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Lea Thompson

What's After the Movie

Lea Thompson

Lea Katherine Thompson, born on May 31, 1961, is an American actress, singer, dancer, and director. She is most famous for her role as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990), Beverly Switzler in Howard the Duck (1986), and Amanda Jones in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987). She made her film debut in Jaws 3-D in 1983, after which she continued to make films like All the Right Moves (1983), Red Dawn (1984), Dennis the Menace (1993), and The Beverly Hillbillies (1993). She transitioned to TV in the 1990s, when 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. Prior to her acting career, she was a professional ballet dancer, having been offered scholarships to the San Francisco Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the American Ballet Theatre. However, she decided to stop dancing and focus on acting after being told she was 'too stocky' for ballet. Thompson has also directed several episodes and TV films and has appeared in Broadway plays. She also had a career as a singer, performing in Celebrity Duets in 2006.

75 movies

Explore the best of Lea Thompson – top movies, iconic roles, and must-see performances!

Biography, Career & Filmography

Learn more about Lea Thompson, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Lea Thompson rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.


Given Name: Lea Katherine Thompson

Born: Rochester, Minnesota, U.S

Citizenship: U.S

Birthday: May 31, 1961

Occupations: Actress, Director, Singer, Dancer

Years Active: 1982–present (acting), 2006–present (directing)

Children: 2

Spouses: Howard Deutch

Movies Featuring Lea Thompson

Who We Are Now

Who We Are Now

Dinner in America

Dinner in America

Sierra Burgess Is a Loser

Sierra Burgess Is a Loser

Ping Pong Summer

Ping Pong Summer

SpaceCamp

SpaceCamp

Thin Ice

Thin Ice

Back to the Future Part II

Back to the Future Part II

All the Right Moves

All the Right Moves

Howard the Duck

Howard the Duck

Dennis the Menace

Dennis the Menace

Literally, Right Before Aaron

Literally, Right Before Aaron

The Year of Spectacular Men

The Year of Spectacular Men

Left Behind

Left Behind

Red Dawn

Red Dawn

Little Women

Little Women

Jaws 3-D

Jaws 3-D

Mark, Mary & Some Other People

Mark, Mary & Some Other People

Unplugging

Unplugging

Ten Tricks

Ten Tricks

Brats

Brats

John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast

John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast

Call Me Crazy: A Five Film

Call Me Crazy: A Five Film

Adventures of a Teenage Dragonslayer

Adventures of a Teenage Dragonslayer

Rock Slyde

Rock Slyde

Tales from the Future

Tales from the Future

Milius

Milius

My Mother’s Future Husband

My Mother’s Future Husband

Mayor Cupcake

Mayor Cupcake

The Cabin

The Cabin

Love at the Christmas Table

Love at the Christmas Table

Back in Time

Back in Time

Keith Lemon’s Back t’Future Tribute

Keith Lemon’s Back t’Future Tribute

Haunted Lighthouse 4-D

Haunted Lighthouse 4-D

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

Cool Cat’s Crazy Dream

Cool Cat’s Crazy Dream

Stealing Christmas

Stealing Christmas

Jane Doe: Vanishing Act

Jane Doe: Vanishing Act

Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Jane Doe: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part

Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part

Jane Doe: The Wrong Face

Jane Doe: The Wrong Face

Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall

Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall

California Dreaming

California Dreaming

Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss

Jane Doe: How to Fire Your Boss

Come Away Home

Come Away Home

Looking Back at the Future

Looking Back at the Future

Jane Doe: Ties That Bind

Jane Doe: Ties That Bind

Montana

Montana

A Life Interrupted

A Life Interrupted

Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well

Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well

The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don’t Die

The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don’t Die

The Wild Life

The Wild Life

The Making of Back to the Future

The Making of Back to the Future

Casual Sex?

Casual Sex?

Going Undercover

Going Undercover

Nightbreaker

Nightbreaker

Next Stop, Christmas

Next Stop, Christmas

The Wizard of Loneliness

The Wizard of Loneliness

Retour vers le futur : Voyage dans le temps, American Dream & rock’n’roll

Retour vers le futur : Voyage dans le temps, American Dream & rock’n’roll

Casual Sex?

Casual Sex?

Going Undercover

Going Undercover

Nightbreaker

Nightbreaker

The Unspoken Truth

The Unspoken Truth

A Will of their Own

A Will of their Own

The Right to Remain Silent

The Right to Remain Silent

Fatal Secrets

Fatal Secrets

Senior Skip Day

Senior Skip Day

Final Approach

Final Approach

The Unknown Cyclist

The Unknown Cyclist

Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder

Jane Doe: Eye of the Beholder

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies

Spy School

Spy School

Exit Speed

Exit Speed

The Disappearance of Cari Farver

The Disappearance of Cari Farver

The Christmas Clause

The Christmas Clause

Article 99

Article 99

Career Timeline

Track the complete movie timeline of Lea Thompson, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.


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