Lea Thompson
Known for acting · Born 31 May 1961 · 65 · Rochester, Minnesota, USA
153 credits
Lea Katherine Thompson (born May 31, 1961) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director. She is best known for her roles as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy (1985–1990), Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck (1986), and Amanda Jones in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987). Other films for which she is known include All the Right Moves (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Dennis the Menace (1993), and The Beverly Hillbillies (1993). In the 1990s, she played the title character in the sitcom Caroline in the City. From 2011 to 2017, she co-starred as Kathryn Kennish in the ABC Family-turned-Freeform series Switched at Birth.
Known for
Back to the Future Part II
1989
Switched at Birth
2011
Young Sheldon
2017
Back to the Future
1985
Star Trek: Picard
2020
DC's Stargirl
2020
Back to the Future Part III
1990
Resident Alien
2021
Left Behind
2014
Howard the Duck
1986
The Goldbergs
2013
Caroline in the City
1995
Acting (133)
2025SEGALSelfFilm
2024BRATSSelfFilm
2024The Chicken SistersNancy Hillier · 16 episodesSeries
2023The Spencer SistersVictoria Spencer · 10 episodesSeries
2022UnpluggingPerkinsFilm
2022The Disappearance of Cari FarverNancy FarverFilm
2022Ten TricksGraceFilm
2022Marty & Doc: The Inside Story of a PhenomenonSelfFilm
2021INVINCIBLECarol (voice)Series
2021Next Stop, ChristmasEvelynFilm
2021Mark, Mary + Some Other PeopleAunty CarolFilm
2020Star Trek: PicardDiane WernerSeries
2020Dinner in AmericaBettyFilm
2020Reunited ApartSelfSeries
2020Stars in the HouseSelfSeries
2019The Ready RoomSelfSeries
2019Cool Cat's Crazy DreamDream World LeaFilm
2019You Are HereHelenFilm
2018Sierra Burgess Is a LoserMrs. BurgessFilm
2018Little WomenMargaret "Marmee" MarchFilm
2018Who We Are NowAlanaFilm
2018The Year of Spectacular MenDeb KleinFilm
201825 Words or LessSelf · 2 episodesSeries
2018Over the HillSallyFilm
2018Back to the Future: The Hill Valley ChroniclesLorraine Baines-McFly · 11 episodesSeries
2017Literally, Right Before AaronDeb (Adam's Mom)Film
2016The Dog LoverLiz HollowayFilm
2016Stars Are Already DeadAunt SophiaFilm
2015Back in TimeSelfFilm
2015The MuppetsSelfSeries
2015Celebrity Family FeudSelfSeries
2015Keith Lemon's Back t'Future TributeSelfFilm
2014ScorpionVeronica Dineen · 4 episodesSeries
2014Left BehindIrene SteeleFilm
2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonSelf - GuestSeries
2014Ping Pong SummerMrs. MiracleFilm
2014A to ZLea ThompsonSeries
2014Penn Zero: Part-Time HeroVonnie (voice) · 61 episodesSeries
2014My Mother's Future HusbandRené HendersonFilm
2013The GoldbergsFran · 2 episodesSeries
2013Whose Line Is It Anyway?SelfSeries
2013MiliusSelfFilm
2013Call Me Crazy: A Five FilmJuliaFilm
2012Thin IceJo Ann ProhaskaFilm
2012Love at the Christmas TableElissa BethFilm
2012Bound by FleshVoiceoverFilm
2012The Trouble with the TruthEmilyFilm
2012John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty FastSelfFilm
2011J. EdgarLela RogersFilm
2011Switched at BirthKathryn Kennish · 103 episodesSeries
2011Mayor CupcakeMary MaroniFilm
2011The CabinLily MacDougalFilm
2011Game of Your LifeAbbieFilm
2010Rock SlydeMaster BartologistFilm
2010Adventures of a Teenage DragonslayerLauraFilm
2010Tales from the FutureSelfFilm
2009SplinterheadsSusan FrostFilm
2009Fatal SecretsRebeccaFilm
2009Looking Back to the FutureSelfFilm
2008Spy SchoolClaire MillerFilm
2008Senior Skip DayCathleen HarrisFilm
2008Exit SpeedMaudie McMinnFilm
2008The Christmas ClauseSophieFilm
2008Final ApproachAlicia BenderFilm
2008Jane Doe: Eye of the BeholderCathy Davis / Jane DoeFilm
2007GreekAprilSeries
2007A Life InterruptedDebbie SmithFilm
