Lois Smith

Birth Place: Topeka, KS, USA

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Lois Smith BIO

Lois Smith is an American character actress. She made her film in 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), How to Make an American Quilt (1995), Dead Man Walking (1995), Twister (1996), Minority Report (2002), The Nice Guys (2016) and Lady Bird (2017).

She is a three-time Tony Award nominee for The Grapes of Wrath (1990), Buried Child (1996), and The Inheritance (2020). She also starred Off-Broadway in the revival of The Trip to Bountiful for which she received an Obie Award for Best Actress, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, and a Drama Desk Award. Smith is an ensemble member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.

Lois Smith Photos

Lois Smith STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Premiere, 2019
Margaret

[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons New York Premiere, 2018
Carla

[Off-Broadway]
The New Group World Premeire, 2018
Mary Frances

[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons Original Off-Broadway Production, 2015
Marjorie

[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Off-Broadway Production, 2015
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
World Premiere, 2013
Mamie Borden

[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Production, 2012
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Company Production, 2011
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
2007
Colleen

[Off-Broadway]
2005
Carrie Watts

[Off-Broadway]
1999
Maggie Donovan

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1999
Performer [Replacement]

Performer [Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
1998
Kandall Kingsley

[Off-Broadway]
1997
Betty

[Broadway]
1996
Halie

[Broadway]
1990
Ma

[Off-Broadway]
1989
Mary

[Off-Broadway]
1989
Misress Overdone

[Off-Broadway]
1986
Mrs. Dotson

[Off-Broadway]
1985
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
1978
Performer

[Broadway]
1978
Lady Customer

Silvia

Blonde Sister

Nurse

[Broadway]
1973
Cora

[Off-Broadway]
1972
Judith Kalmus (Twas Brillig)

A Woman (So Please Be Kind)

Mother (Present Tense)

Louise Harper (Come Next Tuesday)

[Off-Broadway]
1970
Mary

[Broadway]
1963
Lucha Moreno

[Broadway]
1958
Mary Devlin

[Broadway]
1957
Carol Cutrere

[Broadway]
1955
Josephine Perry

[Broadway]
1955
Antoinette

[Broadway]
1952
Joan


Lois Smith Awards and Nominations

Obie Awards - 2006 - Performance

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful

The Lortels - 2006 - Outstanding Lead Actress

Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful

Lois Smith Videos

Lois Smith News


LaMaMa to Present the World Premiere of THE MULBERRY TREE in February

Directed by Alexandra Aron, The Mulberry Tree will have its world premiere at La MaMa ETC. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Jeff Cohen's SQUEAKY Will Receive Developmental Readings This Month

As part of its new Building the Box Developmental Reading Series, Out of the Box Theatrics will present readings of SQUEAKY, a poignant autobiographical comedy by Drama Desk Award winner Jeff Cohen.

Tectonic Theater Project Returns to Laramie For Anniversary Reading of THE LARAMIE PROJECT

Original Tectonic Theater Project company members will travel back to Laramie, Wyoming to present a staged reading of their groundbreaking play, The Laramie Project to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the untimely death of Matthew Shepard (December 1, 1976 – October 12, 1998). Learn more about the reading here.

Photos: See Tonya Pinkins, Phylicia Rashad & More at THE COMEUPPANCE Opening Night

Check out photos from opening night of Signature Theatre's off-Broadway premiere of MacArthur Fellow Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' The Comeuppance directed by Eric Ting.

What Are The Smallest Parts to Win Tony Awards?

While the large majority of those who have won Tony Awards for performances on Broadway have put in significant stage time in their roles, there are a few notable exceptions. Who are the artists who impressed Tony voters so much that they won their trophies, even with relatively minimal stage time?

Photos: Inside Opening Night of KING JAMES at Manhattan Theatre Club

Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting the New York premiere of Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Center Theatre Group's production of King James. Check out photos from opening night!

Chicago Theatres To Dim Lights; Hold Memorial in Honor of Late Frank Galati

Several major theatres across the Chicago-area will dim their marquees or lobby lights on the evening of Saturday, May 13, 2023 in tribute to late playwright, director, actor and educator Frank Galati, who passed away January 2, 2023 at the age of 79.

The Actors Studio to Host Events Featuring Lois Smith & Celebrations of BIPOC Membership in May

In May, The Actors Studio will continue its 75th Anniversary celebration as the world’s most celebrated and influential membership association for professional actors, directors and playwrights.

Photos: See Stephanie Hsu, Sarah Ruhl & More at Signature Theater's Gala

See photos from Signature Theater's Gala featuring Stephanie Hsu and more.

Photos: Elvis Costello, Paula Vogel, And More Turn Out For LETTERS FROM MAX Opening Night At Signature Theatre!

