
Acting
Born July 29, 1954 · Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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).

Waking Up Dead
2022

Hunter Gatherer
2016

Beautiful Girl
2014

Angels in Stardust
2014
The Amateur
2014

Straight A's
2013

Beneath the Dark
2010

Middle of Nowhere
2008

Pineapple Express
2008

Snow Angels
2007

Sniper 3
2004

Finding Home
2003

Dunsmore
2003

Small Town Conspiracy
2003

The Shipping News
2001

The Prime Gig
2001

Pay It Forward
2000

The 70s
2000

Mystery Kids
2000

Boys Don't Cry
1999

Judas Kiss
1998

First Love, Last Rites
1998

Ladybugs
1992

Single Women, Married Men
1989

Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies
1987

The Deliberate Stranger
1986

The History of White People in America: Volume II
1986

City Killer
1984

Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac
1984

Take Your Best Shot
1982

The Shadow Riders
1982

Callie & Son
1981

Brave New World
1980

10
1979

The Redeemer: Son of Satan!
1978

Teenage Graffiti
1977