
Biography
Laura Elizabeth Metcalf (born June 16, 1955) is an American actress and comedian. Often described as a character actor, she is known for her complex and versatile roles across the stage and screen. She has received various accolades throughout her career spanning over four decades, including two Tony Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. Metcalf began her career with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and frequently works in Chicago theatre. She made her Broadway debut in the 1985 play My Thing of Love. She went on to receive six Tony Award nominations, winning Best Actress in a Play in 2017 for her performance in A Doll's House, Part 2 and Best Featured Actress in a Play for the 2018 revival of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women. Her other Tony-nominated roles were for November (2008), The Other Place (2010), Misery (2016), and Hillary and Clinton (2019). She gained national attention for her performance as Jackie Harris on the sitcom Roseanne (1988–1997, 2018) and its spinoff The Conners (2018–present), for which she won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in Hacks (2022), and her other Emmy-nominated roles include 3rd Rock from the Sun (1999), Monk (2006), Desperate Housewives (2007), The Big Bang Theory (2016), Getting On (2013–2015), and Horace and Pete (2016). She also appeared on The Norm Show (1999–2001), Frasier, and The Dropout (2022). In film, Metcalf is best known for her performance as Marion McPherson in Greta Gerwig's comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017). She was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a SAG Award, and a BAFTA Award. From 1995, she has voiced Mrs. Davis, the mother of Andy, in the Toy Story franchise, and voiced Sarah Hawkins in the Disney animated Treasure Planet (2002). Other notable film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Uncle Buck (1989), JFK (1991), Dear God (1996), Georgia Rule (2007) and Scream 2 (1997).
Awards & recognition
- Tony Award — Best Featured Actress in a Play · 2018
- Boston Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- Chicago Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- National Board of Review Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
Show all 25 awards →
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- Online Film Critics Society Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- San Diego Film Critics Society Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- St. Louis Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- Tony Award — Best Actress in a Play · 2017
- Toronto Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2017
- Ovation Awards · 2015
- Lucille Lortel Award — Outstanding Lead Actress · 2011
- Ovation Awards · 2011
- Ovation Awards · 2008
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series · 1994
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series · 1993
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series · 1992
- Theatre World Award · 1985
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2018 · nominated
- Tony Award — Best Actress in a Play · 2016 · nominated
- Tony Award — Best Actress in a Play · 2013 · nominated
- Tony Award — Best Featured Actress in a Play · 2008 · nominated
Filmography50+ titles

Malcolm in the Middle

Toy Story 3

Grey's Anatomy

Monk

Toy Story

The Big Bang Theory

Desperate Housewives

Frasier

The Pixar Story

Treasure Planet

Toy Story 2

JFK

Toy Story 4

Raines

3rd Rock from the Sun

Carol & the End of the World

Hacks

King of the Hill

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

The Dropout

Supergirl

Without a Trace

Leaving Las Vegas

Lady Bird

Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories

The Norm Show

The Conners

American Dad!

Big Mistakes

Meet the Robinsons

Saturday Night Live

Uncle Buck

Roseanne

Elsbeth

Q-Force

U Turn

Playing House

Scream 2

Internal Affairs

Somewhere in Queens

Getting On

Bulworth

Pacific Heights

A Wedding

Scream 7

Fun with Dick and Jane

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Stop-Loss

Runaway Bride

Blink