Jane Alexander
Biography
Jane Alexander is an American actress, author, and former director of the National Endowment for the Arts. She was born on October 28, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Also known by the names Jane Quigley and Jane Kuigley, she has a background in theater that includes early stage appearances in Treasure Island, along with dramatic studies at Sarah Lawrence College and the University of Edinburgh. Alexander is perhaps best known for playing the female lead in The Great White Hope on both stage and screen. Her television and film work includes roles in the television film Eleanor and Franklin as Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as appearances in Odloučení, Live From Lincoln Center, and Pravidla moštárny. Throughout her career, she has played a wide array of roles in theater and film and committed herself to various charitable causes.
Career overview
Jane Alexander is an American actress, author, and former director of the National Endowment for the Arts. Born on October 28, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts, she studied drama courses at Sarah Lawrence College and also studied at the University of Edinburgh. Early in her life, she performed on stage in Treasure Island.
Throughout her career, Alexander has played a wide array of roles in both theater and film. She is perhaps best known for playing the female lead in The Great White Hope on both stage and screen. Her additional acting credits include appearances in films such as Eleanor and Franklin from 1976, in which she portrayed American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as Odloučení, Live From Lincoln Center, and Pravidla moštárny. Alongside her work in theater and film, she has committed herself to a variety of charitable causes.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
100 titles- American Classic (2026) as Ethel Bean
- Everything's on Fire (2026) as Lorraine
- Severance (2022) as Celestine 'Sissy' Cobel
- Tales from the Loop (2020) as Klara
- The Man in the Woods (2020) as Vivien Waldorf
- Modern Love (2019) as Margot
- Alan Pakula: Going for Truth (2019) as Self
- Christmas Around the Corner (2018) as Mrs. Tumulty
- The Good Fight (2017) as Judge Suzanne Morris
- Three Christs (2017) as Dr. Abraham
- Show Boat (2015) as Parthy Hawks
- The Book of Negroes (2015) as Maria
- The Blacklist (2013) as Diane Fowler
- Mr. Morgan's Last Love (2013) as Joan Morgan
- Elementary (2012) as C.
- William & Catherine: A Royal Romance (2012) as HM Queen Elizabeth II
- Dream House (2011) as Dr. Greeley
- Deck the Halls (2011) as Nora Regan Reilly
- The Loving Story (2011) as Eleanor
- John Muir in the New World (2011) as Narrator (voice)
- The Good Wife (2009) as Judge Suzanne Morris
- Terminator Salvation (2009) as Virginia
- The Unborn (2009) as Sofi Kozma
- Gigantic (2008) as Barbara Weathersby
- Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women (2008) as Ednah Cheney
- Tell Me You Love Me (2007) as Dr. May Foster
- Feast of Love (2007) as Esther Stevenson
- La Figlia di Elisa Rivombrosa (2007) as Marquise Lucrezia Adelaide Priscilla Van Necker
- The Powder & the Glory (2007) as Herself - Narrator
- Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006) as Gertrude Nemerov
- The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006) as Eleanor Bachman (segment "The Great White Hope") / Sara Goode (segment "The Sisters Rosensweig")
- Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of "All the President's Men" (2006) as Self
- Warm Springs (2005) as Sara Delano Roosevelt
- Testament: Nuclear Thoughts (2004) as Self
- The Ring (2002) as Dr. Grasnik
- Sunshine State (2002) as Delia Temple
- Knights Of The Quest (2001) Dialogue Coach
- Jenifer (2001) as Marilyn Estess
- Finding the Truth: The Making of 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (2001) as Self
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Regina Mulroney
- The Cider House Rules (1999) as Nurse Edna
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Le donne non vogliono più (1993)
- Stay the Night (1992) as Blanche Kettman
- Law & Order (1990) as Regina Mulroney
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- Glory (1989) as Sarah Blake Sturgis Shaw
- Building Bombs (1989) as Narrator
- Mountain View (1989) as Bartender
- Open Admissions (1988) as Ginny Carlsen
- The Artist Was a Woman (1988) as Narrator
- A Friendship in Vienna (1988) as Hannah Dournenvald
- Drug Free Kids: A Parents' Guide (1988) as Self
- Square Dance (1987) as Juanelle
- Square Dance (1987) Executive Producer
- In Love and War (1987) as Sybil Stockdale
- Sweet Country (1987) as Anna
- American Masters (1986) as Narrator
- Blood & Orchids (1986) as Doris Ashley
- Malice in Wonderland (1985) as Hedda Hopper
- City Heat (1984) as Addy
- Calamity Jane (1984) as Calamity Jane
- Calamity Jane (1984) Producer
- When She Says No (1984) as Nora Strangis
- Testament (1983) as Carol Wetherly
- American Playhouse (1982) as Carol Wetherly
- American Playhouse (1982) as Georgia O'Keeffe
- Night Crossing (1982) as Doris Strelzyk
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- In the Custody of Strangers (1982) as Sandy Caldwell
- Kennedy's Children (1982) as Wanda
- Dear Liar (1981) as Mrs. Patrick Campbell
- Brubaker (1980) as Lillian
- Playing for Time (1980) as Alma Rose
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) as Margaret Phelps
- The Betsy (1978) as Alicia Hardeman
- Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II (1978) as Mary MacCracken
- A Question of Love (1978) as Barbara Moreland
- Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977) as Eleanor Roosevelt
- All the President's Men (1976) as Bookkeeper
- Eleanor and Franklin (1976) as Eleanor Roosevelt, Age 18-60
- Death Be Not Proud (1975) as Frances Gunther
- This Is the West That Was (1974) as Sarah Shaw
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Miracle on 34th Street (1973) as Karen Walker
- The New Centurions (1972) as Dorothy Fehler
- Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol (1972) as Anne Palmer
- A Gunfight (1971) as Nora Tenneray
- The Great White Hope (1970) as Eleanor
- Adam-12 (1968) as Records Clerk (uncredited)
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Co-Hostess / Nominee
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Lillian, Next Door as Lillian Wallingford Blanton
- Testament at 20
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jane Alexander best known for?
Jane Alexander is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Severance (2022), Tales from the Loop (2020), Modern Love (2019), The Good Fight (2017).
When and where was Jane Alexander born?
Jane Alexander was born on October 28, 1939 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
How many credits does Jane Alexander have?
Jane Alexander has accumulated over 100 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2026.
What is Jane Alexander's background in cinema and television?
Jane Alexander is an American actress, author, and former director of the National Endowment for the Arts. She was born on October 28, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Also known by the names Jane Quigley and Jane Kuigley, she has a background in theater that includes early stage appearances in Treasure Island, alo...