Catherine Keener

Catherine Keener (born March 26, 1959) is an American actress. Keener is known for her portrayals of disgruntled, melancholic and sympathetic women in independent films, as well as her supporting roles in studio films. Her accolades include nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Keener was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for Being John Malkovich (1999) and for her portrayal of author Harper Lee in Capote (2005). Her performance as Gertrude Baniszewski in An American Crime (2007) earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. She is the muse of director Nicole Holofcener, having appeared in each of Holofcener's first five films. She also appeared in each of director Tom DiCillo's first four films, and three films directed by Spike Jonze.

Keener has starred in the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Into the Wild (2007), Synecdoche, New York (2008), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Get Out (2017), and Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), as well as starring voice roles in The Croods (2013), its sequel The Croods: A New Age (2020), and Incredibles 2 (2018). From 2018 to 2020, she starred in the Showtime dramedy series Kidding.

Early life and education Keener was born to Jim and Evelyn (née Jamiel) Keener. Her father was of Irish descent and her mother is of Lebanese descent. Keener was raised in Hialeah, Florida as a Catholic and attended Catholic schools. She attended Monsignor Edward Pace High School.

Keener attended Wheaton College, in Norton, Massachusetts. She majored in American Studies, also enrolling in a theater course. Her first theatrical production was the Wendy Wasserstein play Uncommon Women and Others, during her junior year at Wheaton. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in 1983.

Career

Keener had a supporting role as Lt. Cricket Sideris in the television series Ohara. The series ran from January 1987 to May 1988.

Her first film appearance was one line in About Last Night... (1986) and three years later she appeared in Survival Quest.

She guest starred as an artist on an episode of Seinfeld called "The Letter", playing Jerry's girlfriend, an artist who painted a famous portrait of Kramer. Keener then earned her first starring role, in Johnny Suede, with the then-unknown Brad Pitt. Her performance gained critical acclaim and earned her first Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead. She went on to work with director Tom Dicillo again, in Living in Oblivion (1995). Two years later, she was once again nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in Walking and Talking, an independent cult-comedy film directed by Nicole Holofcener.

In 2000, Keener earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Being John Malkovich, directed by Spike Jonze. In 2006, she starred in the film Friends with Money, directed by Nicole Holofcener.

In 2007, Keener played Jan Burres in Sean Penn's critically acclaimed film Into the Wild, based on Jon Krakauer's best-selling book of the same name. In 2008, her film An American Crime, the true story of Gertrude Baniszewski, a middle-aged mother who tortured and murdered Sylvia Likens in her Indiana home, was aired on Showtime. Keener played Baniszewski and her portrayal earned her an Emmy nomination in the Best Actress in a TV Mini-Series or Movie category. In 2008, Keener portrayed Philip Seymour Hoffman's wife Adele in Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, Synecdoche, New York. She and Hoffman again played husband and wife in the 2012 film A Late Quartet. Keener played the title character's mother in the 2010 film Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, based on the series of books by Rick Riordan.

Keener starred in the six-episode HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero, based on the 1999 nonfiction book of the same name by Lisa Belkin. It aired in August 2015. In 2016, Keener starred in the independent film Unless.

In 2017, Keener starred as Missy Armitage in the racially themed horror film Get Out, which was a critical and commercial success.

Keener starred in the 2021 Netflix horror drama miniseries Brand New Cherry Flavor.

In 2024, Keener appeared in Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 film Joker.