2007Jane Doe: How to Fire Your BossCathy DavisFilm
2007Jane Doe: Ties That BindCathy Davis / Jane DoeFilm
2007California DreamingGinger GainorFilm
2007Head CaseSelfSeries
2006Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It WellCathy DavisFilm
2006Jane Doe: The Harder They FallCathy DavisFilm
2006Looking Back at the FutureHerselfFilm
2006Celebrity Duets · 9 episodesSeries
2006The Making of Some Kind of WonderfulSelfFilm
2005American Dad!Caroline Duffy (voice)Series
2005Dancing with the StarsSelf - Contestant · 11 episodesSeries
2005Jane Doe: The Wrong FaceCathy DavisFilm
2005Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don'tCathy DavisFilm
2005Jane Doe: Vanishing ActCathy DavisFilm
2005Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us PartCathy DavisFilm
2005Come Away HomeCarolFilm
2004The Tony Danza ShowSelf - Guest · 2 episodesSeries
2003Stealing ChristmasSarah GibsonFilm
2003Haunted Lighthouse 4-DPeg Van LeggeFilm
2002Fish Don't BlinkClaraFilm
2002For the PeopleChief Deputy District Attorney Camille Paris · 18 episodesSeries
2000CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationJennifer RhodesSeries
2000EdLiz Stevens · 3 episodesSeries
1999Family GuyTeenaged Girl in Diner (voice), Lorraine McFly (voice)Series
1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMichelle OsborneSeries
1999The Late Late Show with Craig KilbornSelf - GuestSeries
1998The Unknown CyclistMelissa CavatelliFilm
1998Hollywood SquaresSelf - Panelist · 5 episodesSeries
1998A Will of their OwnAmanda Steward · 2 episodesSeries
1996E! True Hollywood StorySeries
1996The Right to Remain SilentChristine PaleyFilm
1995Caroline in the CityCaroline Duffy · 97 episodesSeries
1995The Unspoken TruthBrianne HawkinsFilm
1994FriendsCaroline Duffy (uncredited)Series
1994The Little RascalsMs. RobertsFilm
1994The Substitute WifeAmy HightowerFilm
1993Dennis the MenaceAlice MitchellFilm
1993The Beverly HillbilliesLaura JacksonFilm
1993Intimate PortraitSelfSeries
1993Stolen BabiesAnnie BealesFilm
1992The Larry Sanders ShowLea ThompsonSeries
1992Article 99Dr. Robin Van DornFilm
1990Back to the Future Part IIIMaggie McFly / Lorraine McFlyFilm
1990MontanaPeg GuthrieFilm
1989Back to the Future Part IILorraineFilm
1989Tales from the CryptSylvia VaneSeries
1989NightbreakerSally MatthewsFilm
1988Casual Sex?StacyFilm
1988LIVE with Kelly and Mark, Self - GuestSeries
1988The Wizard of LonelinessSybilFilm
1988Going UndercoverMarigold de la HuntFilm
1987Some Kind of WonderfulAmanda JonesFilm
1986Howard the DuckBeverly SwitzlerFilm
1986SpaceCampKathrynFilm
1986The Making of Back to the FutureSelfFilm
1985Back to the FutureLorraine BainesFilm
1984Red DawnEricaFilm
1984The Wild LifeAnitaFilm
1983Jaws 3-DKelly Ann BukowskiFilm
1983All the Right MovesLisaFilm
1983The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't DieFilm
1982American PlayhouseAunt SybilSeries
—QueenDr. PageFilm
—A Pretty Good MovieRamonaFilm
—What IfFilm
—Howard the Doc or: How I Learned to Start Quacking and Love the BombSelfFilm
Crew (2)
2009Looking Back to the FutureThanksFilm
2008My Best Friend's GirlThanksFilm
Directing (16)
2024The Chicken SistersDirectorSeries
2023Will TrentDirectorSeries
2021Resident AlienDirectorSeries
2020Star Trek: PicardDirectorSeries
2020DC's StargirlDirectorSeries
2020Katy KeeneDirectorSeries
2019SchooledDirectorSeries
2018The Year of Spectacular MenDirectorFilm
2017Young SheldonDirectorSeries
2016American HousewifeDirectorSeries
2013MomDirectorSeries
2013The GoldbergsDirectorSeries
2011Switched at BirthDirectorSeries
2008Jane Doe: Eye of the BeholderDirectorFilm
2006Jane Doe: The Harder They FallDirectorFilm
—ManvilleDirectorFilm
Production (2)
2026Anna PigeonExecutive Producer, DirectorSeries
2009Fatal SecretsAssociate ProducerFilm