Mare Winningham Movies
Mare Winningham is a critically acclaimed performer on stage, television, and occasionally feature films. She began her career performing a song on TV's notorious Gong Show. While playing Maria in a high school production of The Sound of Music, opposite classmate Kevin Spacey, Winningham was spotted by Hollywood agent Meyer Mishkin who landed her a role in the short-lived TV Western series The Young Pioneers in 1978. This led to her first TV movie, Special Olympics. For her role as an independent-minded farmer's daughter in 1980's Amber Waves, she won an Emmy. That year, Winningham made her feature-film debut starring opposite Paul Simon in Robert M. Young's One-Trick Pony. She fared better in her next film, Threshold (1981), where she played the recipient of an artificial heart. Winningham then went on to play a number of supporting roles and the occasional lead in a series of unremarkable films. She continues to fare much better on television, where she has appeared in popular films such as The Thorn Birds (1983) and Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues (1984). She was part of the ensemble in the Gen X touchstone St. Elmo's Fire in 1985 and went on to appear in Shy People, Miracle Mile, the Tom Hanks with a dog vehicle Turner and Hooch, and Wyatt Earp. She earned long-deserved award recognition in 1995 for playing a successful singer struggling with her drug-addicted sister in Georgia. Her work in that film garnered her an Oscar nomination Best Supporting Actress, and she won that award at that year's Independent Spirit Awards. She had a recurring role on the hit medical drama ER at the close of the '90s. As the 21st century began she maintained her status as a first-class character actress appearing in a variety of projects such as Snap Decision, The Adventures of Ociee Nash, and Dandelion. She enjoyed a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy, but she found even greater small screen success with back to back Emmy nominations for Best Supporting actress in a movie or miniseries in 2011 and 2012 with her work in Mildred Pierce and Hatfields & McCoys. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi- 1981
Not much time is actually spent in Weasel Creek in this made-for-TV movie, despite its title. Essentially, this is a semiserious "road" picture concerning the misadventures of a rambunctious young girl (Mare Winningham). Linking up with a runaway farm boy (John Hammond), the girl heads to California with only the clothes on her back and the few possessions from her house trailer. En route, the boy stops over in the aptly named Weasel Creek to visit his aunt (Colleen Dewhurst). The film is populated with such familiar rustic types as Barry Corbin, Richard Farnsworth and Trey Wilson. A Few Days in Weasel Creek first aired October 21, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
- PG
Made for television, A Winner Never Quits is the true story of one-armed baseball player Pete Gray. Having lost his arm in a childhood accident, Pete (played by Steve Rees as a child, Keith Carradine as an adult) still insists upon pursuing an athletic career in emulation of his older brother Whitey (Ed O'Neill). When Whitey suffers permanent brain damage in a boxing match, Pete takes up the cudgel and enters the world of professional sports. Hired in 1943 as a "freak attraction" and wartime morale-booster by the Memphis Chicks, Class-A minor league ball club, Gray attains a batting average of .333 and a stolen-base record of 63; as a result, he is appointed his league's MVP. Though a success, Pete maintains a tough, defensive veneer, which is softened only by the love of his wife Annie (Mare Winningham) and the adulation of baseball fan Nelson Gary Jr. (Huckleberry Fox), who has also lost an arm (and who would, in real life, become a top minor-league ballplayer himself). With the war depleting big-league baseball's manpower in 1945, Pete Gray finally achieves his goal of entering the Majors when he is hired by the St. Louis Browns. Dennis Weaver and Fionnulla Flanagan costar as Pete's immigrant parents. Burt Prelutsky's screenplay wisely avoids pathos and sentiment throughout; though humanized by his relationships with friends and family, Pete Gray is accurately portrayed as a brusque, temperamental soul, who neither asks for nor tolerates sympathy from anyone. A Winner Never Quits first aired in April of 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1982
Amber Waves is the tale of two radically different personalities, united by crisis. Dennis Weaver plays a midwestern wheat harvester, coarsened by his lifelong struggle with poverty and the elements. Kurt Russell plays an obnoxious Manhattan-based male model, who has coasted through life on his charm and has never gotten his hands dirty. When Russell finds himself facially disfigured and penniless, he takes a job on Weaver's farm. Though the two men dislike each other at first, they reach a common ground when Weaver suffers a serious personal dilemma. Beautifully lensed in Alberta, Canada, Amber Waves was one of the high points of the 1979-80 TV movie season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1994
