Jeannetta Arnette
Actor
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
Pay It Forward
as Nurse 2000
Boys Don't Cry
as Lana's Mom 1999
The Shipping News
as Silver Melville 2001
10
as Party Guest 1979
Ladybugs
as Glynnis Mullen 1992
Snow Angels
as Louise Parkinson 2007
Straight A's
as (uncredited) 2013
Sniper 3
as Sydney 2004
Middle of Nowhere
as Mindy Green 2008
Judas Kiss
as Monica Grimes 1998
Beneath the Dark
as Shirley 2010
The Shadow Riders
as Southern Belle 1982
The Redeemer: Son of Satan!
as Cindy 1978
Brave New World
as Dwightina 1980
The Prime Gig
as Cheryl 2001
The Deliberate Stranger
as Mrs. Richter 1986