Lea Thompson
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- May 31, 1961 in Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Active Years
- 1982–2026 (45 Years)
- Total Credits
- 155 credits in database
Acting Born May 31, 1961 Rochester, Minnesota, USA 155 credits
Biography
Lea Katherine Thompson was born on May 31, 1961, in Rochester, Minnesota. She is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director with 144 known acting credits. She is best known for her film roles as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck, and Amanda Jones in Some Kind of Wonderful. Her other film appearances include All the Right Moves, Red Dawn, Dennis the Menace, and The Beverly Hillbillies. On television, she played the title character in the sitcom Caroline in the City during the 1990s, and from 2011 to 2017, she co-starred as Kathryn Kennish in the television series Switched at Birth.
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Career overview
Lea Katherine Thompson was born on May 31, 1961, in Rochester, Minnesota. She is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director. Throughout her career, she has accumulated 144 known acting credits.
Thompson is best known for her role as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy, which spanned from 1985 to 1990. She also gained recognition for playing Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck in 1986 and Amanda Jones in Some Kind of Wonderful in 1987. Additional film credits include All the Right Moves in 1983, Red Dawn in 1984, Dennis the Menace in 1993, and The Beverly Hillbillies in 1993.
In television, Thompson played the title character in the sitcom Caroline in the City during the 1990s. Later, from 2011 to 2017, she co-starred as Kathryn Kennish in the television series Switched at Birth, which aired on ABC Family and later became Freeform.
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Frequent co-stars
Christopher Lloyd
7 shared titles
Michael J. Fox
4 shared titles
James Tolkan
4 shared titles
Thomas F. Wilson
3 shared titles
Eric Stoltz
3 shared titles
Lucas Grabeel
2 shared titles
D.W. Moffett
2 shared titles
Cassi Thomson
2 shared titles
Claudia Wells
2 shared titles
Marc McClure
2 shared titles
Career timeline
Anna Pigeon · Executive Producer
SEGAL
The Chicken SistersThe Chicken Sisters · DirectorBRATS
Will Trent · DirectorThe Spencer Sisters
UnpluggingThe Disappearance of Cari FarverTen TricksMarty & Doc: The Inside Story of a Phenomenon
INVINCIBLEResident Alien · DirectorMark, Mary + Some Other PeopleNext Stop, Christmas
Star Trek: PicardStar Trek: Picard · DirectorStars in the HouseDC's Stargirl · DirectorReunited Apart
The Ready RoomSchooled · DirectorCool Cat's Crazy Dream
25 Words or LessBack to the Future: The Hill Valley ChroniclesSierra Burgess Is a LoserLittle WomenWho We Are Now
Young Sheldon · DirectorLiterally, Right Before Aaron
American Housewife · DirectorThe Dog LoverStars Are Already Dead
Celebrity Family FeudThe MuppetsBack in TimeKeith Lemon's Back t'Future Tribute
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonScorpionLeft BehindPenn Zero: Part-Time HeroA to Z
Whose Line Is It Anyway?Mom · DirectorThe GoldbergsThe Goldbergs · DirectorCall Me Crazy: A Five Film
Thin IceLove at the Christmas TableBound by FleshThe Trouble with the TruthJohn Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast
Switched at BirthSwitched at Birth · DirectorJ. EdgarMayor CupcakeThe Cabin
Tales from the FutureAdventures of a Teenage DragonslayerRock Slyde
SplinterheadsFatal SecretsFatal Secrets · Associate ProducerLooking Back to the FutureLooking Back to the Future · Thanks
My Best Friend's Girl · ThanksSenior Skip DayThe Christmas ClauseFinal ApproachJane Doe: Eye of the Beholder
GreekHead CaseCalifornia DreamingJane Doe: Ties That BindJane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss
Looking Back at the FutureJane Doe: The Harder They FallJane Doe: The Harder They Fall · DirectorCelebrity DuetsJane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well
American Dad!Dancing with the StarsJane Doe: Vanishing ActJane Doe: The Wrong FaceCome Away Home
The Tony Danza Show
Haunted Lighthouse 4-DStealing Christmas
For the PeopleFish Don't Blink
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationEd
