Jeannetta Arnette
Acting
Born July 29, 1954, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Jeannetta Arnette, born July 29, 1954, in Washington, D.C., is a prolific American actress with a career spanning television, film, and theater. Raised partly in North Carolina, she trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts, studied acting in England, and moved to Los Angeles after briefly attending George Washington University to pursue her craft professionally. She rose to prominence as the eccentric teacher Miss Meara on Head of the Class (1986-1991), with notable film roles including Lana's mother in Boys Don't Cry (1999), a nurse in Pay It Forward (2000), and Sandra Danby in Pineapple Express (2008). Arnette has made extensive TV guest appearances on series like Criminal Minds, ER, The Mentalist, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (as Doctor Karen Loews), and recent projects such as Clipped (2024) and American Crime Story (2021).
Filmography
- 2022Waking Up Dead
- Heathers — Mrs. Kelly
- Homecoming — Woman with dogs
- American Crime Story — Delmer Lee Corbin
- 2016Hunter Gatherer — Dr. Merton
- 2014Angels in Stardust — Jacqueline Windsor
- 2014Beautiful Girl — Mom
- Extant — Anya Sparks
- 2014The Amateur — Joey's Mom
- 2013Straight A's — (uncredited)
- Perception — Stephanie Nordhoff
- Switched at Birth — Ms. Troyer
- 2010Beneath the Dark — Shirley
- Justified — Marsha Keyhoe
- Fringe — Dr. West
- 2008Middle of Nowhere — Mindy Green
- 2008Pineapple Express — Sandra Danby
- The Mentalist — Sue Overton
- 2007Snow Angels — Louise Parkinson
- So NoTORIous — Ruthie Rose
- Criminal Minds — Sarah Jean Dawes
- Invasion
- Lost — Lizzy Calloway
- 2004Sniper 3 — Sydney
- Cold Case — Chelsey Simpson (2009)
- 2003Dunsmore — Irma Pritcher
- 2003Finding Home — Grace
- 2003Small Town Conspiracy — Donna Jo
- 2001The Prime Gig — Cheryl
- 2001The Shipping News — Silver Melville
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Mrs. Spencer
- 2000Mystery Kids — Alice Johnson
- 2000Pay It Forward — Nurse
- 2000The '70s — Doris Shales
- 1999Boys Don't Cry — Lana's Mom
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Sandra Knowles
- Roswell — Dolores Browning
- 1998First Love, Last Rites — Sissel's Mom
- 1998Judas Kiss — Monica Grimes
- V.I.P. — Dr. Lonnie Hippelman
- Nash Bridges — Ginny Peacock
- 1996Somebody Is Waiting — Edna Rice
- The Drew Carey Show — Gloria
- ER — Mrs. Hawkes
- Touched by an Angel — Gus Jacobs
- Diagnosis: Murder — Lana
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Doctor Loews
- 1992Ladybugs — Glynnis Mullen
- The Jackie Thomas Show — Sophie Ford
- 1989Single Women, Married Men — Maureen Harrison
- Roseanne
- 1987Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies — Helene
- Head of the Class — Bernadette Meara
- L.A. Law — Vicki Simonetti
- 1986The Deliberate Stranger — Mrs. Richter
- The Deliberate Stranger — Mrs. Richter
- 1986The History of White People in America: Volume II — Actress
- 1984City Killer — Andrea's Neighbor
- 1984Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac — Nicki Felch
- The A-Team — Betty / Sarah
- St. Elsewhere — Louise Garrison
- 1982Take Your Best Shot — Fran
- 1982The Shadow Riders — Southern Belle
- 1981Callie & Son — Receptionist
- Hill Street Blues
- 1980Brave New World — Dwightina
- 197910 — Party Guest
- 1978The Redeemer: Son of Satan! — Cindy
- 1977Teenage Graffiti — Annie
- Three's Company
- Laverne & Shirley