Jeannetta Arnette
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Mentalist
Sue Overton
2008
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Sandra Knowles
1999
Series
Criminal Minds
Sarah Jean Dawes
2005
Series
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Mrs. Spencer
2000
Series
Lost
Lizzy Calloway
2004
Series
Fringe
Dr. West
2008
Series
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Doctor Loews
1993
Series
ER
Mrs. Hawkes
1994
Series
Cold Case
Chelsey Simpson (2009)
2003
Series
The A-Team
Betty / Sarah
1983
Series
Diagnosis: Murder
Lana
1993
Series
The Drew Carey Show
Gloria
1995
Series
Hill Street Blues
1981
Series
Justified
Marsha Keyhoe
2010
Series
L.A. Law
Vicki Simonetti
1986
Series
V.I.P.
Dr. Lonnie Hippelman
1998
Series
St. Elsewhere
Louise Garrison
1982
Series
Switched at Birth
Ms. Troyer
2011
Series
Touched by an Angel
Gus Jacobs
1994
Series
American Crime Story
Delmer Lee Corbin
2016
Series
Nash Bridges
Ginny Peacock
1996
Series
Three's Company
1977
Series
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Series
Roswell
Dolores Browning
1999
Series
Perception
Stephanie Nordhoff
2012
Series
Extant
Anya Sparks
2014
Series
Head of the Class
Bernadette Meara
1986
Film
Pineapple Express
Sandra Danby
2008
Series
Invasion
2005
Film
Pay It Forward
Nurse
2000
Series
Homecoming
Woman with dogs
2018
Series
Heathers
Mrs. Kelly
2018
Film
Boys Don't Cry
Lana's Mom
1999
Series
So NoTORIous
Ruthie Rose
2006
Series
Roseanne
1988
Film
10
Party Guest
1979
Film
The Shipping News
Silver Melville
2001
Series
The Deliberate Stranger
Mrs. Richter
1986
Series
The Jackie Thomas Show
Sophie Ford
1992
Film
The Shadow Riders
Southern Belle
1982
Film
Sniper 3
Sydney
2004
Film
Ladybugs
Glynnis Mullen
1992
Film
Snow Angels
Louise Parkinson
2007
Film
Beautiful Girl
Mom
2014
Film
Brave New World
Dwightina
1980
Film
Straight A's
(uncredited)
2013
Film
The Deliberate Stranger
Mrs. Richter
1986
Film
Middle of Nowhere
Mindy Green
2008
Film
The Prime Gig
Cheryl
2001
Film
Angels in Stardust
Jacqueline Windsor
2014
Film
Judas Kiss
Monica Grimes
1998
Film
Mystery Kids
Alice Johnson
2000
Film
Callie & Son
Receptionist
1981
Film
City Killer
Andrea's Neighbor
1984
Film
Beneath the Dark
Shirley
2010
Film
Somebody Is Waiting
Edna Rice
1996
Film
The '70s
Doris Shales
2000
Film
First Love, Last Rites
Sissel's Mom
1998
Film
Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac
Nicki Felch
1984
Film
Hunter Gatherer
Dr. Merton
2016
Film
Waking Up Dead
2022
Film
Take Your Best Shot
Fran
1982
Film
Finding Home
Grace
2003
Film
The History of White People in America: Volume II
Actress
1986
Film
Small Town Conspiracy
Donna Jo
2003
Film
Dunsmore
Irma Pritcher
2003
Film
Single Women, Married Men
Maureen Harrison
1989
Film
The Redeemer: Son of Satan!
Cindy
1978
Film
Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies
Helene
1987
The Amateur
Joey's Mom
2014
Film
Teenage Graffiti
Annie
1977