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitFamily GuyFamily GuyThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Hollywood SquaresThe Unknown CyclistA Will of their Own
The Right to Remain SilentE! True Hollywood Story
Caroline in the CityThe Unspoken Truth
Full Filmography
155 titles- Anna Pigeon (2026) Executive Producer
- SEGAL (2025) as Self
- The Chicken Sisters (2024) as Nancy Hillier
- The Chicken Sisters (2024) Director
- BRATS (2024) as Self
- Will Trent (2023) Director
- The Spencer Sisters (2023) as Victoria Spencer
- Unplugging (2022) as Perkins
- The Disappearance of Cari Farver (2022) as Nancy Farver
- Ten Tricks (2022) as Grace
- Marty & Doc: The Inside Story of a Phenomenon (2022) as Self
- INVINCIBLE (2021) as Carol (voice)
- Resident Alien (2021) Director
- Mark, Mary + Some Other People (2021) as Aunty Carol
- Next Stop, Christmas (2021) as Evelyn
- Star Trek: Picard (2020) as Diane Werner
- Star Trek: Picard (2020) Director
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self
- DC's Stargirl (2020) Director
- Reunited Apart (2020) as Self
- Dinner in America (2020) as Betty
- Katy Keene (2020) Director
- The Ready Room (2019) as Self
- Schooled (2019) Director
- Cool Cat's Crazy Dream (2019) as Dream World Lea
- 25 Words or Less (2018) as Self
- Back to the Future: The Hill Valley Chronicles (2018) as Lorraine Baines-McFly
- Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018) as Mrs. Burgess
- Little Women (2018) as Margaret "Marmee" March
- Who We Are Now (2018) as Alana
- The Year of Spectacular Men (2018) as Deb Klein
- The Year of Spectacular Men (2018) Director
- Over the Hill (2018) as Sally
- Young Sheldon (2017) Director
- Literally, Right Before Aaron (2017) as Deb (Adam's Mom)
- American Housewife (2016) Director
- The Dog Lover (2016) as Liz Holloway
- Stars Are Already Dead (2016) as Aunt Sophia
- Celebrity Family Feud (2015) as Self
- The Muppets (2015) as Self
- Back in Time (2015) as Self
- Keith Lemon's Back t'Future Tribute (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Scorpion (2014) as Veronica Dineen
- Left Behind (2014) as Irene Steele
- Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (2014) as Vonnie (voice)
- A to Z (2014) as Lea Thompson
- Ping Pong Summer (2014) as Mrs. Miracle
- My Mother's Future Husband (2014) as René Henderson
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2013) as Self
- Mom (2013) Director
- The Goldbergs (2013) as Fran
- The Goldbergs (2013) Director
- Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (2013) as Julia
- Milius (2013) as Self
- Thin Ice (2012) as Jo Ann Prohaska
- Love at the Christmas Table (2012) as Elissa Beth
- Bound by Flesh (2012) as Voiceover
- The Trouble with the Truth (2012) as Emily
- John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast (2012) as Self
- Switched at Birth (2011) as Kathryn Kennish
- Switched at Birth (2011) Director
- J. Edgar (2011) as Lela Rogers
- Mayor Cupcake (2011) as Mary Maroni
- The Cabin (2011) as Lily MacDougal
- Game of Your Life (2011) as Abbie
- Tales from the Future (2010) as Self
- Adventures of a Teenage Dragonslayer (2010) as Laura
- Rock Slyde (2010) as Master Bartologist
- Splinterheads (2009) as Susan Frost
- Fatal Secrets (2009) as Rebecca
- Fatal Secrets (2009) Associate Producer
- Looking Back to the Future (2009) as Self
- Looking Back to the Future (2009) Thanks
- My Best Friend's Girl (2008) Thanks
- Senior Skip Day (2008) as Cathleen Harris
- The Christmas Clause (2008) as Sophie
- Final Approach (2008) as Alicia Bender
- Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder (2008) as Cathy Davis / Jane Doe
- Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder (2008) Director
- Spy School (2008) as Claire Miller
- Exit Speed (2008) as Maudie McMinn
- Greek (2007) as April
- Head Case (2007) as Self
- California Dreaming (2007) as Ginger Gainor
- Jane Doe: Ties That Bind (2007) as Cathy Davis / Jane Doe
- Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss (2007) as Cathy Davis
- A Life Interrupted (2007) as Debbie Smith
- Looking Back at the Future (2006) as Herself
- Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall (2006) as Cathy Davis
- Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall (2006) Director
- Celebrity Duets (2006)
- Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well (2006) as Cathy Davis
- The Making of Some Kind of Wonderful (2006) as Self
- American Dad! (2005) as Caroline Duffy (voice)
- Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Self - Contestant
- Jane Doe: Vanishing Act (2005) as Cathy Davis
- Jane Doe: The Wrong Face (2005) as Cathy Davis
- Come Away Home (2005) as Carol
- Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part (2005) as Cathy Davis
- Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don't (2005) as Cathy Davis
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- Haunted Lighthouse 4-D (2003) as Peg Van Legge
- Stealing Christmas (2003) as Sarah Gibson
- For the People (2002) as Chief Deputy District Attorney Camille Paris
- Fish Don't Blink (2002) as Clara
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Jennifer Rhodes
- Ed (2000) as Liz Stevens
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Michelle Osborne
- Family Guy (1999) as Teenaged Girl in Diner (voice)
- Family Guy (1999) as Lorraine McFly (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self - Guest
- Hollywood Squares (1998) as Self - Panelist
- The Unknown Cyclist (1998) as Melissa Cavatelli
- A Will of their Own (1998) as Amanda Steward
- The Right to Remain Silent (1996) as Christine Paley
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Caroline in the City (1995) as Caroline Duffy
- The Unspoken Truth (1995) as Brianne Hawkins
- Friends (1994) as Caroline Duffy (uncredited)
- The Little Rascals (1994) as Ms. Roberts
- The Substitute Wife (1994) as Amy Hightower
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- Dennis the Menace (1993) as Alice Mitchell
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) as Laura Jackson
- Stolen Babies (1993) as Annie Beales
- The Larry Sanders Show (1992) as Lea Thompson
- Article 99 (1992) as Dr. Robin Van Dorn
- Back to the Future Part III (1990) as Maggie McFly / Lorraine McFly
- Montana (1990) as Peg Guthrie
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Sylvia Vane
- Back to the Future Part II (1989) as Lorraine
- Nightbreaker (1989) as Sally Matthews
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Going Undercover (1988) as Marigold de la Hunt
- Casual Sex? (1988) as Stacy
- The Wizard of Loneliness (1988) as Sybil
- Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) as Amanda Jones
- Howard the Duck (1986) as Beverly Switzler
- SpaceCamp (1986) as Kathryn
- The Making of Back to the Future (1986) as Self
- Back to the Future (1985) as Lorraine Baines
- Red Dawn (1984) as Erica
- The Wild Life (1984) as Anita
- Jaws 3-D (1983) as Kelly Ann Bukowski
- All the Right Moves (1983) as Lisa
- The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die (1983)
- American Playhouse (1982) as Aunt Sybil
- What If
- Queen as Dr. Page
- A Pretty Good Movie as Ramona
- Howard the Doc or: How I Learned to Start Quacking and Love the Bomb as Self
- You Are Here as Helen
- Manville Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Lea Thompson best known for?
Lea Thompson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Anna Pigeon (2026), Will Trent (2023), Unplugging (2022), INVINCIBLE (2021).
When and where was Lea Thompson born?
Lea Thompson was born on May 31, 1961 in Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
How many credits does Lea Thompson have?
Lea Thompson has accumulated over 155 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1982 to 2026.
What is Lea Thompson's background in cinema and television?
Lea Katherine Thompson was born on May 31, 1961, in Rochester, Minnesota. She is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director with 144 known acting credits. She is best known for her film roles as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck, and Amanda Jones in Some...
Lea Thompson by the numbers
155credits
100films
55TV series
1982–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- INVINCIBLE (2021) as Carol (voice) — aged about 60
- Friends (1994) as Caroline Duffy (uncredited) — aged about 33
- Back to the Future (1985) as Lorraine Baines — aged about 24
- Scorpion (2014) as Veronica Dineen — aged about 53
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Michelle Osborne — aged about 38
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Sylvia Vane — aged about 28
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