Samantha Mathis (born May 12, 1970) is an American actress and trade union leader who served as the vice president, actors/performers of SAG-AFTRA from 2015 to 2019. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in Pump Up the Volume (1990), provided the voice of Crysta in FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992), and had a lead role in The Thing Called Love (1993). Mathis subsequently had supporting roles in films such as Little Women (1994), How to Make an American Quilt, The American President (both 1995), Broken Arrow (1996), American Psycho (2000), The Punisher (2004), American Pastoral (2016), Ray Meets Helen (2017), Being Frank, The Clovehitch Killer (both 2018), The Exorcism (2024), and By Design (2025).

She also had recurring roles as Justine Feraldo on the second and third seasons of the FX horror drama series The Strain (2015–2016) and Sara Hammon on the fourth season of the Showtime drama series Billions (2019).

Early life Mathis was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, the daughter of Donald Mathis and Austrian-American actress Bibi Besch.Craven, Jonathan (March 1996). "Sam I am" (interview). Bikini. Her parents divorced when she was two years old, and Mathis was brought up by her mother. She relocated with her mother to Los Angeles, California, at the age of five.

Besch tried to discourage Mathis from pursuing acting, but growing up on locations, in theaters, and in acting classes, Mathis knew she wanted to act. She decided to become an actress at the age of twelve.Matsumoto, Jon (September 1, 1990). "Acting's in Samantha Mathis' Blood: Mom's and Grandmom's Too", The Los Angeles Times; retrieved August 31, 2009.

Career Mathis began acting professionally at the age of 16.Malkin, Nina (June 1992). "This is my Life". Seventeen. pp. 4, 82–83. Her first job was a commercial for "Always Slender Pads – Just for Teens". She co-starred in the television series Aaron's Way and Knightwatch from 1988 to 1989. Her first starring role in a feature film was that of Nora in Pump Up the Volume (1990), opposite Christian Slater, whom she briefly dated at the time. Mathis dyed her natural blonde hair black for the role in an effort to change her image from sweet and innocent to strong-willed.

Mathis appeared in the television films Extreme Close-up, 83 Hours 'til Dawn and To My Daughter in 1990. Mathis and Slater had voice roles in the animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992). She next appeared in the comedy This Is My Life (1992), written and directed by Nora Ephron, playing an insecure teenager. Mathis appeared in the play Fortinbras in New York City on October 1992.Gussow, Mel (October 14, 1992). "Theater in Review" . The New York Times; retrieved April 24, 2008. She also appeared in Super Mario Bros. (1993), in which she played Princess Daisy from the popular Nintendo video game. The film was a box-office bomb but gained a cult following since its release.

Mathis co-starred with River Phoenix in The Thing Called Love (1993). She appeared in the 1994 film adaptation of Little Women, and in How to Make an American Quilt (1995), both starring Winona Ryder.Thompson, Bob (October 15, 1995). "Patch in to Mathis". The Toronto Sun. She then appeared in The American President (1995), playing the assistant to the President of the United States. Mathis co-starred with Slater again, along with John Travolta, in John Woo's Broken Arrow (1996). She took a little over a year off from acting after her mother died in 1996 from breast cancer.Sheridan, Patricia (April 30, 2007). "Samantha Mathis profile" , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; retrieved April 24, 2008.

Mathis later appeared in American Psycho (2000), a film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis's 1991 novel of the same name. She starred in Attraction (2000) and in The Simian Line (2001). She starred in the TNT television miniseries The Mists of Avalon (2001). Mathis starred with Thomas Jane in The Punisher (2004). She had a guest role on the ABC television show Lost as Olivia Goodspeed. She played Jane Fonda's daughter in the Broadway show "33 Variations". Her indie film Lebanon, PA (2010) had its world premiere at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival. She appeared in an off-Broadway production of the play, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, at New York City's Westside Theatre in October 2011.Hetrick, Adam (October 5, 2011). "Dee Hoty and Samantha Mathis Join Love, Loss, and What I Wore Oct. 5" , Playbill; retrieved October 30, 2011.

In 2013, Mathis played psychiatrist Alice Calvert on the CBS television series Under the Dome, based on a novel by Stephen King. In 2014, she joined the cast of the FX horror drama series The Strain as Justine Feraldo, a New York City councilwoman for Staten Island.

In October 2015, Mathis was elected National Vice President, Actors/Performers of SAG-AFTRA. She was re-elected in 2017.

In 2019, she appeared off-Broadway in the role of Kate Conlee in Make Believe, a new play by Bess Wohl staged at the Second Stage Theater. Michael Greif directed the play. Her 2020 musical Whisper House was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life Mathis met actor River Phoenix on the set of the 1993 film The Thing Called Love. Soon thereafter, she broke up with her boyfriend and Super Mario Bros. co-star John Leguizamo and started a relationship with Phoenix. She was with Phoenix on October 31, 1993, the night he died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital of a drug overdose after collapsing outside The Viper Room in West Hollywood, California.Pearce, Garth (June 1996). "Why I Still Grieve For River", OK! Weekly. Accessed October 27, 2022.

In the autopsy report the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detailed that Mathis refused several times to give more details surrounding the death of Phoenix and had told deputies at the time of Phoenix's death that she had no knowledge of his drug use. Mathis took a role in the film Jack and Sarah (1995), which was shot in London, to get out of the country after Phoenix's death because of the excessive press coverage.Hensley, Dennis. "Elementary Mathis", Detour (December 1995)

Mathis spoke for the first time publicly about the death of Phoenix in an interview with The Guardian in 2018. She elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Phoenix's death: "I knew something was wrong that night, something I didn't understand. I didn't see anyone doing drugs but he was high in a way that made me feel uncomfortable...the heroin that killed him didn't happen until he was in the Viper Room. I have my suspicions about what was going on, but I didn't see anything."

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1989 The BulldancePaula 1990Pump Up the VolumeNora Diniro1992This Is My LifeErica IngelsNominated—Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion PictureFernGully: The Last RainforestCrystaVoice1993TiffanySuper Mario Bros.Princess Daisy / The QueenMiranda Presley1994Little WomenAdult Amy March1995Jack and SarahAmyHow to Make an American QuiltYoung Sophia Darling RichardsNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureJanie Basdin1996Broken ArrowTerry CarmichaelMuseum of LoveStephanieShort film1998Waiting for WoodyGail SilverSweet JaneJane2000American PsychoCourtney RawlinsonAttractionCorey2001Mae2004Maria Castle2005Kids in AmericaJennifer RoseTouchedJeannie Bates2006Believe in MeJean DriscollLocal ColorCarla2009Cassandra Parker2010BuriedLinda ConroyVoiceLebanon, PAVickiOrder of ChaosJennifer2011Good Day for ItSarah Bryant2012Camilla DickinsonRose DickinsonAtlas Shrugged: Part IIDagny Taggart2014AffluenzaBunny Miller 2016 American PastoralPenny Hamlin2017Ray Meets Helen Mary 2018Being FrankBonnieThe Clovehitch KillerCindyBoarding SchoolIsabel2023Pet Sematary: BloodlinesKathy2024The ExorcismJennifer Simon2025By DesignLisaIsle ChildCarey Miller

Television Year Title Role Notes1988Aaron's WayRoseanne MillerMain castCircle of LoveTelevision film1988–1989KnightwatchJacqueline 'Jake' MonroeMain cast1989Cold Sassy TreeLightfoot McClendonTelevision filmCBS Summer PlayhouseMary DunneEpisode: "American Nuclear"1990Extreme Close-UpLauraTelevision film83 Hours 'Til DawnJulie BurdockTo My DaughterAnne Carlston1999The Outer LimitsMarie WellsEpisode: "The Shroud"Freak CityRuth EllisonTelevision film1999–2000Harsh RealmSophie Green4 episodes2000MermaidRhondaTelevision film2001First YearsAnn WellerMain castNight VisionsDiane BallardEpisode: "The Passenger List/Bokor"GwenhwyfarMiniseries2002PBS Hollywood PresentsLisa MorrisonEpisode: "Collected Stories"2003The Twilight ZoneRachel StarkEpisode: "Into the Light"2003, 2014, 2020Law & Order: Special Victims UnitHilary Barclay / Catherine Summers / Melanie Franks3 episodes2004Salem's LotSusan NortonMiniseriesNominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television2005Fathers and SonsJennyTelevision filmLaw & Order: Criminal IntentDr. Christine AnselEpisode: "Saving Face"2006Secrets of a Small TownSamantha SteeleEpisode: "Pilot"AbsolutionBettina LloydTelevision filmHouseMaria PalkoEpisode: "Clueless"Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen KingKaren EvansEpisode: "The Fifth Quarter"2007LostOlivia GoodspeedEpisode: "The Man Behind the Curtain"Callie MorganTelevision filmOprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More DayYoung Pauline 'Posey' Benetto2009Grey's AnatomyMelinda Prescott3 episodesRoyal PainsAmy HillEpisode: "Wonderland"2010Unanswered PrayersLorrie BeckTelevision film2011Curb Your EnthusiasmDonnaEpisode: "The Hero"2013Under the DomeAlice CalvertRecurring role (season 1)2014The Good WifeBonita YarrowEpisode: "The Line"2015–2016The StrainJustine FeraldoMain cast (seasons 2–3)2019BillionsSara HammonRecurring role (season 4)Into the DarkDr. Victoria HarrisEpisode: "All That We Destroy"BullAvery KressEpisode: "The Flying Carpet"202312 Desperate HoursVal JaneTelevision film2026ElsbethElaine McCluskEpisode: "Murder Six Across"

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