Mary Steenburgen is an American actress, singer, and songwriter who has a net worth of $80 million. Her fortune is a combined net worth with her husband of several decades, fellow actor Ted Danson. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Steenburgen has become one of Hollywood’s most respected and versatile performers, earning an Academy Award and starring in a wide range of acclaimed films and television series.
Steenburgen first rose to prominence after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her third film, Melvin and Howard (1980). She went on to build an impressive filmography that includes standout performances in Ragtime, Cross Creek, Parenthood, Back to the Future Part III, Elf, The Help, Step Brothers, Book Club, and many others. Her ability to move seamlessly between comedy and drama has made her a consistent presence in Hollywood for decades.
On television, Steenburgen has appeared in numerous popular and critically acclaimed series. Her credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Joan of Arcadia, Wilfred, The Last Man on Earth, Orange Is the New Black, Justified, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. She has also made memorable guest and recurring appearances across several major productions, further solidifying her reputation as a highly adaptable actress.
Beyond acting, Steenburgen has also made a name for herself in music. Following a minor arm surgery in 2007, she began experiencing musical ideas and eventually studied music formally. By the 2010s, she had written dozens of songs and collaborated with Nashville musicians. Her songwriting work has even appeared in films, including the 2018 musical drama Wild Rose, and in 2020 she signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group.
| Mary Steenburgen Net Worth | $80 Million |
| Date of Birth | February 8, 1953 |
| Place of Birth | Newport, Arkansas |
Early Life
Mary Steenburgen was born on February 8, 1953, in Newport, Arkansas, to Nellie, a school secretary, and Maurice Steenburgen, a freight train conductor. She has one sister, Nancy. After attending Hendrix College in Arkansas, where she studied drama, she moved to New York City in 1972 to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse. While pursuing acting training, she worked at Doubleday publishing and as a server at the Magic Pan restaurant.
Her breakthrough came in 1978 when she was cast as the female lead in Jack Nicholson’s Western comedy Goin’ South. This was followed by another major early role in the science-fiction romance Time After Time (1979), opposite Malcolm McDowell, which helped establish her as a rising film talent.
Film and Television Career
Steenburgen’s career reached a major turning point in 1980 when she starred in Melvin and Howard, directed by Jonathan Demme. Her performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She followed this success with roles in films such as Ragtime, A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy, One Magic Christmas, Parenthood, Philadelphia, Powder, Nixon, Elf, Step Brothers, and The Help, among many others.
Her television career began in the early 1980s and expanded significantly over time. She appeared in Faerie Tale Theatre, Ink, and later became widely recognized for her recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm. She went on to star in Joan of Arcadia, Wilfred, Bored to Death, 30 Rock, Justified, The Last Man on Earth, and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, among others.
Music Career
In the 2000s, Steenburgen discovered a strong interest in music composition after undergoing surgery, later stating that musical ideas began coming to her unexpectedly. She studied music theory and began writing songs, eventually collaborating with Nashville-based artists. By 2013, she had written nearly 50 songs and continued expanding her musical portfolio, including contributions to film soundtracks. Her growing success in music led to a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group in 2020.
Personal Life
Mary Steenburgen was first married to actor Malcolm McDowell, whom she met while filming Time After Time. The couple married in 1980 and had two children before divorcing in 1990. In 1995, she married actor Ted Danson, and the couple has remained together since, becoming one of Hollywood’s most enduring partnerships. Steenburgen is also known for her close friendships within political and entertainment circles.
Real Estate
Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson own multiple properties across the United States, primarily in California. In 2019, they sold a nine-acre estate in Ojai for $8.75 million, which they had purchased in 2005 for $4.5 million. They still maintain another home in Ojai, purchased in 2017 for $2.4 million.
The couple also owns a Santa Monica property purchased in 2014 for $3.5 million, later expanded with an adjacent acquisition for $5.2 million to form a larger compound. Additional holdings include a cottage in Nashville and a multi-residence estate on Martha’s Vineyard.
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