Lois Smith Biography (1930-)

Original name, Lois Arlene Humbert; born November 3, 1930, in Topeka, KS; daughter of William Oren (a telephone company employee) and Carrie Davis (maidenname, Gottshalk) Humbert; married Wesley Dale Smith (a teacher), November 5,1948 (divorced, 1970); children: Moon Elizabeth. Addresses: Agent: Gregg Klein, Abrams Artists Agency, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1130, Los Angeles,CA 90069.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress
Birth Details
November 3, 1930
Topeka, Kansas, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Stage Appearances
  • Joan, Time Out for Ginger, Wilmington Playhouse, Wilmington, DE, 1952, then Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1952-1953
  • Antoinette, The Wisteria Trees, City Center Theatre, New York City, 1955
  • Cathy, Mardi Gras, Locust Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1955
  • Josephine Perry, The Young and Beautiful, Longacre Theatre, then American National Theatre and Academy Playhouse, both New York City, 1955, later Arts Theatre, London, 1956
  • Laura Wingfield, The Glass Menagerie, City Center Theatre, 1956
  • Carol Cutrere, Orpheus Descending, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1957
  • Mary Devlin, Edwin Booth, Forty-Sixth Street Theatre, New York City, 1958
  • Alley, Ding Dong Bell, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, 1961
  • Lucha Moreno, Bicycle Ride to Nevada, Cort Theatre, New York City,1963
  • Sheila Knight, Time of Hope, Playhouse in the Park, Philadelphia,PA, 1963
  • Jo Britten, Blues for Mr. Charlie, American National Theatre and Academy, 1964
  • Andromache, Tiger at the Gates, Theatre of the Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 1965
  • Celimene, The Misanthrope, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1965
  • Confidante, The Critic, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1965
  • Virginia, Galileo, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1965
  • Yelena, Uncle Vanya, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1965
  • Title role, Miss Julie, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1966
  • Pamela, The Last Analysis, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1966
  • The preacher woman, Bechlch, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1966
  • A Dream of Love, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1966
  • Mary L., The Time of Your Life, Theatre of the Living Arts, 1967
  • Sonya, Uncle Vanya, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1969
  • Mary, Sunday Dinner, American Place Theatre, St. Clement's ChurchTheatre, New York City, 1970
  • Louise Harper, "Come Next Tuesday," Judith Kalmus, "'Twas Brillig," the woman, "So Please Be Kind," and the mother, "Present Tense," in Present Tense, Sheridan Square Playhouse, New York City, 1972
  • Mission Control voice, A Break in the Skin, Actors Studio Theatre,New York City, 1973
  • Cora, The Iceman Cometh, Circle in the Square Theatre Company, Joseph E. Levine Theatre, New York City, 1973-1974
  • Trina Halvey, Summer, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, 1974-1975
  • Gabby, Harry Outside, Circle Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1975
  • Woman, Eh, Joe?, Harvard University Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 1975
  • Multiple roles, Touching Bottom, American Place Theatre, New YorkCity, 1978
  • Silvia, "Stage I--Denial," blonde sister, "Stage III--Bargaining," nurse,"Stage IV--Depression," and lady customer, "Final Stage--Acceptance," Stages, Belasco Theatre, New York City, 1978
  • Denise, Hillbilly Women, Actors Studio Theatre, then Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, both 1979
  • Old woman, Tennessee, Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York City, 1979
  • Emily, Deer Season, St. Clement's Church Theatre, 1980
  • Multiple roles, After All, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City,1981
  • Hillbilly Women, 1981
  • Molly Malloy, The Front Page, Long Wharf Theatre, 1982
  • Catherine Senesh, Hannah, Harold Clurman Theatre, New York City, 1983
  • Madam Arkadina, The Seagull, Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis,MN, 1983
  • Linda, "Special Family Things," Festival of One-Act Plays, American Place Women's Project, American Place Theatre, 1984
  • Madeleine Bejart, Cabal of Hypocrites, Actors Studio Theatre, 1984
  • Reba, "Bite the Hand," One-Act Play Marathon, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 1984
  • Rivers, The Vienna Notes, Second Stage Theatre Company, McGinn-Cazale Theatre, New York City, 1985
  • Blanche, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Contemporary Theatre, Seattle, WA, 1986
  • Mrs. Dotson and the bride, Bodies, Rest and Motion, Mitzie E. Newhouse Theatre, New York City, 1986-1987
  • Grady, "April Snow," One-Act Play Marathon, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 1987
  • Jessie Bliss, The Stick Wife, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, 1987
  • Dolly, 27 Benedict Street, Playwrights' Horizons Theatre, New YorkCity, 1988
  • Esther French, Juliet, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 1988
  • Ma Joad, The Grapes of Wrath, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Royal George Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1988
  • Mrs. Campbell, The Man Who Climbed the Pecan Trees, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 1988
  • Natalie Bauer-Lechner, Gus and Al, Playwrights' Horizons Theatre,1988
  • Mary, Beside Herself, Circle Repertory Theatre, 1989
  • Mistress Overdone, Measure for Measure, Lincoln Center Theatre, New York City, 1989
  • Ma Joad, The Grapes of Wrath, Cort Theatre, 1990
  • "Sam I Am," Octoberfest '91, Ensemble Studio Theatre, 1991
  • Anita, Dog Logic, American Place Theatre, 1992
  • Escape from Happiness, Center Stage, Baltimore, MD, then Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, both 1993
  • Halie, Buried Child, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL, 1995, then Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1996
  • Necessary Targets (benefit performance), Helen Hayes Theatre, NewYork City, 1996
  • Betty, Defying Gravity, American Place Theatre, 1997-1998
  • Kandall Kingsley, Impossible Marriage, Roundabout Theatre Company,Laura Pels Theatre, New York City, 1998-1999
  • Maggie Donovan, Give Me Your Answer, Do!, Roundabout Theatre Company, Gramercy Theatre, New York City, 1999-2000
  • Mother Courage, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 2001
  • Also appeared in Mrs. Warren's Profession, Center Stage; and The Vagina Monologues, Westside Theatre Downstairs, New York City.
