Lois Smith

Personal Information
Born in Topeka, Kansas, Lois Smith moved to Seattle with her family at age eleven and attended school there, including two-plus years at the University of Washington School of Drama. Lois's first role in professional theater was as Melvyn Douglas's teenage daughter in Time Out For Ginger, on Broadway, followed by The Young and Beautiful, Blues for Mr.Charlie (replacement), and the original production of Orpheus Descending, among others. She began working with Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater in 1988 in The Grapes of Wrath, directed by Frank Galati, and became a member of the Steppenwolf Ensemble in 1993. The Grapes of Wrath traveled to London and to Broadway; Steppenwolf’s Buried Child, directed by Gary Sinise, also moved to Broadway, and Lois received Tony nominations for her work in each of these plays. She also appeared in Mother Courage and Her Children and The Royal Family at Steppenwolf. Lois has played many roles on many stages for many years. Favorites include three Chekhov’s: The Seagull (Mme.Arkadina) at the Guthrie in Minneapolis; The Cherry Orchard (Mme. Ranevskaya) at Baltimore Center Stage; andUncle Vanya, once in Philadelphia (Yelena), and once in Los Angeles (Sonya). Also Shaw's Mrs. Warren’s Profession in Baltimore. Her first film role was the barmaid in East of Eden with James Dean. She won a National Society of Film Critic's Award for Five Easy Pieces. Other films include Next Stop Greenwich Village, Black Widow, Falling Down, Fried Green Tomatoes, Twister, Larger Than Life, How to Make an American Quilt, Dead Man Walking, and Minority Report. Later this year she will be seen in Killshot and Hollywoodland. She has been in many TV films, anthologies, miniseries, and has guest- starred on series both comedic and dramatic. On HBO: Truman, The Laramie Project, Iron Jawed Angels.
 
External Links: Primary Stages Oral History Project
Credits

Actor
Production Theatre Opened Credit
1 I Was Most Alive With You Playwrights Horizons 09/24/2018 Carla
2 Peace for Mary Frances Pershing Square Signature Center/ The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre 05/23/2018 Mary Frances
3 Marjorie Prime Playwrights Horizons 12/14/2015 Marjorie
4 John Pershing Square Signature Center/ Irene Diamond Stage 08/11/2015 Genevieve Marduk
5 The Old Friends Pershing Square Signature Center/ Irene Diamond Stage 09/12/2013 Mamie Borden
6 Heartless Pershing Square Signature Center/ Irene Diamond Stage 08/27/2012 Mable Murphy
7 The Illusion Peter Norton Space 06/05/2011 Alcandre
8 After the Revolution Playwrights Horizons/ Peter Jay Sharp Theater 11/10/2010 Vera
9 100 Saints You Should Know Playwrights Horizons 09/18/2007 Colleen
10 The Trip To Bountiful Peter Norton Space 12/04/2005 Carrie Watts
11 Give Me Your Answer, Do! Gramercy Theatre 10/05/1999 Maggie Donovan
12 The Vagina Monologues Westside Theatre/ Downstairs 10/03/1999 N/A REPLACEMENT
13 Impossible Marriage Laura Pels Theatre (Former) 10/15/1998 Kandall Kingsley
14 Defying Gravity American Place Theatre 11/02/1997 Betty
15 Beside Herself Circle Repertory Theatre 10/04/1989 Mary
16 Measure for Measure Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater 02/03/1989 Misress Overdone
17 Bodies, Rest and Motion Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater 12/21/1986 Mrs. Dotson
18 The Vienna Notes McGinn-Cazale Theatre 03/13/1985 N/A
19 Touching Bottom American Place Theatre 12/10/1978 N/A
20 Present Tense Sheridan Square Playhouse 07/18/1972 Louise Harper (Come Next Tuesday)
21 Present Tense Sheridan Square Playhouse 07/18/1972 Judith Kalmus (Twas Brillig)
22 Present Tense Sheridan Square Playhouse 07/18/1972 A Woman (So Please Be Kind)
23 Present Tense Sheridan Square Playhouse 07/18/1972 Mother (Present Tense)
24 Sunday Dinner American Place Theatre 10/16/1970 Mary
Awards
Award Production Function
1 NOMINATED 2016 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play John Actor
2 NOMINATED 2016 Drama League Award, Distinguished Performance John Actor
3 NOMINATED 2016 Drama League Award, Distinguished Performance Marjorie Prime Actor
4 NOMINATED 2011 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Featured Actress After the Revolution Actor
5 NOMINATED 2008 Drama League Award, Distinguished Performance 100 Saints You Should Know Actor
6 WON 2006 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Lead Actress The Trip To Bountiful Actor
7 WON 2006 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Actress in a Play The Trip To Bountiful Actor
8 NOMINATED 2006 Drama League Award, Distinguished Performance The Trip To Bountiful Actor
9 WON 2006 Obie Award, Best Performance The Trip To Bountiful Actor
10 WON 2006 Outer Critics Circle Award, Outstanding Actress in a Play The Trip To Bountiful Actor