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Piper Laurie

Piper Laurie

Actor · Died October 14, 2023, aged 91 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

Piper Laurie (born Rosetta Jacobs; January 22, 1932 – October 14, 2023) was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films The Hustler (1961), Carrie (1976), and Children of a Lesser God (1986), and received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and a BAFTA Award. She was also known for her performances as Kirsten Arnesen in the original TV production of Days of Wine and Roses, and as Catherine Martell in the television series Twin Peaks.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 22, 1932
Died
October 14, 2023 (aged 91)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
68 on MovieCove · 109 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What are Piper Laurie's films like?

Across their 51 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama23 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Self
22%
Survival
19%
Morality
17%
Society
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 51 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 23 · Serious 11 · Dark 17

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 34 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 23 · Intense 15

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 27 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 33 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 29 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 21 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 17

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 40 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

28 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 10 of 28 analyzed roles.

Ally
10 of 28
Hero
4 of 28
Threshold guardian
4 of 28
Shadow
3 of 28
Mentor
3 of 28
Shapeshifter
2 of 28
Herald
2 of 28
Show the 28 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
25
Melancholic
21
Warm
15
Dread
8
Hopeful
12
Other
49

How their films linger

Feel-good20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Piper Laurie's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 40 of their 68 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Piper Laurie's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

109 credits, 68 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Stephen King: A Necessary Evil(2020)

    as Margaret White

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • White Boy Rick(2018)

    as Grandma Verna Wershe

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Snapshots(2018)

    as Rose

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • MacGyver(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Edith

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Larry Kramer in Love and Anger(2015)

    as Rena Weeks

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Bad Blood... the Hunger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Milly Lathrop

  • Another Harvest Moon(2010)

    as June

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Hesher(2010)

    as Madeleine Forney

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Saving Grace B. Jones(2009)

    as Marta Shrank

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Hounddog(2007)

    as Grammie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Dead Girl(2006)

    as Arden's Mother

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Eulogy(2004)

    as Charlotte Collins

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Rose (2005)

  • Dead Like Me(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Nina Rommey

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Brickmaker in America(2001)

    as Ruth Anne

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • State of Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Sophie

  • Midwives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Cheryl Visco

  • Possessed(2000)

    as Aunt Hanna

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy Rudd

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Mao Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Inherit the Wind(1999)

    as Sarah Brady

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Rage: Carrie 2(1999)

    as Margaret White (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Palmer's Pick-Up(1999)

    as Evangelist

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Faculty(1998)

    as Mrs. Olson

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Jane Waide

  • Will & Grace(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Sharon

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • St. Patrick's Day(1997)

    as Mary Pat

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Memory(1997)

    as Jennie

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Alone(1997)

    as Lillie Dawson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Intensity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Miriam Braynard

  • Intensity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Miriam Braynard

  • The Grass Harp(1995)

    as Dolly Talbo

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • In the Blink of an Eye(1996)

    as Kay Trafero (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Road to Galveston(1996)

    as Wanda Kirkman

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Crossing Guard(1995)

    as Helen Booth

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Fighting for My Daughter(1995)

    as Judge Edna Burton

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Annie Doyle

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Shadows of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Ellis Snow

  • ER(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sarah Ross

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Traps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 5 episodes · as Cora Trapchek

  • Wrestling Ernest Hemingway(1993)

    as Georgia

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as A.D.A. Susan Turner

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Marianne (voice) · as Mrs. Mulhern

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Lies & Lullabies(1993)

    as Margaret Kinsey

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Trauma(1993)

    as Adriana Petrescu

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Rich in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Vera Delmage

  • Storyville (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Constance Fowler

  • Other People's Money(1991)

    as Bea Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Rising Son(1990)

    as Martha Robinson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Twin Peaks(1990)

    Show 30 episodes · as Catherine Martell · as Catherine Martell (archive footage) · as Katherine Martell

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Twin Peaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Catherine Martell

  • Dream a Little Dream(1989)

    as Gena Ettinger

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mother, Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Martha Cousins

  • Go Toward the Light(1988)

    as Margo

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tiger Warsaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Frances Warsaw

  • Appointment with Death(1988)

    as Emily Boynton

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Beauty and the Beast(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Davis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Distortions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Margot Caldwell

  • Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Annie Gilbert

  • Children of a Lesser God(1986)

    as Mrs. Norman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Leigh

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Toughlove(1985)

    as Darlene Marsh

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Love, Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Christine Groda

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Neva (segment "The Burning Man") · as Gramma (voice) (uncredited) (segment "Gramma")

  • Tender Is the Night(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Elsie Speers

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Return to Oz(1985)

    as Aunt Em

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Peggy Shannon

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Thorn Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · as Anne Mueller

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 3 episodes · as Fran Singleton

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Jessica

  • Mae West(1982)

    as Matilda West

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Bunker(1981)

    as Magda Goebbels

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Lady Macbeth

  • Skag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Jo Skagska

  • Skag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Tim(1979)

    as Mary Horton

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Rainbow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Ethel Gumm

  • The Boss' Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Elaine

  • In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Julie Quinlan

  • Ruby(1977)

    as Ruby

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Carrie(1976)

    as Margaret White

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Wiley

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Hustler(1961)

    as Sarah Packard

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Winterset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Miriamne

  • Days of Wine and Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Kirsten Arnesen Clay

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Highmark

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Until They Sail(1957)

    as Delia Leslie Friskett

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Kelly and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Mina Van Runkle

  • The Ninth Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Playhouse 90 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ain't Misbehavin'(1955)

    as Sarah Hatfield

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Smoke Signal(1955)

    as Laura Evans

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Dawn at Socorro(1954)

    as Rannah Hayes

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Johnny Dark(1954)

    as Liz Fielding

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Mission(1954)

    as Louise Graham

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Golden Blade(1953)

    as Khairuzan

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Cleopatra · as Jessica Galloway · as Phoebe Durkin

  • The Mississippi Gambler(1953)

    as Angelique Dureau

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Son of Ali Baba(1952)

    as Kiki / Princess Azura

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Has Anybody Seen My Gal(1952)

    as Millicent Blaisdell

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • No Room for the Groom(1952)

    as Lee Kingshead

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Annie · as Miriamne

  • The Prince Who Was a Thief(1951)

    as Tina

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Francis Goes to the Races(1951)

    as Frances Travers

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Milkman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Chris Abbott

  • Louisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Cathy Norton

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Stacey Spender

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Cornelius

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 1948 to 2018; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

The Faculty (1998)

$40M worldwide

Highest rated

The Hustler (1961)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Carrie (1976)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19482018

Peak 2018 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1952Screen debut· Has Anybody Seen My Gal?
  • 1976Breakout· Carrie
  • 1977First top-billed film· Ruby
  • 1990Career best· Twin Peaks

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting107 of 107: 107 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s24 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s25 · acting1990s32 · acting2000s10 · acting2010s6 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 11% of 28 roles
52829202

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Piper Laurie's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 54; across their 51 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 51

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 51

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 51

Midcredits score across 68 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th22
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 68 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Saving Grace B. Jones (2009)

82nd percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Hustler (1961)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 48 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Piper Laurie's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles31–85 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles22–61 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles18–87 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles30–74 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles40–78 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Piper Laurie work with?

People who share at least 2 of Piper Laurie's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tony Curtis shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles