Mary Badham
Biography
Mary Badham is an American actress born on October 7, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Known for her acting credits, she is recognized for her portrayal of Jean Louise Scout Finch in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. At the age of ten, she was the youngest actress ever nominated in that category at the time. Badham had no prior film acting experience before being cast in the role, and the award was won by Patty Duke for The Miracle Worker. She is the younger sister of film director John Badham, though the siblings have never worked together on the same film. Her acting work also includes appearances in The Twilight Zone and Passage lacte.
Career overview
Mary Badham is an American actress born on October 7, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama. She is widely known for her portrayal of Jean Louise Scout Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird. At the age of ten, she had no prior film acting experience before being cast in the role. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her at the time the youngest actress ever nominated in that category. The award in her category ultimately went to Patty Duke for The Miracle Worker.
Outside of her work on To Kill a Mockingbird, Badham has amassed known credits in acting across eleven projects, which include appearances associated with The Twilight Zone and Passage r l'acte. She is the younger sister of film director John Badham, being younger by thirteen years, though the siblings have never worked together on the same film.
In her personal life, Badham has been married to Richard W. Wilt since 1975 and is the mother of two children, Anna and Anthony. Today, she lives near Richmond.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
11 titles- Was Once a Hero (2025) as Nurse Mary
- Erasing His Dark Past (2019) as Barbara
- Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird (2011) as Self
- Our Very Own (2005) as Mrs. Nutbush
- A Conversation with Gregory Peck (1999) as Self
- Fearful Symmetry (1998) as Self
- This Property Is Condemned (1966) as Willie Starr
- Let's Kill Uncle (1966) as Chrissie
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) as Scout Finch
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Cora Sue Henty
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Sport Sharewood
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Mary Badham best known for?
Mary Badham is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including This Property Is Condemned (1966), Let's Kill Uncle (1966), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Loverboy (1989).
When and where was Mary Badham born?
Mary Badham was born on October 7, 1952 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
How many credits does Mary Badham have?
Mary Badham has accumulated over 11 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1959 to 2025.
What is Mary Badham's background in cinema and television?
Mary Badham is an American actress born on October 7, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Known for her acting credits, she is recognized for her portrayal of Jean Louise Scout Finch in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. At the age of ten, she ...
Mary Badham by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Sport Sharewood — aged about 6
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) as Scout Finch — aged about 9
- This Property Is Condemned (1966) as Willie Starr — aged about 13
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Cora Sue Henty — aged about 8
- Let's Kill Uncle (1966) as Chrissie — aged about 13
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