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Lois Smith

Birth Place: Topeka, KS, USA

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BIO

Lois Arlene Smith (née Humbert; born November 3, 1930) is an American character actress whose career spans eight decades. She made her film debut in the 1955 drama film East of Eden, and later played supporting roles in a number of movies, including Five Easy Pieces (1970), Resurrection (1980), Fatal Attraction (1987), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Falling Down (1993), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Dead Man Walking (1995), Twister (1996), Minority Report (2002), The Nice Guys (2016), Lady Bird (2017), and The French Dispatch (2021).


In 2017, Smith received critical acclaim for her leading performance in the science-fiction drama film Marjorie Prime, for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards and Saturn Award, and won a Satellite Award. She has also had many roles on daytime and primetime television. She was a regular cast member in the HBO horror drama True Blood, and received a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series nomination for The Americans.
Smith also is known for her extensive work in the theatre. A three-time Tony Award nominee, she won the 2020 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in The Inheritance, becoming the oldest performer to win a Tony Award for acting. She also received Tony nominations for her performances in The Grapes of Wrath (1990) and Buried Child (1996). She starred in an acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of The Trip to Bountiful in 2005 for which she received an Obie Award for Best Actress, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, and a Drama Desk Award. She is an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.
She was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2007 for her outstanding contributions to the theatre. In 2013, she received a Lifetime Achievement Obie Award for excellence in Off-Broadway performances. She has taught, directed, and written for the stage.
In 2018, she took on the leading role in Brooklyn College student Lily Thorne's Peace for Mary Frances. The drama, directed by Lila Neugebauer, was given its world premiere by off-Broadway's The New Group at the Pershing Square Signature Center in New York. Smith's performance was praised, but the play received negative reviews from a variety of outlets from The New York Times to The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

The Inheritance The Inheritance
[Broadway]
Broadway Premiere, 2019
Margaret
I Was Most Alive with You I Was Most Alive with You
[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons New York Premiere, 2018
Carla
Peace for Mary Frances Peace for Mary Frances
[Off-Broadway]
The New Group World Premeire, 2018
Mary Frances
Marjorie Prime Marjorie Prime
[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons Original Off-Broadway Production, 2015
Marjorie
John John
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Off-Broadway Production, 2015
Performer
The Old Friends The Old Friends
[Off-Broadway]
World Premiere, 2013
Mamie Borden
Heartless Heartless
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Production, 2012
Performer
The Illusion The Illusion
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Company Production, 2011
100 Saints You Should Know
[Off-Broadway]
2007
Colleen
The Trip To Bountiful
[Off-Broadway]
2005
Carrie Watts
Give Me Your Answer, Do!
[Off-Broadway]
1999
Maggie Donovan
The Vagina Monologues
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1999
Performer [Replacement]
[Replacement]
[Replacement]
[Replacement]
Impossible Marriage
[Off-Broadway]
1998
Kandall Kingsley
Defying Gravity
[Off-Broadway]
1997
Betty
Buried Child
[Broadway]
1996
Halie
The Grapes of Wrath
[Broadway]
1990
Ma
Beside Herself
[Off-Broadway]
1989
Mary
Measure for Measure
[Off-Broadway]
1989
Misress Overdone
Bodies, Rest and Motion
[Off-Broadway]
1986
Mrs. Dotson
The Vienna Notes
[Off-Broadway]
1985
Performer
Touching Bottom
[Off-Broadway]
1978
Stages
[Broadway]
1978
Nurse
Blonde Sister
Silvia
Lady Customer
Silvia
Blonde Sister
Lady Customer
Nurse
The Iceman Cometh
[Broadway]
1973
Cora
Present Tense
[Off-Broadway]
1972
Mother (Present Tense)
A Woman (So Please Be Kind)
Judith Kalmus (Twas Brillig)
Louise Harper (Come Next Tuesday)
Mother (Present Tense)
A Woman (So Please Be Kind)
Judith Kalmus (Twas Brillig)
Louise Harper (Come Next Tuesday)
Sunday Dinner
[Off-Broadway]
1970
Mary
Bicycle Ride to Nevada
[Broadway]
1963
Lucha Moreno
Edwin Booth
[Broadway]
1958
Mary Devlin
Orpheus Descending
[Broadway]
1957
Carol Cutrere
The Young and Beautiful
[Broadway]
1955
Josephine Perry
The Wisteria Trees
[Broadway]
1955
Antoinette
Time Out for Ginger
[Broadway]
1952
Joan

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Lois Smith, The Inheritance


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2020 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Lois Smith, The Inheritance


winner
Tony Awards - 2020 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Lois Smith, The Inheritance


winner
- 2016 - Legend of Off Broadway Honoree

Lois Smith

Drama League Awards - 2016 - Distinguished Performance Award

Lois Smith, John

Drama League Awards - 2016 - Distinguished Performance Award

Lois Smith, Marjorie Prime


winner
New York Drama Critics Circle Awards - 2016 - Special Citation

Lois Smith

The Lortels - 2016 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Lois Smith, John


winner
Obie Awards - 2013 - Lifetime Achievement

Lois Smith

The Lortels - 2011 - Outstanding Featured Actress

Lois SmithAfter the Revolution


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2006 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful


winner
Obie Awards - 2006 - Performance

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2006 - Outstanding Actress in a Play

