Meryl Streep Biography (1949-)

Born Mary Louise Streep, June 22, 1949, in Madison (some sources cite Summit), NJ; daughter of Harry, Jr. (a pharmaceutical company executive) and Mary W.(a commercial artist) Streep; sister of Harry Streep III (a choreographer and dancer); married Donald J. Gummer (a sculptor), September 15, 1978; children: Henry "Harry"/"Hank", Mary Willa "Mamie", Grace Jane, Louisa Jackson. Addresses: Agent: Kevin Huvane, Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: PMK/HBH Public Relations, 8500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, producer
Birth Details
1949
New Jersey, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Voice from Stage 6, Everybody Rides the Carousel, 1975
  • Anne Marie, Julia, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
  • Linda, The Deer Hunter, Universal, 1978
  • Jill, Manhattan, United Artists, 1979
  • Karen Traynor, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Universal, 1979
  • Joanna Kramer, Kramer vs. Kramer, Columbia, 1979
  • Sarah Woodruff and Anna, The French Lieutenant's Woman, United Artists, 1981
  • Brooke Reynolds, Still of the Night, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1982
  • Sophie Zawistowska, Sophie's Choice, Universal, 1982
  • Karen Silkwood, Silkwood, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983
  • Narrator, In Our Hands (documentary), Libra Cinema 5, 1983
  • Molly Gilmore, Falling in Love, Paramount, 1984
  • Susan Traherne, Plenty, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1985
  • Karen Blixen-Finecke, Out of Africa, Universal, 1985
  • Rachel Louise Samstat/Forman, Heartburn, Paramount, 1986
  • Helen Archer, Ironweed, TriStar, 1988
  • Lindy Chamberlain, A Cry in the Dark (also known as Evil Angels), Warner Bros., 1988
  • Mary Fisher, She-Devil, Orion, 1989
  • Suzanne Vale, Postcards from the Edge, Columbia, 1990
  • Julia, Defending Your Life, Warner Bros., 1991
  • Madeline Ashton, Death Becomes Her, Universal, 1992
  • Clara Del Valle Trueba, The House of the Spirits (also known as Aandernes hus, A casa dos espiritos, and Das geisterhaus),Miramax, 1994
  • Gail Hartman, The River Wild, Universal, 1994
  • Francesca Johnson, The Bridges of Madison County, Warner Bros., 1995
  • Narrator, The Living Sea (documentary), MacGillivray Freeman Films, 1995
  • Carolyn Ryan, Before and After, Buena Vista, 1996
  • Lee, Marvin's Room, Miramax, 1996
  • Narrator, Assignment: Rescue (documentary; also known as The Story of Varian Fry and the Emergency Rescue Committee), 1997
  • Kate "Kit" Mundy, Dancing at Lughnasa, Sony Pictures Classics, 1998
  • Kate Gulden, One True Thing, Universal, 1998
  • Narrator, Eternal Memory: Voices from the Great Terror (documentary), Cinema Guild, 1998
  • Narrator, Chrysanthemum (short film), 1999
  • Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras, Music of the Heart (also known as Fifty Violins), Miramax, 1999
  • Voice of Blue Mecha, Artificial Intelligence: AI (also known as A.I.: Artificial Intelligence), Warner Bros., 2001
  • Herself, The Papp Project (documentary), American Masters, 2001
  • Susan Orlean, Adaptation, Columbia, 2002
  • Clarissa Vaughan, The Hours, Paramount, 2002
  • (Uncredited) Herself, Stuck on You, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2003
  • Narrator, Monet's Palate: A Gastronomic View from the Gardens of Giverny (documentary), AFB Productions/Renaissance Films, 2003
  • Eleanor Prentiss Shaw, The Manchurian Candidate, Paramount, 2004
  • Aunt Josephine, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Paramount, 2004
  • Lisa Metzger, Prime, Universal/Focus Features, 2005
  • Narrator, Stolen Childhoods (documentary), Balcony Releasing, 2005
  • Television Appearances
  • Miniseries
  • Inga Helms Weiss, Holocaust (also known as Holocaust--The Storyof the Family Weiss), NBC, 1978
  • Voice of Margaret Sanger, A Century of Women (also known as A Family of Women), TBS, 1994
  • A Century of Women, Cable News Network, 1998
  • Narrator, School (also known as School: The Story of American Public Education), PBS, 2001
  • Rabbi Isidor Chemelwitz, Hannah Porter Pitt, Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg,and the Angel Australia, Angels in America, HBO, 2003
  • Voices of Abigail Adams, Mother Jones, and Margaret Chase Smith, Freedom: A History of the U.S., PBS.