Mare Winningham stars as a sister determined to find out the truth in this fact-based made-for-television drama. Patricia Arquette stars as an FBI informant who has a secret affair with a married agent (Stephen Webber). When her older sister Dana (Winningham) admonishes her to be careful, she refuses to heed the warning and plunges deeper into the relationship, which unfortunately has deadly consequences. TV-movie veteran Winningham is good as always and Arquette and Webber are a believable duo. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mare Winningham, Steven Weber, (more)
- 1993
Mare Winningham stars in this made-for-cable TV movie about a woman who, after a lifetime of bad luck, ends up on death row -- where she insists the sentence be carried out promptly. Film was co-produced by author and noted feminist Gloria Steinem. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Jim Sheridan's film, adapted from Susanne Bier's 2004 movie, concerns Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire), a Marine who receives orders to ship out for yet another tour of duty in Afghanistan. But before he leaves his supportive wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), and his two elementary-school-age daughters, Sam picks up his black sheep brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), who has finished a prison stretch for robbing a bank. While overseas, Sam's aircraft gets shot down and he's thought dead. Back home, irresponsible Tommy gets his act together in order to be an anchor for Grace and the girls, and the two grow emotionally -- though not physically -- close. As the family finally begins to make peace with their grief, soldiers rescue POW Sam and he returns home. Sam's experiences overseas have caused him such emotional turmoil, he has a difficult time adjusting to civilian life, and soon his fear and paranoia manifest themselves in the form of jealousy for his brother's relationship with his wife. Sam Shepard and Mare Winningham co-star as the brothers' father and stepmother. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, (more)
- 1990
Crossing to Freedom is a 1990 TV-movie remake of the 1942 film The Pied Piper; both productions were based on a novel by Nevil Shute. Peter O'Toole steps into the old Monty Woolley role of the crotchety, isolationist Britisher who finds himself the unwilling guardian of several French war- refugee children. O'Toole leads his flock out of occupied France, making good his escape by striking up an unusual bargain with a Nazi officer. The predominantly British cast members choose to play their roles without French or German accents; not so American leading lady Mare Winningham, whose musical-comedy dialect is straight out of Fifi D'Orsay. Unlike the original Hollywood-bound Pied Piper, Crossing to Freedom was filmed on location in France. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Independent filmmaker Mark Milgard makes his feature debut with the coming-of-age drama Dandelion, filmed on-location in Idaho. TV star Vincent Kartheiser plays Mason Mullich, a quiet sensitive boy living in a small town. His mother, Layla (Mare Winningham), is already overworked when his factory worker father, Luke (Arliss Howard), decides to run for city council. Things change for Mason when he meets Danny Voss (Taryn Manning), a young girl who just moved to town with her mother (Michelle Forbes). Their young love affair is complicated by a family accident. Dandelion premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 as part of the American Spectrum program. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vincent Kartheiser, Taryn Manning, (more)
- 1998
Carter (Noah Wyle) is pressed into service as tour guide for the family of Ruth Johnson (Anne Pitoniak), who was born at Chicago's County General exactly 100 years ago. Meanwhile, Carol (Julianna Margulies) cares for eight-year-old stalker victim Wilson (Jesse James Unterthiner); Benton (Eriq La Salle) has second thoughts about a cochlear implant for his son, Reese; and the relationship between Benton and Corday (Alex Kingston) reaches an impasse. Originally telecast as the 100th episode of ER, "Good Luck, Ruth Johnson" is catalogued as number 101 in the series' syndication package. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Greene (Anthony Edwards) has a severe panic attack when he is hazed by a group of fun-loving paramedics. While going through a grueling 36-hour shift, Corday (Alex Kingston) commits a fatal error. Anspaugh (John Aylward) thinks he has found a perfect candidate for ER chief in the form of one Dr. Amanda Lee (Mare Winningham). And Carter (Noah Wyle) is upset to learn that Lucy (Kellie Martin) is as contemptuous of him as he is of her. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