Acting style and reception Throughout her career, Keener has developed a reputation for succeeding in complex roles, Director Rebecca Miller said that Keener is "very good at playing disgruntled", a designation about which Keener explained, "Anger is not a bad thing"; she finds comfort in playing roles of this nature because "It doesn't go hand in hand with the mode of behaviour that's ladylike or proper or dignified." Nate Williams of ComingSoon.net deemed Keener "one of the most interesting performers in the game" as of 2019 due to her willingness "to embrace different roles", describing her as "A dramatic actor with no problem playing strange characters". Rotten Tomatoes crowned Keener "one of the queens of 1990s American independent cinema", while The Independent called her "A darling of the independent film world". Dunlevy described the actress as "a consummate pro who has brought charisma and soul to projects ranging from" goofball comedies to blockbuster films. and the divorce became final on December 19, 2007.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 About Last Night... Cocktail Waitress 1989 Survival Quest Cheryl 1990 Catchfire Trucker's girl 1991 Switch Steve's Secretary Johnny Suede Yvonne Thelma & Louise Hal's wife Scenes cut 1992 The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag Suzanne 1993 The Cemetery Club Gail Moskowitz 1995 Living in Oblivion Nicole Springer 1996 Walking and Talking Amelia The Destiny of Marty Fine Lena Boys Jilly Box of Moonlight Floatie Dupre 1997 The Real Blonde Mary 1998 Out of Sight Adele Delisi Your Friends & Neighbors Terri 1999 8mm Amy Welles Simpatico Cecilia Being John Malkovich Maxine Lund 2001 Lovely & Amazing Michelle Marks 2002 Adaptation Herself Cameo Full Frontal Lee Death to Smoochy Nora Wells Simone Elaine Christian 2005 The Ballad of Jack and Rose Kathleen The Interpreter Dot Woods The 40-Year-Old Virgin Trish Piedmont Capote Nelle Harper Lee 2006 Friends with Money Christine 2007 An American Crime Gertrude Baniszewski Into the Wild Jan Burres 2008 Hamlet 2 Brie Marschz What Just Happened Lou Tarnow Synecdoche, New York Adele Lack Genova Barbara 2009 The Soloist Mary Weston Where the Wild Things Are Connie Also associate producer 2010 Please Give Kate Cyrus Jamie Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Sally Jackson Trust Lynn Cameron 2011 The Oranges Paige Walling Peace, Love & Misunderstanding Diane Maladies Catherine 2012 A Late Quartet Juliette Gelbart 2013 The Croods Ugga Crood Voice Enough Said Marianne Captain Phillips Andrea Phillips Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Ellie Zisman 2014 Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.5 Direct to video War Story Lee Also producer Begin Again Miriam Hart Elephant Song Susan Peterson 2015 Accidental Love Rep. Pam Hendrickson 2016 Unless Reta Winters 2017 Get Out Missy Armitage Little Pink House Susette Kelo We Don't Belong Here Nancy Green November Criminals Fiona Zeleny 2018 Nostalgia Donna Beam Incredibles 2 Evelyn Deavor / Screenslaver Voice 2020 The Croods: A New Age Ugga Crood Voice 2022 The Adam Project Maya Sorian Polar Bear Narrator Voice 2024 Joker: Folie à Deux Maryanne Stewart 2026 Love of Your Life Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 L.A. Law Waitress Episode: "The House of the Rising Flan" 1987 Ohara Lt. Cricket Sideris 11 episodes 1988–1989 Knightwatch Rebecca 2 episodes 1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Jan Engle Episode: "Curse of the Corn People" 1992 Seinfeld Nina West Episode: "The Letter"1996 Heroine of Hell Magda Television film If These Walls Could Talk Becky Donnelly Television film; segment: "1952" 2014 How and Why Alice Pilot 2015 Show Me a Hero Mary Dorman 5 episodes 2018–2020 Kidding Deirdre "Didi" Perera 20 episodes 2018 Forever Kase 5 episodes 2019 Modern Love Julie 2 episodes 2021 Brand New Cherry Flavor Boro 8 episodes 2023 Lucky Hank Catherine Keener Episode: "The Chopping Block"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2018 Lego The Incredibles Evelyn Deavor

Podcast Year Title Role Notes 2016–2017 Homecoming Heidi Bergman

Awards and nominations

Year Title Award 1991 Johnny Suede Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead 1995 Walking and Talking 1999 Being John MalkovichFlorida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressKansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressOnline Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressSatellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureSoutheastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureNominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Saturn Award for Best ActressNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2001 Lovely & AmazingNominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Female LeadNominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 2005 The Ballad of Jack and RoseBoston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress The InterpreterLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress The 40-Year-Old VirginBoston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress CapoteBoston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressDallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressToronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleNominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated—Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress 2007 An American CrimeNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television FilmNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Into the WildNominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2008 Synecdoche, New YorkGotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble CastIndependent Spirit Robert Altman Award 2009 Where the Wild Things AreNominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 2010 Please Give Nominated—Comedy Film Award for Best Leading ActressNominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble CastNominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 2017 Get Out Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture