Frances Lee McCain is an American actress.
Early life and education McCain graduated from Ripon College with a BA in Philosophy and then studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England.
Career She returned to New York City where she appeared on Broadway in Woody Allen's Play it Again Sam, and off-Broadway in Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky, creating the role of Carol. She joined the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco under William Ball and played a variety of roles in repertory.
Apple's Way TV series (1974–1975) and other 1970s work She began her career in film and television after appearing opposite Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway in A Streetcar Named Desire, eventually co-starring with Ronny Cox as the female lead in the television series, CBS-TV's Apple's Way in 1974. She appeared in a variety of television series and miniseries through the 1970s, including Washington: Behind Closed Doors and the Quincy, M.E. episode Eye of the Needle playing a Holistic practitioner, and in "The Rockford Files" 1978 episode "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall." In 1979, she appeared in Real Life. In 1979, she appeared on ABC in the television series 13 Queens Boulevard.
1980s acting work In the 1980s, she was cast in several major films, usually playing the mother of a main character. In 1984, she co-starred in the film Gremlins as Lynn Peltzer, the mother of main character Billy Peltzer. Also that year, she played Ethel McCormack, the mother of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), in the musical film Footloose. In 1985, she appeared in the film Back to the Future as Stella Baines, the mother of Lorraine Baines (Lea Thompson). In 1986, she played Mrs. Lachance, the mother of Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), in the drama film Stand by Me.
Later work McCain continued to work in television after relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1980s and also appeared in Scream (1996), as the mother of Rose McGowan and David Arquette's characters, and Patch Adams (1998).
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1973 The Laughing Policeman Prostitute 1979 Real Life Jeanette Yeager 1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Claire Calo 1982 Tex Mrs. Johnson 1984 Footloose Ethel McCormack 1984 Gremlins Lynn Peltzer 1985 Back to the Future Stella Baines 1986 Murder in Three Acts Miss Milray 1986 Stand by Me Mrs. Lachance 1988 It Takes Two Joyce Rogers 1996 Scream Mrs. Riley 1998 Patch Adams Judy 1999 True Crime Mrs. Lowenstein 2018 Ideal Home Doris 2019 Dreamland Teller 2020 The Comeback Trail Marge (Old Actress) 2022 End of the Road Val
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1973The Mod SquadAliceEpisode: "And Once for My Baby"Owen Marshall, Counselor at LawGinaEpisode: "The Second Victim"1974The New Perry MasonLaurie HadenEpisode: "The Case of the Violent Valley"1974–1975Apple's WayBarbara AppleSeries regular; 28 episodes1975Doctors' HospitalAnnie RobaireEpisode: "But Who Will Bless Thy Daughter Norah?"The Bob Newhart ShowJanetEpisode: "A Matter of Vice-Principal"1976VisionsJennyEpisode: "The War Widow"1977The Trial of Lee Harvey OswaldJan HolderTV Movie1978The Rockford FilesLeslie CallahanEpisode: "The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall"1978Lou GrantSusan ShermanEpisodes: "Romance", "Singles"1981Three's CompanyKellyEpisode: "And Baby Makes Four"1985The Rape of Richard BeckCaroline BeckTV Movie1986A Fighting ChoiceVirginia HaganCan You Feel Me Dancing?Joan NicholsTV Movie1987At Mother's RequestLouise2 episodesPolice Story Claire WrightEpisode: The Freeway Killings 1988HunterSara DevaneEpisode: "Girl on the Beach"Scandal in a Small TownGwendolynTV MovieLeap of Faith Susan 1989HeartBeatSamantha FlemmingEpisode: "Baby, Maybe"1990The LookalikeDr. StamosTV Movie1991Father Dowling InvestigatesHelen AustinEpisode: The Mummy's Curse Mystery1993Poisoned by Love: The Kern County MurdersBea EmoryTV MovieFirestorm: 72 Hours In Oakland FloDying to Love You Sue GrahamDiagnosis MurderMonica Walters Episode: "The 13 Million Dollar Man"1993–1994Second ChancesFelicity Cook3 episodes2016PreacherMosie3 episodes2017Midnight, TexasJaniceEpisode: "Last Temptation of Midnight"The Girlfriend ExperienceSandra 7 episodes 2020MessiahPattyEpisode: "So That Seeing They May Not See"Better Call SaulJudge ChapekEpisode: "Namaste"
References
External links