New ER chief Amanda Lee (Mare Winningham) continues to display erratic behavior as she fantasizes about a night of torrid sex with Greene (Anthony Edwards). Digging into Lee's past, Greene discovers serious discrepancies in her medical school records -- not to mention a major problem with her "famous" journal article. Elsewhere, Lucy (Kellie Martin) fends off the amorous Dr. Edson (Matthew Glave); Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) dates a policeman; and Weaver (Laura Innes) receives a startling phone call. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Ross (George Clooney) has just about given up trying to revive an 18-year-old who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on Christmas Eve, but Carter (Noah Wyle) wants to keep trying. In other ER developments, a pregnant 13-year-old must decide if she wants to keep her baby. Benton (Eriq La Salle) and Romano (Paul McCrane) have a physical confrontation after a night of escalating mutual animosity. And can it be that the "perfect" Dr. Amanda Lee (Mare Winningham) is a seriously disturbed woman? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Dennis Quaid made his directorial debut with this TV movie, a contemporary western filmed in Livingston, Montana with Quaid also down as executive producer. Tough, unemotional ranchowner Jim Clay (Quaid) and his faithful wife Kyle (Mare Winningham) have a teenage son Nathan (Ryan Merriman) who hopes to enter the rodeo big leagues, just like his dad. Instead, an auto accident leaves Nathan a paraplegic. Jim is devastated, since he was the cause of the accident. The situation brings father and son closer as the family attempts to deal with the tragedy. Premiered July 12, 1998 on TNT. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Mare Winningham, (more)
- 1991
- PG
Curiously listed as a 1991 theatrical production in some sources, Eye on the Sparrow was actually a made-for-TV movie, which first aired December 7, 1987. Mare Winningham plays a blind Missouri woman who marries sightless teacher David Carradine. He is resigned to a world of darkness, but she is bitter over her lot in life, especially after an operation all-too-temporarily restores her sight. Unable to conceive children, the couple tries to adopt: but this is the mid-1960s, and agencies are unwilling to entrust "normal" children to the visually impaired. The only children permitted into their household are the handicapped rejects from foster homes. During their 12-year struggle to prove themselves acceptable as adoptive parents, the woman grows spiritually, learning to shelve her own self-pity by caring for those less fortunate than herself. Based on fact, Eye on the Sparrow was written for television by Barbara Turner (the mother, incidentally, of actress Jennifer Jason Leigh). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mare Winningham, Keith Carradine, (more)
- 1991
Because sources gave contradictory information on this made-for-TV film--two different plot synopses from two different sources--the information here is based on the scattered TV listings found for the film. Mare Winningham plays Jamie Hurd, a young mother whose life is put in danger by a photograph. The picture reveals vital evidence pertaining to a recent mob hit. Jamie comes into possession of the fatal snapshot when her order is mislabeled at the local camera shop. And so it goes for the next 97 minutes. Fatal Exposure debuted February 6, 1991, over the USA Cable Network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mare Winningham
- 1981
After a particularly bitter argument with her divorced mother, teenager Libby Bellow (Mare Winningham) runs away from home. Eventually, she links up with a traveling carnival and takes on a variety of responsibilities, in so doing coming to the realization that her life at home might not have been so bad after all. In addition to serving as an early showcase for actress Mare Winningham, this made-for-TV film also features a number of original songs by Janis Ian. Freedom was originally telecast by ABC on May 18, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
An unflinching drama of frustrated ambition and troubled siblings, Georgia examines the relationship between a self-destructive, would-be rock singer and her sister, a successful folk musician. Sadie (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is the younger, more troubled sister, a wild child with a taste for reckless behavior, from her dangerous romances to her attachments to drugs and alcohol. Hopping between low-rent clubs, Sadie struggles to make it from gig to gig, delivering rawly emotional performances that lack technical skill. Her repeated career failures drive her further into addiction, sending her life into a downward spiral. Ultimately, she is forced to seek help from her sister Georgia (Mare Winningham), who is everything Sadie is not: married, financially secure, and blessed with a smooth voice that has won her popular success. A clash of seemingly opposite personalities follows, as Georgia attempts to help Sadie without becoming damaged herself. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mare Winningham, (more)