  • Specials
  • Edith Varney, Secret Service, PBS, 1977
  • Leilah, "Uncommon Women ... and Others," Great Performances, PBS,1978
  • Katherine, Kiss Me, Petruchio, PBS, 1981
  • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1981
  • (In archive footage) Sixty Years of Seduction, ABC, 1981
  • Narrator, "Little Ears: The Velveteen Rabbit," Children's Storybook Classics, PBS, 1985
  • Host and narrator, Power Struggle (distributed to schools in two parts: Energy Supply and Energy Efficiency), PBS, 1985
  • Narrator, "Harold Clurman: A Life of Theatre," American Masters, PBS, 1989
  • Premiere Presents: Christmas Movies '89, Fox, 1989
  • The 3rd Annual Hollywood Insider Academy Awards Special, USA Network, 1989
  • Host and narrator, "Arctic Refuge: A Vanishing Wilderness?," World ofAudubon Specials (also known as National Audubon Society Specials), PBS and TBS, 1990
  • An Evening with Bette, Cher, Goldie, Meryl, Olivia, Lily and Robin, ABC, 1990
  • Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special, ABC, 1990
  • Member of choir, Voices that Care, Fox, 1991
  • Host and narrator, Age Seven in America (documentary; also known as 7-Up in America), CBS, 1992
  • Host, Great Performances 20th Anniversary Special, PBS, 1992
  • Oprah: Behind the Scenes, ABC, 1992
  • Narrator, "The Night before Christmas," We All Have Tales (animated), Showtime, 1992
  • Hollywood Stars: A Century of Cinema, The Disney Channel, 1995
  • Interviewee, The Siskel and Ebert Interviews, CBS, 1996
  • Interviewee, "Roseanne: Tabloids, Trash & Truth," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1996
  • Interviewee, "William Styron: The Way of the Writer," American Masters, PBS, 1997
  • Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope, ABC, 1998
  • Host, Defending Our Daughters: The Rights of Women in the World, Lifetime, 1998
  • Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Vanessa Redgrave, Lifetime, 1998
  • Rings of Passion: Five Emotions in World Art, PBS and Ovation, 1998
  • From Star Wars to Star Wars: The Story of Industrial Light & Magic, Fox, 1999
  • Netaid: A Concert Special, TNT, 1999
  • Netaid, VH1, 1999
  • Interviewee, Kurt Russell: Hollywood's Heavy Hitter, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
  • Host, The Concert of the Century for VH1 Save the Music, VH1, 1999
  • Interviewee, "Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows," American Masters, PBS, 2000
  • Narrator, Isaac Stern: Life's Virtuoso, PBS, 2000
  • Narrator, Ginevra's Story: Solving the Mysteries of Leonardo da Vinci's First Known Portrait, PBS, 2000
  • Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Diane Keaton, Lifetime, 2001
  • Host, Nobel Peace Prize Concert (also known as The Nobel PeacePrize 100th Anniversary Concert), USA Network and Trio, 2001
  • Narrator, New York at the Movies, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
  • There's Only One Paul McCartney, BBC (England), 2002
  • Hollywood Salutes Nicolas Cage: An American Cinematheque Tribute,TNT, 2002
  • Narrator, Vermeer: Master of Light, PBS, 2002
  • Interviewee, Kevin Bacon: Am I Me?, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
  • Interviewee, What Not to Wear on the Red Carpet, BBC, 2003
  • Nicole Kidman: An American Cinematheque Tribute (also known as The 18th Annual American Cinematheque Award), AMC, 2003
  • The 26th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the PerformingArts, CBS, 2003
  • AFI Lifetime Achievement Award: A Tribute to Meryl Streep, USA Network, 2004
  • Jonathan Demme and the Making of "The Manchurian Candidate," 2004
  • (In archive footage) Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (documentary), Anker Productions, 2004
  • Interviewee, "Bruce Willis," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2005
  • Also narrator of a documentary special on Lyme disease, PBS, 1999.
