the rare versatility that has allowed her to maintain a lasting career in entertainment. As an actress who began in the late 1970s, she has witnessed and participated in decades of Hollywood evolution while continuing to deliver compelling performances. Her recognition by the National Society of Film Critics, multiple Golden Globe nominations, and SAG Award win further cement her status as a respected figure in the acting community. The combination of her Academy Award, her continued work in the industry, and her expansion into music and production illustrates her multifaceted artistic contributions that have influenced contemporary American cinema and entertainment. ## Notable For - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1980) - Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (1995) - Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame - Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast - Height: 173 cm - Work period spanning from 1978 to present ## Body ### Early Life and Background Mary Steenburgen was born Mary Nell Steenburgen on February 8, 1953. As an American citizen, she grew up in the United States and developed an interest in performing arts from an early age. Her birth name Mary Nell Steenburgen would become recognizable in households across America as she embarked on her acting career. ### Education and Training Mary Steenburgen pursued formal acting training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. This prestigious drama school, founded in 1928, has been instrumental in shaping the careers of numerous accomplished actors. The institution's rigorous training program provided Steenburgen with the foundational skills that would propel her into a successful acting career beginning in 1978. ### Breakthrough and Career Launch Steenburgen's professional career began in 1978, and she quickly made an impact in the film industry. Her breakthrough came with the 1980 film "Melvin and Howard," directed by Jonathan Demme. In this film, Steenburgen portrayed a Southern housewife, delivering a performance that would earn her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This victory marked her as one of the most promising new talents in American cinema at the time. ### Awards and Recognition The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1936, recognized Steenburgen's exceptional talent. She also received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, a category established in 1944 by the American film and television award organization. Additional critical recognition came from the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her ensemble work earned her the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in 1995, an award category created that year. She also received the Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture and the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast, demonstrating her ability to contribute meaningfully to ensemble performances. The entertainment industry further honored her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located in Hollywood, California, United States. This recognition symbolizes her lasting contribution to American popular culture. ### Career Trajectory and Versatility Throughout her career, Mary Steenburgen has demonstrated remarkable versatility across multiple entertainment disciplines. As a film actor, she has appeared in numerous films, establishing herself as a reliable and talented performer. Her work as a television actor has included performances in various TV productions, while her role as a television producer has allowed her to influence content creation in the small screen industry. Steenburgen's work as a film producer has seen her supervise the making of films, contributing to the creative and logistical aspects of filmmaking. Her voice acting capabilities have allowed her to provide voice-overs for characters in films, animation, video games, and other media, showcasing yet another dimension of her artistic range. ### Musical Pursuits Beyond acting and production, Mary Steenburgen has pursued a career as a singer and songwriter. This musical dimension of her career demonstrates her artistic versatility and willingness to explore different creative outlets beyond the screen. ### Physical Attributes Mary Steenburgen stands at 173.0 centimeters tall, a physical characteristic that has been noted in various biographical sources throughout her career. ### Industry Connections and Affiliations Her educational background at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre connects her to a lineage of trained performers. The entertainment industry relationships she has built over decades have contributed to her sustained career across multiple platforms and production types. ### Legacy and Lasting Impact Mary Steenburgen's Academy Award win in 1980 established her as a significant figure in American cinema. Her career trajectory, spanning from that breakthrough performance to her continued work in the industry, represents a model of sustained success in Hollywood. Her willingness to work across different mediums—film, television, voice work, and music—demonstrates the kind of artistic flexibility that characterizes long-lasting careers in entertainment. The recognition she has received from prestigious organizations, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, SAG, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, indicates the breadth of her impact on the entertainment industry. Her work as both a performer and producer has allowed her to influence the creative landscape beyond simply appearing on screen. ### Professional Profile Mary Steenburgen holds American citizenship and has been active in the entertainment industry since 1978. Her professional profile encompasses multiple roles: actress, singer, songwriter, film producer, television producer, and voice actor. This multifaceted career reflects her ability to adapt and thrive in an industry that rewards versatility and artistic range. Her work continues to influence contemporary performers and demonstrates the possibilities available to actors who seek to expand their creative boundaries beyond traditional acting roles. ## References 1. [Source](http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=16446) 2. BnF authorities 3. Integrated Authority File 4. Genealogics 5. The International Who's Who of Women 2006 6. datos.bne.es 7. [Source](http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=29) 8. Encyclopedia of Arkansas 9. [Source](https://www.arwomenshalloffame.com/mary-steenburgen/) 10. International Standard Name Identifier 11. Virtual International Authority File 12. CiNii Research 13. MusicBrainz 14. SNAC 15. Internet Broadway Database 16. Discogs 17. GeneaStar 18. Roglo 19. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 20. BBC Things 21. X 22. The Movie Database 23. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data 24. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/mary-steenburgen-107ZzpwVyn/appearances)