A young mother and her daughter end up on the streets in this grim made-for-television movie. Mare Winningham stars as Theresa Johnson, a young mother whose life falls apart when she finds herself suddenly single, unemployed and homeless. With nowhere to turn, Theresa and her daughter Hillary (Grace Johnston) drift through the social system, wandering from shelter to shelter with little hope for the future. Gripping in its portrayal of the cycle of poverty, the film offers no simple solutions -- much like real life. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- 2006
Things become more strained than usual between Burke (Isaiah Washington), who has been offered the position of chief surgeon, and Cristina (Sandra Oh), who is still keeping Burke's tremors a secret. Elsewhere, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) must bite her tongue to keep several secrets from her half-sister Molly (Mandy Siegfried), who has been admitted as a patient. George (T.R. Knight) senses his father's vulnerability for the first time when the elder O'Malley (George Dzundza) undergoes surgery. And Mark (Eric Dane) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) must cope with conjoined twins (Jason Sklar, Randy Sklar) who refuse to be separated despite the consequences of not doing so. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2007
Recovering from her near-death experience, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) is convinced that her outlook on life has completely changed. More and more candidates are vying for the chief-of-surgery position soon to be vacated by Webber (James Pickens Jr.), among them handsome doctor Colin Marlow (Roger Rees), whose arrival has a strange effect on Cristina (Sandra Oh). Derek (Patrick Dempsey) finds himself treating an old friend (Shohreh Aghashloo) whose tumor may well be inoperable. Still trying to cope with the loss of Denny Duquette, Izzie (Katherine Heigl) is profoundly moved by WW2 vet Scofield (James Gammon),who has come to Seattle Grace to remove a bullet that has been lodged in his body for over sixty years. And Alex (Justin Chambers) prepares the first of several operations on the severely injured "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser). This is the episode in which George (T.R. Knight) begins questioning the wisdom of his marriage to Callie--culminating in a drunken misadventure with another female staffer! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2006
Burke (Isaiah Washington) is on the verge of kicking George (T.R. Knight) out of his place. Meredith unearths yet another carefully guarded family secret when her stepmother Susan (Mare Winningham) shows up. To regain her much-feared stature as "the Nazi", Bailey (Chandra Wilson) demands to assist Derek (Patrick Dempsey) as he operates on an ailing child, but succeeds only in revealing her softer side (again!) And Alex (Justin Chambers) is forced to fine-tune his bedside manner after he blurts out the truth about a terminal patient (Laurie Metcalf) to the woman's daughter. Chris O'Donnell makes his first series appearance as handsome "McVet" (veterinarian, that is) Finn Dandridge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2007
In the first episode of a two-part story, Addison (Kate Walsh) heads to LA for a reunion old medical-school friends, blissfully unprepared for what it is in store for her. Meredith's stepmom Susan (Mare Winningham) is brought in with a truly bad case of hiccups, just as Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) thinks she has come to terms with their relationship. "Jane Doe" (Elizabeth Reaser) has been identified as "Ava", and Alex (Justin Chambers) is happy with her by any name. And Cristina (Sandra Oh) prepares for her wedding with the dubious input of her own mother (Tsai Chin) and Burke's mom (Diahann Carroll). This episode serves to introduce the future costars of the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice: Tim Daly (Pete), Amy Brennerman (Violet), Taye Diggs (Sam), Chris Lowell (Dell) and Paul Adelstein (Cooper) (the character of Naomi, here played by Merrin Dungey, would be taken over by Audra McDonald in Private Practice). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2007
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Addison (Kate Walsh) undergoes a profound personal crisis as she mulls over the possibility of moving to LA's Oceanside Wellness Center (thereby setting the stage for the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice). Back in Seattle, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) learns that her stepmother Susan (Mare Winningham) is suffering from something far more serious than a bad case of hiccups. Alex (Justin Chambers) shows up for emotional support as Derek (Patrick Dempsey) performs emergency surgery on Ava (Elizabeth Reaser). And Burke (Isaiah Washington) and George (T.R. Knight) get quite an earful when they turn to Bailey (Chandra Wilson) for marital advice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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