JA
Jeannetta Arnette
ActorBorn July 29, 1954 (71 years)
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
| 2024 | Clipped (2024) (TV Series) · as Dr. Platzer |
| 2022 | |
| 2018 | Homecoming (2018) (TV Series) · as Woman With Dogs |
| 2018 | Heathers (TV Series) · as Mrs. Kelly |
| 2016 | Hunter Gatherer · as Dr. Merton |
| 2016 | American Crime Story (TV Series) · as Delmer Lee Corbin |
| 2016 | Angels in Stardust · as Jacqueline Windsor |
| 2014 | Beautiful Girl · as Mom |
| 2014 | Extant (TV Series) · as Anya Sparks |
| 2014 | The Amateur · as Joey's Mom |
| 2013 | Straight A's · as (uncredited) |
| 2012 | Perception (TV Series) · as Stephanie Nordhoff |
| 2011 | Switched at Birth (TV Series) · as Ms. Troyer |
| 2010 | Beneath the Dark · as Shirley |
| 2010 | Justified (TV Series) · as Marsha Keyhoe |
| 2008 | The Mentalist (TV Series) · as Sue Overton |
| 2008 | Fringe (TV Series) · as Dr. West |
| 2008 | Middle of Nowhere · as Mindy Green |
| 2008 | Pineapple Express · as Sandra Danby |
| 2007 | Snow Angels · as Louise Parkinson |
| 2006 | So NoTORIous (TV Series) · as Ruthie Rose |
| 2006 | A House Divided · as Elaine |
| 2005 | Criminal Minds (TV Series) · as Sarah Jean Dawes |
| 2005 | Invasion (TV Series) |
| 2004 | Sniper 3 · as Sydney |
| 2004 | Lost (TV Series) · as Lizzy Calloway |
| 2003 | Finding Home · as Grace |
| 2003 | Cold Case (TV Series) · as Chelsey Simpson (2009) |
| 2003 | Dunsmore · as Irma Pritcher |
| 2002 | Small Town Conspiracy · as Donna Jo |
| 2001 | The Shipping News · as Silver Melville |
| 2000 | Pay It Forward · as Nurse |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) · as Mrs. Spencer |
| 2000 | The '70s · as Doris Shales |
| 2000 | The '70s (TV Series) · as Doris Shales |
| 2000 | Finding Kelly · as Alice Johnson |
| 2000 | The Prime Gig · as Cheryl |
| 1999 | Roswell (TV Series) · as Dolores Browning |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Sandra Knowles |
| 1999 | Boys Don't Cry · as Lana's Mom |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul (TV Series) · as Suzie |
| 1999 | Passions (TV Series) · as Flo |
| 1998 | V.I.P. (TV Series) · as Dr. Lonnie Hippelman |
| 1998 | Judas Kiss · as Monica Grimes |
| 1997 | First Love, Last Rites · as Sissel's Mom |
| 1996 | Somebody Is Waiting · as Edna Rice |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges (TV Series) · as Ginny Peacock |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) · as Gloria |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Dr. Gus Jacobs |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Mrs. Hawkes |
| 1994 | Hotel Malibu (TV Series) · as Ms. Robinette |
| 1993 | Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) · as Lana |
| 1993 | Grace Under Fire (TV Series) · as Maxine |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) · as Doctor Loews |
| 1992 | The Jackie Thomas Show (TV Series) · as Sophie Ford |
| 1992 | Ladybugs · as Glynnis Mullen |
| 1989 | Single Women Married Men · as Maureen Harrison |
| 1988 | Roseanne (TV Series) |
| 1986 | Head of the Class (TV Series) · as Bernadette Meara |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Vicki Simonetti |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger · as Mrs. Richter |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger (TV Series) · as Mrs. Richter |
| 1985 | A Minor Miracle · as News Woman |
| 1984 | City Killer · as Andrea's Neighbor |
| 1984 | Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac · as Nicki Felch |
| 1984 | Riptide (1984) (TV Series) · as Francine |
| 1983 | Bay City Blues (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) · as Melinda Marshall |
| 1983 | The A-Team (TV Series) · as Betty / Sarah |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) · as Louise Garrison |
| 1982 | Take Your Best Shot · as Fran |
| 1982 | The Shadow Riders · as Southern Belle |
| 1981 | The Fall Guy (TV Series) · as Kris Travers |
| 1981 | Callie & Son · as Receptionist |
| 1981 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) |
| 1980 | Freebie and the Bean (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1980 | A Small Circle of Friends · as Cast |
| 1980 | Brave New World · as Dwightina |
| 1979 | 10 · as Party Guest |
| 1979 | Paris (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1978 | The Redeemer: Son of Satan! · as Cindy |
| 1977 | Teenage Graffiti · as Annie |
| 1976 | Three's Company (TV Series) |
| 1976 | Laverne & Shirley (TV Series) |
| 1974 | Chico and the Man (TV Series) · as Chongo Aka Lavinia Pemberton |