Patricia Clarkson

Patricia Clarkson

65 · Born: Dec 29, 1959

Personal Details

BornDec 29, 1959 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Parents
  • Jackie Clarkson
  • Arthur Clarkson
Relatives
  • Kevi Sanders (Sibling)
  • Cindy Alsfeld (Sibling)
  • Jacquelyn Rutgers Clarkson (Sibling)
  • Diane Hastings (Sibling)

Biography

Patricia Clarkson, a highly acclaimed and versatile actress, has been captivating audiences with her unique blend of elegance and intensity since the early 1990s. Born on December 29, 1959, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Clarkson comes from a family of public servants, with her father being a school administrator and her mother a local politician.

Clarkson's interest in acting began at a young age, and she went on to study speech and theatre arts at Louisiana State University and Fordham University, respectively. She then earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Yale School of Drama, where she honed her craft in a wide range of productions.

Clarkson's early career was marked by strong performances in New York City, earning her recognition for her roles in plays such as "The House of Blue Leaves," "Eastern Standard," and "Wolf-Man." She made her film debut in Brian De Palma's "The Untouchables" in 1987, followed by roles in "The Dead Pool" and "Pharaoh's Army."

Throughout her career, Clarkson has been praised for her organic approach to acting, which has led to a wide range of critically acclaimed performances. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including an Emmy Award for her recurring guest role on the TV series "Six Feet Under," as well as nominations for her supporting work in films such as "Far from Heaven" and "Pieces of April."

Clarkson has also worked extensively in independent films, earning recognition for her performances in "High Art," "The Station Agent," and "All the Real Girls." She has continued to work in film and television, appearing in projects such as "The Green Mile," "Miracle," "Elegy," and "Sharp Objects."

In addition to her on-screen work, Clarkson has also had a successful stage career, earning impressive notices for her performances in plays such as "Raised in Captivity," "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan," and "A Streetcar Named Desire." She has been nominated for several awards, including Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards.

Throughout her career, Clarkson has demonstrated her versatility and range as an actress, taking on a wide range of roles and earning recognition for her performances. She continues to be a respected and sought-after actress in both film and television.

Career

2025
Lilly
Lilly as Lilly Ledbetter
2023
Monica
Monica as Eugenia
Gray
Gray as Cornelia Gray
2022
She Said
She Said as Rebecca Corbett
She Said
She Said as Rebecca Corbett
Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Ham as Pam-I-Am (voice)
2021
Hemingway
Hemingway as Grace Hemingway (voice)
2019
Out of Blue
Out of Blue as Det. Mike Hoolihan
Almost Love
Almost Love as Ravella Brewer
Delirium
Delirium as Brody
Jonathan
Jonathan as Dr. Mina Nariman
Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects as Adora Crellin
2017
The Party
The Party as April
The Bookshop
The Bookshop as Violet Gamart
House of Cards
House of Cards as Jane Davis
2016
Nature
Nature as Narrator
2014
October Gale
October Gale as Helen Matthews
Last Weekend
Last Weekend as Celia Green
Regarding Susan Sontag
Regarding Susan Sontag as Susan Sontag (voice)
Annie
Annie as Focus Group Woman
The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner as Ava Paige
2013
The East
The East as Sharon
2012
The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl as Hazel Lucas Shaw
2011
One Day
One Day as Alison Mayhew
Five
Five as Mia
Rise
Rise as Maribel Vinson Owen
Prohibition
Prohibition as Reader / Carrie Nation (voice)
2010
Easy A
Easy A as Rosemary
Legendary
Legendary as Sharon
Main Street
Main Street as Willa Jenkins
Shutter Island
Shutter Island as Rachel 2
2009
Cairo Time
Cairo Time as Juliette Grant
Whatever Works
Whatever Works as Marietta
2081
2081 as Narrator
Beyond All Boundaries
Beyond All Boundaries as Marguerite Higgins
2008
Elegy
Elegy as Carolyn
Blind Date
Blind Date as Janna
2007
Married Life
Married Life as Pat Allen
Amazing Planet
Amazing Planet as Narrator
2006
All the King's Men
All the King's Men as Sadie Burke
The Woods
The Woods as Mrs. Traverse
2005
The Dying Gaul
The Dying Gaul as Elaine Tishop
2004
Miracle
Miracle as Patty Brooks
2003
The Station Agent
The Station Agent as Olivia Harris
Dogville
Dogville as Vera
Pieces of April
Pieces of April as Joy Burns
2002
Heartbreak Hospital
Heartbreak Hospital as Lottie Ohrwasher
Far from Heaven
Far from Heaven as Eleanor Fine
Carrie
Carrie as Margaret White
The Safety of Objects
The Safety of Objects as Annette Jennings
2001
Falling Like This
Falling Like This as Caroline Lockhart
The Pledge
The Pledge as Margaret Larsen
Wendigo
Wendigo as Kim
2000
Joe Gould's Secret
Joe Gould's Secret as Vivian Marquie
Wonderland
Wonderland as Tammy Banger
1999
Wayward Son
Wayward Son as Wesley
Simply Irresistible
Simply Irresistible as Lois McNally
The Green Mile
The Green Mile as Melinda Moores
1998
High Art
High Art as Greta
1996
London Suite
London Suite as Diana Nichols
1995
Jumanji
Jumanji as Carol Anne Parrish
Pharaoh's Army
Pharaoh's Army as Sarah Anders
Murder One
Murder One as Annie Hoffman
1994
She Led Two Lives
She Led Two Lives as Desiree Parnell
Queen
Queen as Lizzie
1992
An American Story
An American Story as Barbara Meade
Legacy of Lies
Legacy of Lies as Pat Rafael
Four Eyes and Six-Guns
Four Eyes and Six-Guns as Lucy Laughton
Blind Man's Bluff
Blind Man's Bluff as Dr. Virginia Hertz
1991
Davis Rules
Davis Rules as Cosmo Yeargin
1990
1988
The Dead Pool
The Dead Pool as Samantha Walker
Rocket Gibraltar
Rocket Gibraltar as Rose Black
1987
The Untouchables
The Untouchables as Ness' Wife