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Frances Lee McCain

American actress From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frances Lee McCain is an American actress.

OthernameLee McCain
OccupationActress
Yearsactive1969–present
Quick facts Other name, Occupation ...
Frances Lee McCain
McCain in 1977
Other nameLee McCain
OccupationActress
Years active1969–present
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Early life and education

McCain graduated from Ripon College with a BA in Philosophy and then studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England.[1]

Career

She returned to New York City where she appeared on Broadway in Woody Allen's Play it Again Sam, and off-Broadway in Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky, creating the role of Carol.[2] She joined the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco under William Ball and played a variety of roles in repertory.

Apple's Way TV series (1974–1975) and other 1970s work

She began her career in film and television after appearing opposite Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway in A Streetcar Named Desire, eventually co-starring with Ronny Cox as the female lead in the television series, CBS-TV's Apple's Way in 1974. She appeared in a variety of television series and miniseries through the 1970s, including Washington: Behind Closed Doors and the Quincy, M.E. episode Eye of the Needle playing a Holistic practitioner, and in "The Rockford Files" 1978 episode "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall." In 1979, she appeared in Real Life. In 1979, she appeared on ABC in the television series 13 Queens Boulevard.

1980s acting work

In the 1980s, she was cast in several major films, usually playing the mother of a main character. In 1984, she co-starred in the film Gremlins as Lynn Peltzer, the mother of main character Billy Peltzer. Also that year, she played Ethel McCormack, the mother of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), in the musical film Footloose. In 1985, she appeared in the film Back to the Future as Stella Baines, the mother of Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson). In 1986, she played Mrs. Lachance, the mother of Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), in the drama film Stand by Me.

Later work

McCain continued to work in television after relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1980s and also appeared in Scream (1996), as the mother of Rose McGowan and David Arquette's characters, and Patch Adams (1998).

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1973The Laughing PolicemanProstitute
1979Real LifeJeanette Yeager
1981Honky Tonk FreewayClaire Calo
1982TexMrs. Johnson
1984FootlooseEthel McCormack
1984GremlinsLynn Peltzer[3]
1985Back to the FutureStella Baines
1986Murder in Three ActsMiss Milray
1986Stand by MeMrs. Lachance
1988It Takes TwoJoyce Rogers
1996ScreamMrs. Riley[3]
1998Patch AdamsJudy
1999True CrimeMrs. Lowenstein
2018Ideal HomeDoris
2019DreamlandTeller
2020The Comeback TrailMarge (Old Actress)
2022End of the RoadVal
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Mod Squad Alice Episode: "And Once for My Baby"
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Gina Episode: "The Second Victim"
1974 The New Perry Mason Laurie Haden Episode: "The Case of the Violent Valley"
1974–1975 Apple's Way Barbara Apple Series regular; 28 episodes
1975 Doctors' Hospital Annie Robaire Episode: "But Who Will Bless Thy Daughter Norah?"
The Bob Newhart Show Janet Episode: "A Matter of Vice-Principal"
1976 Visions Jenny Episode: "The War Widow"
1977 The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald[4] Jan Holder TV Movie
1978 The Rockford Files Leslie Callahan Episode: "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall"
1978 Lou Grant Susan Sherman Episodes: "Romance", "Singles"
1981 Three's Company Kelly Episode: "And Baby Makes Four"
1985 The Rape of Richard Beck Caroline Beck TV Movie
1986 A Fighting Choice Virginia Hagan
Can You Feel Me Dancing? Joan Nichols TV Movie
1987 At Mother's Request Louise 2 episodes
Police Story Claire Wright Episode: The Freeway Killings
1988 Hunter Sara Devane Episode: "Girl on the Beach"
Scandal in a Small Town Gwendolyn TV Movie
Leap of Faith Susan
1989 HeartBeat Samantha Flemming Episode: "Baby, Maybe"
1990 The Lookalike Dr. Stamos TV Movie
1991 Father Dowling Investigates Helen Austin Episode: The Mummy's Curse Mystery
1993 Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders Bea Emory TV Movie
Firestorm: 72 Hours In Oakland [5] Flo
Dying to Love You [6] Sue Graham
Diagnosis Murder Monica Walters Episode: "The 13 Million Dollar Man"
1993–1994 Second Chances Felicity Cook 3 episodes
2016 Preacher Mosie 3 episodes
2017 Midnight, Texas Janice Episode: "Last Temptation of Midnight"
The Girlfriend Experience Sandra 7 episodes
2020 Messiah Patty Episode: "So That Seeing They May Not See"
Better Call Saul Judge Chapek Episode: "Namaste"
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