  • Movies
  • Sharon Miller, The Deadliest Season, CBS, 1977
  • Alice, Alice at the Palace, 1981
  • Lori Reimuller, ... First Do No Harm, ABC, 1997
  • Episodic
  • Guest, Omnibus, BBC (England), 1980
  • Voice of Jessica Lovejoy, "Bart's Girlfriend," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1994
  • Guest, Today, NBC, 1994, 2004
  • Guest, CBS This Morning, CBS, 1996
  • Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo, 1998
  • Guest, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1999
  • Voice of Aunt Esme Dauterive, "A Beer Can Named Desire," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1999
  • Guest, Late Show with David Letterman, 1999
  • "The Films of Wes Craven," The Directors, Encore!, 1999
  • "The Films of Sydney Pollack," The Directors, Encore!, 2000
  • "The Films of Clint Eastwood," The Directors, Encore!, 2000
  • Guest, The Oprah Winfrey Show, syndicated, 2002
  • Guest, Tinseltown TV, International Channel, 2003
  • "Stuck on You," HBO First Look, HBO, 2003
  • "Dustin Hoffman," The Hollywood Greats, BBC1 (England), 2004
  • Guest, Film '72, BBC, 2004
  • Guest, The View, ABC, 2004
  • Guest, Coming Attractions, 2004
  • Herself, Unscripted, HBO, 2005
  • "The Films of Carl Franklin," The Directors, Encore!, 2005
  • Awards Presentations
  • The 52nd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1980
  • The 55th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1983
  • The 56th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1984
  • The 58th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1986
  • The 60th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1988
  • The 61st Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1989
  • Presenter, The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1990
  • Presenter, The 63rd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1991
  • The 68th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1996
  • The 71st Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1999
  • The 9th Annual Gotham Awards, Metroguide Network, 1999
  • The 72nd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2000
  • The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 2003
  • Presenter, The 75th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2003
  • Presenter, The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 2004
  • Presenter, The 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, TNT, 2004
  • The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 2004
  • Presenter, The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 2005
  • Others
  • Herself, The Best of Everything, 1983
  • Host, Race to Save the Planet (series; also known as State of the World), PBS, 1990
  • Television Work
  • Movies
  • Executive producer, ... First Do No Harm, ABC, 1997
  • Stage Appearances
  • The Playboy of Seville, Cubiculo Theatre, New York City, 1971
  • Lieutenant Lillian Holliday, Happy End (musical), Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1974
  • (Broadway debut) Imogen Parrot, Trelawny of the "Wells," New YorkShakespeare Festival, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center, New York City,1975
  • Flora Meighan, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton and Patricia, A Memoryof Two Mondays (double-bill), Phoenix Repertory Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1976
  • Edith Varney, Secret Service, Phoenix Repertory Theatre, PlayhouseTheatre, 1976
  • Katherine, Henry V, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, Public Theatre, New York City, 1976
  • Juliet and Isabella, Measure for Measure, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, Public Theatre, 1976
  • Dunyasha, The Cherry Orchard, New York Shakespeare Festival, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Lincoln Center, 1977
  • Lieutenant Lillian Holliday, Happy End (musical), Chelsea TheatreCenter, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY, then Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, both 1977
  • Katharina, The Taming of the Shrew, New York Shakespeare Festival,Delacorte Theatre, Public Theatre, 1978
  • Alice, Wonderland in Concert, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1978
