Jeannetta Arnette
Acting • Born 1954-07-29
Biography
Jeannetta Arnette, born July 29, 1954, in Washington, D.C., is a prolific American actress with a career spanning television, film, and theater. Raised partly in North Carolina, she trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts, studied acting in England, and moved to Los Angeles after briefly attending George Washington University to pursue her craft professionally. She rose to prominence as the eccentric teacher Miss Meara on Head of the Class (1986-1991), with notable film roles including Lana's mother in Boys Don't Cry (1999), a nurse in Pay It Forward (2000), and Sandra Danby in Pineapple Express (2008). Arnette has made extensive TV guest appearances on series like Criminal Minds, ER, The Mentalist, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (as Doctor Karen Loews), and recent projects such as Clipped (2024) and American Crime Story (2021).
Filmography
69 credits
Boys Don't Cry
Movie • 1999
Lana's Mom
Sniper 3
Movie • 2004
Sydney
Small Town Conspiracy
Movie • 2003
Donna Jo
Waking Up Dead
Movie • 2022
Take Your Best Shot
Movie • 1982
Fran
Pineapple Express
Movie • 2008
Sandra Danby
Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac
Movie • 1984
Nicki Felch
Angels in Stardust
Movie • 2014
Jacqueline Windsor
Finding Home
Movie • 2003
Grace
Snow Angels
Movie • 2007
Louise Parkinson
Teenage Graffiti
Movie • 1977
Annie
The Redeemer: Son of Satan!
Movie • 1978
Cindy
The Shipping News
Movie • 2001
Silver Melville
Beautiful Girl
Movie • 2014
Mom
Callie & Son
Movie • 1981
Receptionist
Middle of Nowhere
Movie • 2008
Mindy Green
Pay It Forward
Movie • 2000
Nurse
First Love, Last Rites
Movie • 1998
Sissel's Mom
The Amateur
Movie • 2014
Joey's Mom
Hunter Gatherer
Movie • 2016
Dr. Merton
The Deliberate Stranger
Movie • 1986
Mrs. Richter
Ladybugs
Movie • 1992
Glynnis Mullen
Judas Kiss
Movie • 1998
Monica Grimes
10
Movie • 1979
Party Guest
Beneath the Dark
Movie • 2010
Shirley
Brave New World
Movie • 1980
Dwightina
The Shadow Riders
Movie • 1982
Southern Belle
The History of White People in America: Volume II
Movie • 1986
Actress
Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies
Movie • 1987
Helene
Dunsmore
Movie • 2003
Irma Pritcher
City Killer
Movie • 1984
Andrea's Neighbor
The Prime Gig
Movie • 2001
Cheryl
Straight A's
Movie • 2013
(uncredited)
The 70s
Movie • 2000
Doris Shales
Mystery Kids
Movie • 2000
Alice Johnson
Single Women, Married Men
Movie • 1989
Maureen Harrison
St. Elsewhere
TV • 1982
Louise Garrison
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Vicki Simonetti
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Mrs. Spencer
Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994
Dr. Gus Jacobs
Cold Case
TV • 2003
Chelsey Simpson (2009)
Roseanne
TV • 1988
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Sandra Knowles
Hill Street Blues
TV • 1981
Head of the Class
TV • 1986
Bernadette Meara
Invasion
TV • 2005
Diagnosis: Murder
TV • 1993
Lana
Laverne & Shirley
TV • 1976
Three's Company
TV • 1977
Criminal Minds
TV • 2005
Sarah Jean Dawes
Lost
TV • 2004
Lizzy Calloway
Roswell
TV • 1999
Dolores Browning
ER
TV • 1994
Mrs. Hawkes
Extant
TV • 2014
Anya Sparks
Perception
TV • 2012
Stephanie Nordhoff
American Crime Story
TV • 2016
Delmer Lee Corbin
Switched at Birth
TV • 2011
Ms. Troyer
The Mentalist
TV • 2008
Sue Overton
Fringe
TV • 2008
Dr. West
Justified
TV • 2010
Marsha Keyhoe
The Jackie Thomas Show
TV • 1992
Sophie Ford
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Betty / Sarah
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
TV • 1993
Doctor Loews
Homecoming
TV • 2018
Woman with dogs
Heathers
TV • 2018
Mrs. Kelly
The Drew Carey Show
TV • 1995
Gloria
V.I.P.
TV • 1998
Dr. Lonnie Hippelman
So NoTORIous
TV • 2006
Ruthie Rose
Nash Bridges
TV • 1996
Ginny Peacock