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful


winner
The Lortels - 2006 - Outstanding Lead Actress

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful

Tony Awards - 1996 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Lois Smith , Buried Child

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actress - Play

Lois Smith, The Grapes of Wrath

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actress - Play

Lois Smith, Grapes of Wrath

Tony Awards - 1990 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Lois Smith , The Grapes of Wrath

Videos

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News


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by Josh Sharpe - Nov 11, 2025

Broadway alums Hamish Linklater and Jeff Hiller, along with Emmy winner Steve Buscemi, will all appear as guest stars in the ongoing third season of Elsbeth.
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This October, stream Hazbin Hotel Season 2 and enjoy new movies and shows, including Elsbeth and The Woman in Cabin 10. Don't miss out!
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Dianne Wiest and Lois Smith Join ELSBETH as Season 3 Guest Stars
by Josh Sharpe - Sep 17, 2025

Broadway veterans Dianne Wiest and Lois Smith, along with Tony Hale, have joined the guest star lineup for Season 3 of Elsbeth. The CBS detective series, led by Carrie Preston, will return for its third season on October 12, 2025.
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Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo, Marisa Tomei and More to Star in THIS IS CRAZY at Symphony Space
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 11, 2025

Tony and Obie award-winning playwright V, formerly Eve Ensler, has created THIS IS CRAZY! to benefit The National Alliance on Mental Illness. See who is starring and learn how to attend.
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Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo, Marisa Tomei & More Will Take Part in THIS IS CRAZY
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 11, 2025

Tony and Obie award-winning playwright V, formerly Eve Ensler, has created THIS IS CRAZY!, a bold, funny, and moving new play to benefit The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  We have all of the details here!
Video: Sarah Jessica Parker and Jonathan Groff Host New 42 Studios Celebration Photo
Video: Sarah Jessica Parker and Jonathan Groff Host New 42 Studios Celebration
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 9, 2025

Performing arts and arts education nonprofit New 42 celebrated the 25th anniversary of New 42 Studios with a luncheon hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker and Jonathan Groff. See footage from the event here!
Photos: New 42 Studios Celebrates 25th Birthday Photo
Photos: New 42 Studios Celebrates 25th Birthday
by Jennifer Broski - Sep 8, 2025

Earlier today, New 42 Studios hosted a luncheon to celebrate 25 years of making Broadway. BroadwayWorld was there for the special day and you can check out photos from the red carpet here.
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June Squibb is a beloved actor with an incredibly long career—but does 96 make her the oldest actor to play Broadway in a regular production with 8 performances a week? According to our research, that is indeed the case! 
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by A.A. Cristi - Oct 24, 2024

The 24th Annual The 24 Hour Plays On Broadway, a one-night-only event featuring distinguished artists from the New York entertainment community took place this week at The Town Hall. Check out photos from the one-night-only production.
David Iacono, Lois Smith, Avantika And More Join THE 24 HOUR PLAYS On Broadway Photo
David Iacono, Lois Smith, Avantika And More Join THE 24 HOUR PLAYS On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 19, 2024

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS has announced additional artists for The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway on Monday October 21, 2024 at 7pm at The Town Hall (123 W 43rd St, New York NY, 10036). The annual event features distinguished artists from the New York entertainment community coming together for one night only to create, rehearse, and perform six new plays.
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by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 18, 2024

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Jeff Cohen's SQUEAKY Will Receive Developmental Readings This Month
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Lois Smith been in?

Lois Smith has appeared on Broadway in 11 shows.

How many West End shows has Lois Smith been in?

Lois Smith has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Lois Smith been nominated for?

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Inheritance, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Inheritance, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Inheritance, Legend of Off Broadway Honoree (), Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for John, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Marjorie Prime, Special Citation (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for , Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (The Lortels) for John, Lifetime Achievement (Obie Awards) for , Outstanding Featured Actress (The Lortels) for After the Revolution, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Trip to Bountiful, Performance (Obie Awards) for The Trip to Bountiful, Outstanding Actress in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Trip to Bountiful, Outstanding Lead Actress (The Lortels) for The Trip to Bountiful, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Buried Child, Best Actress - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Grapes of Wrath, Best Actress - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Grapes of Wrath and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Grapes of Wrath.

What awards has Lois Smith won?

Lois Smith has received several prestigious awards throughout her career. She won Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for The Inheritance. Additionally, she received the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production. Her performance in The Inheritance also earned her the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. She has been honored as a Legend of Off Broadway. The New York Drama Critics Circle Awards presented her with a Special Citation. She was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Obie Awards. For her role in The Trip to Bountiful, she won Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards, and she received an Obie Award for her performance. Furthermore, she earned Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards and Outstanding Lead Actress at The Lortel Awards for The Trip to Bountiful.

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