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Louise Fletcher Biography

Birth Name:Estelle Louise Fletcher

Birth Place:Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Profession Actress

Fast Facts

  • Following graduation from the University of North Carolina, she promptly moved to Los Angeles where she would begin taking acting lessons at night while working as a secretary by day
  • She and her three siblings were born to two deaf parents, however, none of them suffered any hearing loss themselves
  • Took an 11-year hiatus from acting to rear her two sons with producer Jerry Bick
  • After several years of roles of varying success, she would accept a role in 1993 on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", a role she would portray for six years
  • Following numerous guest appearances on television series, she would later appear in "Thieves Like Us" in 1974, a film that would catch the eye of film director Milos Forman who wanted her for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
  • Because her parents were both deaf, she would learn sign language at an early age and eventually learn to speak from an aunt
  • Divorced her first husband after he chose to cast Lily Tomlin in 1975's "Nashville", a role that was originally created for her

Awards

  • 1975NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1976Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1976Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1977BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1981Genie-Best Performance by a Foreign Actress: nominated
  • 1984Saturn Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1987Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1988Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Syndicated Series: winner
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Syndicated Series: winner
  • 1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Syndicated Series: winner
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2022OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner