Blythe Danner

Highest Rated: 95% The Great Santini (1979)

Lowest Rated: 5% Waiting for Forever (2010)

Birthday: Feb 3, 1943

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Genteel actress Blythe Danner earned her reputation as one of the more accomplished performers in film and on stage and television over the course of an exceptional career. Early in her career, Danner became a Broadway sensation with her Tony Award-winning performance in "Butterflies Are Free" (1969). Screen work in smaller films like the off-beat comedy "Hearts of the West" (1975) soon led to the actress earning widespread critical acclaim for performances in such television projects as "Too Far to Go" (NBC, 1979). Although consistently cast in the roles of wives and mothers, Danner deftly made each character her own in films as diverse as the adaptation of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" (1986) and the Barbara Streisand-helmed drama, "The Prince of Tides" (1991). Some three decades into her career, Danner - now known to young fans as the mother of Oscar-winning daughter Gwyneth Paltrow - scored her biggest movie hit with "Meet the Parents" (2000) and its popular sequels, in which she played Robert De Niro's understanding wife. In 2002, her own life was dealt a devastating blow with the sudden death of producer-director Bruce Paltrow, her husband of more than 30 years. A pillar of strength, Danner carried on, exhibiting impressive comedic skill with her recurring roles on the series "Will & Grace" (NBC, 1998-2006) and "Huff" (Showtime, 2004-06). While never having the marquee name recognition enjoyed by some of her contemporaries, the elegant Danner nonetheless remained one of the most respected working actresses of her generation.