Mary Steenburgen: 7 Surprising Facts About Her 2025 Emmy Win And Upcoming Pickleball Movie
Mary Steenburgen remains one of Hollywood's most beloved and versatile talents, consistently balancing a prolific acting career with her lesser-known life as a Grammy-winning songwriter. As of December 2025, the veteran actress is making headlines not just for her enduring marriage to Ted Danson, but for a major humanitarian honor and a slate of fresh, intriguing film projects that prove her career is nowhere near its twilight.
Her recent activities highlight a continued commitment to both the arts and philanthropy, cementing her status as a true Hollywood icon. From a Western adventure comedy to a sports film about the latest craze, Steenburgen’s upcoming work is as varied and captivating as her decades-long filmography.
Mary Steenburgen: Complete Biography and Profile
Mary Nell Steenburgen is an American actress, comedian, singer, and songwriter known for her roles in film and television, which span multiple genres and have earned her critical acclaim.
- Full Name: Mary Nell Steenburgen
- Date of Birth: February 8, 1953
- Place of Birth: Newport, Arkansas, U.S.
- Occupation: Actress, Comedian, Singer, Songwriter
- Education: Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre (New York City)
- Spouse(s): Malcolm McDowell (m. 1980; div. 1990), Ted Danson (m. 1995)
- Children: Lilly McDowell, Charlie McDowell (with Malcolm McDowell)
- Breakthrough Role: Lynda Dummar in Melvin and Howard (1980)
- Key Awards & Honors:
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Melvin and Howard, 1980)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (Melvin and Howard, 1980)
- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Drama (Joan of Arcadia, 2004)
- Bob Hope Humanitarian Award (2025, shared with Ted Danson)
- Grammy Award (as a songwriter for a children's project)
- Notable Filmography Entities: Melvin and Howard, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, Parenthood, Philadelphia, Nixon, Elf, The Proposal, The Help, Book Club, Nightmare Alley.
The 2025 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award and Recent Career Milestones
The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award: In a major highlight of late 2025, Mary Steenburgen and her husband, Ted Danson, were jointly honored with the prestigious Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy Awards. This recognition celebrates their extensive philanthropic work and dedication to various social causes, including environmental conservation and advocacy for the arts. The couple’s decades-long commitment to making a positive impact was lauded as a testament to Bob Hope’s legacy.
A Public Display of Enduring Love: Their presence at multiple 2025 events, including the Netflix Emmy Celebration and PaleyFest, continued to showcase one of Hollywood’s most enduring and beloved marriages. Steenburgen has often spoken openly about her deep connection with Danson, noting that one of the best parts of her day is when they simply get to be together.
Mentorship and Education: Beyond the red carpet, Steenburgen and Danson also dedicated time in 2025 to coaching students at the Emerson College Los Angeles (ELA) Comedic Arts Conservatory. This effort underscores her commitment to nurturing the next generation of comedic talent and sharing the wisdom gained from her long and varied career in film and television.
The Success of Book Club: The Next Chapter: While released in 2023, the continued success and viewership of Book Club: The Next Chapter kept Steenburgen's name in the cultural conversation throughout 2024 and 2025. Her role as Carol, alongside fellow icons Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Diane Keaton, reinforced her comedic timing and appeal to a broad, international audience.
Upcoming Projects: Western Adventure and the Pickleball Phenomenon
Mary Steenburgen is not slowing down, with two highly anticipated, yet distinct, film projects currently in production or awaiting release, showcasing her willingness to embrace diverse and quirky roles. These projects are set to further diversify her already impressive filmography, which includes everything from drama and comedy to fantasy (like Elf) and historical biopics (like Nixon).
1. The Pickleball Comedy: The Dink
Steenburgen is set to join the cast of the sports comedy film, The Dink, a movie centered around the rapidly growing sport of pickleball. The film, which is being produced by Ben Stiller and directed by Josh Greenbaum, follows a washed-up tennis pro, played by Jake Johnson, who finds a second chance in the world of professional pickleball. Steenburgen is part of a stellar ensemble cast that also includes Ed Harris, a testament to the project’s high-profile nature and its potential to capture the current cultural zeitgeist around the sport.
2. The Western Adventure: Last Train to Fortune
In a genre departure, Steenburgen is also slated to appear in the Western Adventure Comedy, Last Train to Fortune. Directed by Adam Rifkin, the film features a notable cast including Malcolm McDowell, Bernadette Peters, and Laura Marano. Details on her specific role remain under wraps, but the project promises a blend of action and humor, allowing Steenburgen to showcase her range within a classic American genre. The film has a tentative release window in 2025, further adding to her busy year.
The Enduring Legacy of an Oscar Winner and Songwriter
Steenburgen’s career began in the 1970s after studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. Her talent was quickly recognized, leading to her breakout role in Melvin and Howard, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has since been a constant presence in both film and television, effortlessly transitioning between dramatic roles, such as Hannah Nixon in Oliver Stone's Nixon, and beloved comedic performances, like the mother in Elf.
What many fans may not realize is her parallel career as a songwriter. After undergoing a minor surgery, Steenburgen developed a neurological condition that caused her to hear music constantly, leading her to take up the accordion and start writing songs. This unique journey resulted in her signing a publishing deal and winning a Grammy Award for a children’s music project, making her one of the few artists to achieve both an Oscar and a Grammy. This dedication to creative exploration, combined with her humanitarian spirit and a packed schedule of new projects, ensures that the Mary Steenburgen story is one that continues to evolve and inspire.
Detail Author:
- Name : Tomasa Morissette V
- Username : fisher.jovanny
- Email : edison33@franecki.biz
- Birthdate : 1987-01-04
- Address : 4346 Rath Underpass Apt. 369 Ankundingbury, CT 54750-1883
- Phone : 785.817.8314
- Company : Durgan and Sons
- Job : Judge
- Bio : Architecto repellat tempore quia unde aut occaecati animi. Non est dolorum est ut labore expedita sed. Et veniam libero quisquam.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/kbogisich
- username : kbogisich
- bio : Ducimus aut incidunt autem aut. Sint et facere qui ratione. Mollitia accusamus aspernatur accusantium enim quia quis sit deleniti.
- followers : 3985
- following : 53
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/kyler5932
- username : kyler5932
- bio : Voluptate cum et expedita rem minus nemo maiores.
- followers : 5139
- following : 2395
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@kyler3080
- username : kyler3080
- bio : Culpa assumenda labore aut et ut voluptate doloremque mollitia.
- followers : 6831
- following : 717
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/kbogisich
- username : kbogisich
- bio : Ad a cupiditate sit recusandae. Id commodi eius fuga consequatur tempore autem.
- followers : 4028
- following : 912
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/kbogisich
- username : kbogisich
- bio : Velit totam rerum saepe sunt. Ut rem est numquam ut.
- followers : 1793
- following : 1471