  • Major Tours
  • Trina Halvey, Summer, U.S. cities, 1974
  • Ma Joad, The Grapes of Wrath, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, U.S. and British cities, 1989
  • Stage Director
  • Measure for Measure, Juilliard School Theatre, New York City, 1987
  • Film Appearances
  • Anne, East of Eden (also known as John Steinbeck's East of Eden), Warner Bros., 1955
  • Spurs O'Brien, Strange Lady in Town, Warner Bros., 1955
  • Jane Aldridge, The Way We Live Now, United Artists, 1970
  • Partita Dupea, Five Easy Pieces, Columbia, 1970
  • Neighbor, Brother John, Columbia, 1971
  • Elinore, Up the Sandbox, National General, 1972
  • Anita, Next Stop, Greenwich Village, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976
  • Kathy, Resurrection, Universal, 1980
  • Mrs. Axman, Foxes, United Artists, 1980
  • Mrs. Carnahan, Four Friends (also known as Georgia's Friends), Filmways, 1981
  • Mary (some sources cite Mare) Spofford, Reuben, Reuben, TwentiethCentury-Fox, 1983
  • Mrs. Prescott, Reckless, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1984
  • Helen Giles, Twisted, Hemdale Home Video, 1986
  • Martha, Fatal Attraction, Paramount, 1987
  • Sara, Black Widow, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
  • Mrs. Nelson, Midnight Run, Universal, 1988
  • Bronte's mother, Green Card, Buena Vista, 1990
  • Mama Threadgoode, Fried Green Tomatoes (also known as Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe), Universal, 1991
  • Mrs. Bell, Hard Promises, Columbia, 1992
  • William Foster's mother, Falling Down (also known as Chute libre), Warner Bros., 1993
  • Orna, Holy Matrimony, Buena Vista, 1994
  • Helen's mother, Dead Man Walking (also known as After Midnight, Dead Men, Death Wish, and Sister Prejean), Gramercy, 1995
  • Sophia Darling Richards, How to Make an American Quilt, Universal,1995
  • Aunt Meg Green, Twister, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Luluna, Larger Than Life, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1996
  • Mrs. Ferriter, Trance (also known as The Eternal and TheEternal: Kiss of the Mummy), Trimark Pictures, 1998
  • Ginger, Tumbleweeds, Fine Line, 1999
  • Helen Jackson, The Pledge, Warner Bros., 2001
  • Mother, The Hire: Powder Keg, BMW Films, 2001
  • Dr. Iris Hineman, Minority Report, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2002
  • Helen Rounds, Red Betsy, Lang Films, 2003
  • Ma, A Foreign Affair, Innovation Film Group, 2004
  • P.S., Newmarket Films, 2004
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Zoe Cannell, Somerset (also known as Another World: Somerset and Somerset: Bay City), NBC, 1972-1974
  • Eleanor Conrad, The Doctors, NBC, 1975-1977
  • Ella Fitz, Another World, NBC, 1983
  • Mrs. Oates, The Edge of Night, ABC, 1983
  • Mrs. Tannen, Good Sports, CBS, 1991
  • Elwinna Pendergast, All My Children, ABC, 2000
  • Betsy Cramer, One Life to Live, ABC, 2003-
  • Also appeared as Mrs. Bendarik, Love of Life, CBS.
