Her. I know her! Where the hell do I know her from? The answer is everything. She's been in everything.
Lois Smith's feature film debut was in a James Dean movie from 1955 called East Of Eden. Imagine starting your big screen career at the age of 25 in a film starring arguably the most famous actor ever. For most performers it would be the highlight of their life. Not Lois though, she's been having career highlights for 70 years now. She's 91 years of age and still horsin' out the work. Stage, TV and film, she's still doing the holy trinity of the acting world and has a face that would be recognised by younger and older viewers alike. Imagine being in your 10th decade on earth and still being able to make that kind of impact on viewers.
Lois has been the Stackhouse Matriarch, warding off the vampires of Bon Temp, Louisiana. She's been called a cunt by one of Ireland's most famous actors. Been a sister to the cinema god of 70's and a mother to a man rampaging across Los Angeles because he couldn't get breakfast. She's fed stormchasers steak and eggs and been a doting mother to Liam Neeson. She's dealt with Ray Donovan and Doctor Carrie Weaver and faced off with the Desperate Housewives, a grieving Jack Nicholson, Doctor Frasier Crane and none other than The Equalizer. She's loved plants in Steven Spielberg films and stole the show in more than one great tv show. TBH if you can think of a TV show she's probably been in it. If you can think of a genre she's more than likely taken part in it. She has 144 credits to her name since 1951 with more on the way. You mightn't have known her name but she's been an indelible presence in all of our viewing for all of our lives. Check out her career here
Greatest Hits
Five Easy Pieces - Partita Dupea, Bobby's sister and a big cause of conflict in a troubled man's life.
Fried Green Tomatoes - Mama Threadgoode, the woman who brought Ninny and Idgy into the world
Twister - Aunt Meg, the woman who's cooking the storm chasers live for. A very memorable role.
Minority Report - Dr Iris Hindman. The woman who's ideas created pre-crime.
True Blood - Adele Stackhouse. Granny of Sookie, keeper of secrets. Big big secrets.
The Americans - Betty Turner. Lois played her in one episode and won more awards than the show regulars.
Lady Bird - Sister Sarah Joan. Lady Bird McPherson's head mistress. A grand ol' sort, totally undeserving of the name I mentioned earlier.
More unsung heroes
Mike Starr
M.C. Gainey
Mare Winningham
Dale Dickey
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Harris Yulin
Pepe Serna
Udo Kier
Fairuza Balk
Ernie Hudson
Lin Shaye
James Remar
Cloris Leachman
James Hong
David Strathairn
Frankie Faison
Conchata Ferrell
Dick Miller
Veronica Cartwright
Edie McClurg
Barry Shabaka Henley
Raymond Cruz
Reg E.Cathey
Elizabeth McGovern
John Amos
Bruce Greenwood
Mary McDonnell
Gerald McSorley
John Rothman
Margo Martindale
Kurtwood Smith
Paula Malcolmson
Luis Guzman
David Morse
Linda Hunt
Keith David
Zeljko Ivanek
Fiona Shaw
Xander Berkeley
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
C.C.H Pounder
William Forsythe
Beth Grant
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Regina King
Ric Young
Mark Rolston
Illeana Douglas
Jeanette Goldstein
Al Leong
Allan Graf
Bill Nunn
Thomas Rosales Jr
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