  • Andrea, Taken in Marriage, New York Shakespeare Festival, EstelleR. Newman Public Theatre, New York City, 1979
  • Alice, Alice in Concert, New York Shakespeare Festival, Estelle R.Newman Public Theatre, 1980
  • Cynthia Peterson, Isn't It Romantic?, Playwrights Horizons Theatre, New York City, 1983, then Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City, 1984
  • Necessary Targets (staged reading), Helen Hayes Theatre, New YorkCity, 1996
  • An American Daughter (workshop reading), Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle, WA, 1996
  • Arkadina, The Seagull, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, Public Theatre, 2001
  • Poetry and the Creative Mind (benefit reading), Alice Tully Hall,Lincoln Center, New York City, 2004
  • "Sawbones" and "Hope Leaves the Theatre," Theatre of the New Ear (reading), St. Ann's Warehouse Theatre, New York City, and Royal Festival Hall, London, both 2005
  • Stage Work
  • Coproducer, Sarah Jones: Bridge and Tunnel, Culture Project, Forty-Five Bleecker Street Theatre, New York City, 2004
  • RECORDINGS
  • Videos
  • Voice of storyteller, Rabbit Ears: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1987
  • Voice of storyteller, Rabbit Ears: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher,1987
  • Narrator, The Tailor of Gloucester, 1988
  • Voice of storyteller, Rabbit Ears: The Fisherman and His Wife, 1989
  • (In archive footage) Oscar's Greatest Moments, Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1992
  • A Song of Africa, Universal Studios Home Video, 1999
  • Finding the Truth: The Making of "Kramer vs. Kramer," Columbia TriStar Home Video, 2001
  • Reader for the videos For Yourself: A Guide to Breast Self-Examination and What Should I Tell My Child about Drinking? Appeared in choirfor the music video "Voices that Care," Warner Bros., 1991.
  • Albums
  • Reader, I Will Sing Life: Voices from the Hole in the Wall Gang, 1995
  • Narrator, Babar the Elephant: Mother Goose Suite, 1996
  • Reader, Dance on a Moonbeam (music and poetry for children), Telarc, 2000
  • Recorded the albums For Our Children and The Velveteen Rabbit; also singer of the song "Nobody Understands Me" on the children's album Philadelphia Chickens.
  • Audio Books
  • Narrator, "The Enormous Radio" and "The Sorrows of Gin," The John Cheever Audio Collection, 2003
  • Also reader for Fifty Poems of Emily Dickinson, two volumes.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Volume 23, Gale, 2005
    • International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, Volume 3: Actors and Actresses, St. James Press, 2000
    • Maychick, Diana, Meryl Streep: The Reluctant Superstar, 1984
    • Pfaff, Eugene E., Jr., and Mark Emerson, Meryl Streep: A Critical Biography, McFarland and Co., 1987
    • Smurthwaite, Nick, The Meryl Streep Story, 1984
    • St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000
    Periodicals
    • American Film, fall, 2004, pp. 10-11, 28-29
    • Back Stage West, February 18, 1999, p. 6
    • Daily Telegraph, September 3, 2004, p. 11
    • Empire, October, 1997, p. 192
    • Entertainment Weekly, February 11, 1994, pp. 17, 19, 21, 22, 24; February 23, 1996, pp. 42-43; August 15, 1997, p. 45; October 2, 1998, p. 44;November 27, 1998, p. 54; March 1, 1999, p. 41; March 24, 2000, pp. 50-55; February 21, 2003, p. 48
    • Good Housekeeping, September, 1998, pp. 94-97
    • Harper's Bazaar, January, 1999, p. 124
    • Hollywood Reporter, June 6, 2004
    • Interview, December, 1998, p. 66; December, 2002, p. 124
    • Miami Herald, July 26, 2004
    • Movieline, October, 1995, p. 77
    • New York Times, July 25, 2004
    • New York Times Magazine, September 18, 1994, pp. 42, 44, 45
    • People Weekly, June 26, 1995, pp. 70-74, 76; February 3, 2003, p.75
    • Premiere (England), Volume 5, number 5, 1997, pp. 62-67
    • Premiere (United States), November, 2002, pp. 66-69
    • Times (London), February 27, 2003; September 3, 2004, pp. 12-13
    • USA Weekend, December 1, 2002
    Electronic
    • Meryl Streep Online, http://www.merylstreeponline.net, July 21, 2005

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