  • Miniseries
  • Clara, Rage of Angels (also known as Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angels), NBC, 1983
  • Sarah, Doubletake, CBS, 1985
  • Margaret Hill, Switched at Birth, NBC, 1991
  • Deadly Matrimony (also known as Shattered Promises and Shattered Vows), NBC, 1992
  • Miss Maude, A Will of Their Own, NBC, 1998
  • Voice, New York: A Documentary Film (also known as American Experience: New York--A Documentary Film), PBS, 1999
  • Movies
  • Alice Todd, White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd (alsoknown as Hot Toddy), NBC, 1991
  • Lureen, Keep the Change, TNT, 1992
  • Madge Wallace Gates, Truman, HBO, 1995
  • Julia, Hudson River Blues (also known as Family Blues), Romance Classics Channel, 1997
  • Lucy Thompson, The Laramie Project, HBO, 2002
  • Anna Howard Shaw, Iron Jawed Angels, HBO, 2004
  • Helen, The Best Thief in the World, Showtime, 2004
  • Specials
  • Alma, Victory, NBC, 1960
  • "Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen," Dragon Country, PBS,1970
  • Particular Men, PBS, 1972
  • Bertha Dorset, The House of Mirth, 1980
  • Cornelia, The Jilting of Granny Wetherall, 1980
  • Margaret, "The Unforgivable Secret," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1981
  • Mary Neal, The Execution of Raymond Graham, ABC, 1985
  • Juliet, Arts and Entertainment, 1989
  • The 44th Annual Tony Awards, 1990
  • Ma Joad, "The Grapes of Wrath," American Playhouse, PBS, 1991
  • Voice, "Coney Island," The American Experience, PBS, 1991
  • Anne Turner, The Last Ferry Home, syndicated, 1992
  • Voice, "The Donner Party," The American Experience, PBS, 1992
  • Lou Wheaton, "Skylark" (also known as "Sarah, Plain and Tall: Skylark"),Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS, 1993
  • Himself, Sam Shepard: Stalking Himself, PBS, 1998
  • Episodic
  • Megan, "The Apple Tree," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1953
  • Barbara Sparling, "Jack Sperling, Forty-Six," Studio One, CBS, 1954
  • "How Beautiful the Shoes," Star Tonight, ABC, 1955
  • "A Matter of Life," Star Tonight, ABC, 1955
  • "The Second Day of Christmas," Robert Montgomery Presents, NBC, 1955
  • Jeannie, "Bring Me a Dream," The U.S. Steel Hour, CBS, 1956
  • "Noon on Doomsday," The U.S. Steel Hour, CBS, 1956
  • "The Cause," Matinee Theater, NBC, 1958
  • Herself, The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1958
  • Cindy, "Cindy's Fella," Ford Startime (also known as Startime), NBC, 1959
  • Title role, "Miss Julie," Strindberg on Love (also known as Play of the Week), syndicated, 1960
  • "Men in White," The DuPont Show of the Month, CBS, 1960
  • Anna, "Incident on a Bridge," Route 66, CBS, 1961
  • Hilda, "The Master Builder," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1961
  • Jenny Musgrave, "When Queens Ride By," Letter to Loretta (also known as The Loretta Young Show), NBC, 1961
  • Brycie Koseloff, "Only by Cunning Glances," Route 66, CBS, 1962
  • Dana, "Go Read the River," Route 66, CBS, 1962
  • Dawn Garrison, "Strike a Statue," Naked City, ABC, 1962
  • Esther Terranova, "The Invisible Badge," The Defenders, CBS, 1962
  • Libby Clayton, "To Each His Own Prison," Dr. Kildare, NBC, 1963
  • Jane Wells, "A Pattern of Sundays," The Eleventh Hour, NBC, 1964
  • Lucy, "Who in His Right Mind Needs a Nice Girl?," Route 66, CBS, 1964
  • Evelyn, "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," CBS Playhouse, CBS, 1967
  • Sara, "Proxy," Tales of the Unexpected, syndicated, 1984
  • Maria Gannucci, "The Confirmation Day," The Equalizer, CBS, 1985
  • Dorothy Hermes, "Coal Black Soul," The Equalizer, CBS, 1987
  • Elsie, "Haunting," Spenser: For Hire, ABC, 1988
  • Marjorie Warren, "Our Wedding," thirtysomething, ABC, 1991
  • Mary Beth Berluti, "The Civil Right," The Practice, ABC, 1997
  • Moira, "Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstern Are Dead," Frasier, NBC, 1997
  • Libby, "When Nina Met Her Parents," Just Shoot Me, NBC, 2000
  • Beatrice Graf, "Apocalypse Cow," Going to California, Showtime, 2001
  • Mildred, "A Rock and a Hard Place," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2002
  • Rebecca Tolliver, "Competence," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (also known as Law & Order: SVU), NBC, 2002
  • Elizabeth Bennett, "The Saint," Law & Order: Criminal Intent,NBC, 2004
  • Also appeared in Justice, NBC.
  • Pilots
  • Doris Adams, Adams Apple, CBS, 1986
  • WRITINGS
  • Stage Plays
  • All There Is, 1982, first act produced in workshop at Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York City, 1985

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • New York Times, April 28, 1996

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