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere production of MacArthur Fellow Sarah Ruhl's Letters From Max, directed by Kate Whoriskey, based on the book by Ruhl and Max Ritvo (Milkweed Editions), running through March 19, 2023. See photos from the show's opening night celebration featuring the show's star Jessica Hecht, rock icon Elvis Costello and more!

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of A BRIGHT NEW BOISE at Signature Theatre

Check out photos from opening night of A Bright New Boise at Signature Theatre!

2022 Key West Film Festival Announces Golden Key Awards for Chris Cooper and Elegance Bratton

The Key West Film Festival announced the recipients of its annual Golden Key Awards to be presented to screen legend Chris Cooper and Elegance Bratton, director of the upcoming release The Inspection. Past recipients of the award include Burt Reynolds, Marisa Tomei, Kimberly Peirce, Tom Skerritt, Lois Smith, Paul Verhoeven and Alan Cumming.

Signature Theatre to Unveil 42 Street Intersection as Jim Houghton Way

On the afternoon of October 4, Signature Theatre will unveil the 42nd Street and Dyer Avenue intersection in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood as the newly co-named Jim Houghton Way, celebrating the groundbreaking company’s founder, James Houghton (1958-2016).

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Announces Final Casting for the 2022 National Playwrights Conference

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center has announced the casts for the final two plays featured in the 2022 National Playwrights Conference: House of India by Deepak Kumar and Nightwatch by Max Yu.

Bob Gunton, John Rubinstein, & Carolyn McCormick to Star in THE SOAP MYTH in The Hamptons This Summer

Bob Gunton, a two-time Tony nominee, Drama Desk and Obie winner (Sweeney Todd, Evita, How I Got That Story) will return to the New York area stage after a thirty-year hiatus to star in the acclaimed drama The Soap Myth by Drama Desk winner Jeff Cohen Aug 10-28 at Southampton Cultural Center.

Photos: Go Inside the 2022 New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Ceremony!

The winners of the 2022 New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards were announced during a private ceremony on Friday, May 20 at Feinstein's/54 Below. The stars turned out for the exclusive event including Victoria Clark, LaChanze, Jeanine Tesori, David Lindsay-Abaire, Alli Mauzey, and more!

Mercedes Ruehl & Harris Yulin to Star in Suffolk Theater's LOVE LETTERS By A.R. Gurney

Suffolk Theater will present Academy Award winner Mercedes Ruehl and Harris Yulin starring in a production of Love Letters, written by A.R. Gurney, directed by Harris Yulin, and produced by Josh Gladstone on Saturday, July 9 at 8PM and Sunday, July 10 at 3PM.

New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Will Be Announced Tomorrow

The winners of the 2022 New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards will be announced Thursday, May 12 at 6pm. The selections will be made immediately beforehand at the organization's 86th annual voting meeting.

Photos: On the Red Carpet for THE MINUTES Opening Night

Tracy Letts' The Minutes, the newest work from the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of August: Osage County, has officially opened on Broadway last night at Studio 54. BroadwayWorld was there for the special occasion and you can check out photos from the red carpet arrivals .

Carrie Coon, Ann Harada & More to Take Part in SELECTED SHORTS: DANGEROUS WOMEN

Symphony Space will present Selected Shorts: Dangerous Women, an evening of short stories celebrating women who subvert expectations and disrupt the peace, including Charlotte Perkins Gilman's feminist classic “The Yellow Wallpaper.”

Lois Smith FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Lois Smith has appeared on Broadway in 11 shows.

Lois Smith has not appeared in the West End.

Lois Smith has been nominated for several awards throughout her career, including Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Inheritance," Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Inheritance," and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "The Inheritance." She has also been recognized with awards such as the Legend of Off Broadway Honoree, Distinguished Performance Awards at the Drama League Awards for "John" and "Marjorie Prime," a Special Citation at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at The Lortels for "John." Additionally, she has received the Lifetime Achievement award at the Obie Awards, Outstanding Featured Actress at The Lortels for "After the Revolution," and Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Trip to Bountiful." Lois Smith's accolades also include a Performance award at the Obie Awards for "The Trip to Bountiful," Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Trip to Bountiful," and Outstanding Lead Actress at The Lortels for "The Trip to Bountiful." Furthermore, she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "Buried Child," Best Actress - Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Grapes of Wrath," and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "The Grapes of Wrath."

Lois Smith has won several awards, including Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Inheritance," Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Inheritance," Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for "The Inheritance," Legend of Off Broadway Honoree, Special Citation at the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, Lifetime Achievement at the Obie Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Trip to Bountiful," Performance at the Obie Awards for "The Trip to Bountiful," Outstanding Actress in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Trip to Bountiful," and Outstanding Lead Actress at The Lortels for "The Trip to Bountiful."

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