Sold books at Doubleday while attending the first-year program at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
Cofounded and acted with the improv-comedy troupe Cracked Tokens, which performed skits for the halfway houses of NYC's Bureau of Alcoholism
Was discovered by Jack Nicholson in the reception room of Paramount's New York office
He later cast her as the lead in his second directorial effort, the 1978 Western Goin' South
Along with Alfre Woodard, founded Artists for a Free South Africa in 1989
Met second husband Ted Danson in 1994 on the set of the reviled road pic Pontiac Moon
Actively participates in charity work, supporting the ASPCA, Heifer International, Oceana and the Young Storytellers Foundation
Won two awards for her involvement in social and charitable causes: a Desert AIDS Project Award in 1995 and Liberty Hill Foundation's prestigious Upton Sinclair Award a year later
Was appointed the national spokesperson of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in 1997
Awards
2011Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:winner
1998Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:nominated
1995Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture:nominated
1988Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special:nominated
1986Genie Awards-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:nominated
1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:nominated
1981Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:winner
1980Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:winner
1980Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress:winner
1980National Society of Film Critics-Best Supporting Actress:winner
1980New York Film Critics Circle-Best Supporting Actress:winner
1979Golden Globe-New Star of the Year - Actress:nominated