Acting · Miami, Florida, USA · Born March 26, 1959
Catherine Ann Keener (born March 26, 1959) is an American actress. Considered one of the independent film industry's most reliable performers, Keener is known for portraying disgruntled and melancholic yet sympathetic women in independent films, as well as supporting roles in studio films. She has been twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Being John Malkovich (1999) and for her portrayal of author Harper Lee in Capote (2005). Keener also appeared in the films The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Into the Wild (2007), Synecdoche, New York (2008), and Get Out (2017), which were all well received by critics. Keener 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. From 2018 to 2020, she starred in the Showtime dramedy series Kidding.
MovieLove of Your Life
2026
MovieJoker: Folie à Deux
2024
as Maryanne Stewart
MoviePolar Bear
2022
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Adam Project
2022
as Maya Sorian
MovieNo Future
2021
as Claire
TVBrand New Cherry Flavor
2021
as Boro
MovieDear Diary: World's First Pranks
2021
as Ugga (voice)
MovieThe Croods: A New Age
2020
as Ugga (voice)
TVModern Love
2019
as Julie
MovieMeet the Pickles - Behind the Scenes of Kidding
2018
as Self
TVForever
2018
as Kase
TVKidding
2018
as Deirdre Perera
MovieSicario: Day of the Soldado
2018
as Cynthia Foards
MovieIncredibles 2
2018
as Evelyn Deavor (voice)
MovieLittle Pink House
2018
as Susette Kelo
MovieNostalgia
2018
as Donna Beam
MovieNovember Criminals
2017
as Fiona
MovieWe Don't Belong Here
2017
as Nancy Green
MovieGet Out
2017
as Missy Armitage
MovieUnless
2016
as Reta
TVShow Me a Hero
2015
as Mary Dorman
MovieElephant Song
2015
as Nurse Susan Peterson
MovieAccidental Love
2015
as Rep. Pam Hendrickson
MovieBegin Again
2014
as Miriam Hart
MovieJackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5
2014
as Ellie / Self
MovieWar Story
2014
as Lee
MovieJackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
2013
as Ellie Zisman
MovieCaptain Phillips
2013
as Andrea Phillips
MovieEnough Said
2013
as Marianne
MovieThe Croods
2013
as Ugga (voice)
MovieLost Angels: Skid Row Is My Home
2012
as Narrator
MovieA Late Quartet
2012
as Juliette Gelbart
MovieMaladies
2012
as Catherine
MovieAll Noncombatants Please Clear the Set
2012
as Self
MoviePeace, Love & Misunderstanding
2011
as Diane Hudson
MovieThe Oranges
2011
as Paige Walling
MovieTrust
2010
as Lynn Cameron
MovieCyrus
2010
as Jamie
MoviePlease Give
2010
as Kate
MoviePercy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
2010
as Sally Jackson
MovieWhere the Wild Things Are
2009
as Mom
Collaborators
2009
as Self
MovieTell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak
2009
as Herself
MovieThe Soloist
2009
as Mary Weston
MovieGenova
2009
as Barbara
MovieSynecdoche, New York
2008
as Adele Lack
MovieWhat Just Happened
2008
as Lou Tarnow
MovieHamlet 2
2008
as Brie Marschz
MovieInto the Wild
2007
as Jan Burres
MovieAn American Crime
2007
as Gertrude Baniszewski
MovieFriends with Money
2006
as Christine
MovieMaking Capote: Concept to Script
2006
as Self
MovieCapote
2005
as Harper Lee
MovieThe 40 Year Old Virgin
2005
as Trish Piedmont
MovieThe Interpreter
2005
as Dot Woods
MovieThe Ballad of Jack and Rose
2005
as Kathleen
TVThe Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self
MovieAdaptation.
2002
as Catherine Keener (uncredited)
Death to Smoochy: Bloopers & Outtakes
2002
as Self
MovieDeath to Smoochy: Behind the Scenes Documentary
2002
as Self
MovieS1m0ne
2002
as Elaine Christian
MovieFull Frontal
2002
as Lee
MovieLovely & Amazing
2002
as Michelle Marks
MovieDeath to Smoochy
2002
as Nora Wells
MovieBeing John Malkovich
1999
as Maxine Lund
MovieSimpatico
1999
as Cecilia
Movie8MM
1999
as Amy Welles
MovieYour Friends & Neighbors
1998
as Terri
MovieOut of Sight
1998
as Adele Delisi
MovieThe Real Blonde
1998
as Mary
MovieIf These Walls Could Talk
1996
as Becky
MovieBox of Moonlight
1996
as Floatie Dupre
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self
MovieWalking and Talking
1996
as Amelia
TVThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self - Guest
MovieBoys
1996
as Jilly
MovieThe Destiny of Marty Fine
1996
as Lena
MovieHeroine of Hell
1996
as Magda
MovieLiving in Oblivion
1995
as Nicole Springer
Journeys North
1994
as Magda
MovieThe Cemetery Club
1993
as Esther's Daughter (uncredited)
MovieThe Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag
1992
as Suzanne
TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
MovieJohnny Suede
1991
as Yvonne
MovieSwitch
1991
as Steve's Secretary (Beth)
MovieCatchfire
1990
as Trucker's Girl
TVSeinfeld
1989
as Nina West
MovieSurvival Quest
1989
as Cheryl
TVOhara
1987
MovieThe Abduction of Allison Tate
1986
as Linda Kellogg
MovieAbout Last Night...
1986
as Cocktail Waitress
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
How and Why
as Alice
