Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen is an Academy Award-winning American actress.

She was born February 8, 1953, in Newport, Arkansas, into a family of Dutch-American heritage Her mother, Nell Steenburgen, was a school-board secretary, and her father, Maurice Steenburgen, was a freight-train conductor.

Young Steenbergen was fond of arts and literature. She was active in her school drama class. In 1972 she moved to New York to study acting. She was discovered by Jack Nicholson in the reception room of Paramount's NY office. Nicholson cast her as his leading lady in Goin' South (1978), Steenburgen's feature film debut. In 1980 she shot to fame with her role as Lynda Dummar in Melvin and Howard (1980) for which she won Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Steenburgen is a notable patron of arts. She is also an active supporter of humanitarian causes. She has two children from her previous marriage to actor Malcolm McDowell. Since 1995 she has been married to actor Ted Danson, and the couple is living in Los Angeles area.