Known for Acting
Dianne Evelyn Wiest (/wiːst/; born March 28, 1948) is an American actress. She has won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for 1986's Hannah and Her Sisters and 1994's Bullets Over Broadway (both directed by Woody Allen), one Golden Globe Award for Bullets Over Broadway, the 1997 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Road to Avonlea, and the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for In Treatment. In addition, she was nominated for an Academy Award for 1989's Parenthood. Other film appearances by Wiest include Footloose (1984), Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Radio Days (1987), and September (1987), The Lost Boys (1987), Bright Lights, Big City (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Little Man Tate (1991), The Birdcage (1996), Practical Magic (1998), Dan in Real Life (2007), Synecdoche, New York (2008), Rabbit Hole (2010), The Mule (2018), Let Them All Talk (2020), and I Care a Lot (2020). She also appeared in the television series Law & Order (2000–2002) and the CBS comedy Life in Pieces(2015–2019). Description above from the Wikipedia article Dianne Wiest, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Born
March 28, 1948 (age 78)
Birthplace
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Filmography
58 films, 16 shows


Closing Night
2026
country: Canada
A celebrated actress's life begins to unravel on the eve of her greatest performance. When her sister April arrives in New York after a 30-year estrangement, the stage is set for a tense family confrontation.


Practical Magic 2
2026 · 2h 10m
country: United States
The Owens sisters must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all.


Apartment 7A
2024 · 1h 44m
country: United States
A struggling young dancer finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected older couple promise her a shot at fame.


Scene Partners
2023 · 1h 50m
country: United States
Winter, 1985. 75-year-old Meryl ditches ice-cold Milwaukee for sunny Los Angeles, hell-bent on becoming a movie star. She’s got big dreams, a little money, and a whole lot of nerve. But will the world ever know her for who she really is? Starring two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest as Meryl, and directed by Tony Award-winning director Rachel Chavkin, John J. Caswell, Jr.’s play is a wildly theatrical, hilarious, and genre-twisting gallop through the experience of a woman reborn.


My Father's Dragon
2022 · 1h 39m
country: Ireland
Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer’s adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.


I Care a Lot
2021 · 1h 59m
country: United Kingdom
A court-appointed legal guardian defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. But her latest mark comes with some unexpected baggage.


Let Them All Talk
2020 · 1h 53m
country: United States
A celebrated author takes a journey with some old friends to have some fun and heal old wounds. Her nephew comes along to wrangle the ladies and finds himself involved with a young literary agent.


The Mule
2018 · 1h 56m
country: Canada
Earl Stone, a man in his eighties, is broke, alone, and facing foreclosure of his business when he is offered a job that simply requires him to drive. Easy enough, but, unbeknownst to Earl, he's just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel. He does so well that his cargo increases exponentially, and Earl hit the radar of hard-charging DEA agent Colin Bates.


Always at The Carlyle
2018 · 1h 32m
country: United States
The iconic Carlyle hotel has been an international destination for a particular jet set as well as a favorite haunt of the most discernible New Yorkers.


Five Nights in Maine
2016 · 1h 22m
country: United States
A young African American man, reeling from the tragic loss of his wife, travels to rural Maine to seek answers from his estranged mother-in-law, who is herself confronting guilt and grief over her daughter's death.


Sisters
2015 · 1h 58m
country: United States
Two disconnected sisters are summoned to clean out their childhood bedrooms before their parents sell their family home.


Rasheeda Speaking
2015 · 1h 45m
country: Unknown
This tense workplace thriller examines the realities of so-called “post-racial” America. Co-workers are driven apart by the machinations of their boss, and a chilling power struggle ensues that spins wildly out of control.


The Humbling
2014 · 1h 52m
country: United States
Following a breakdown and suicide attempt, an aging actor becomes involved with a much younger woman but soon finds that it's difficult to keep pace with her.


The Odd Life of Timothy Green
2012 · 1h 45m
country: United States
A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.


Darling Companion
2012 · 1h 43m
country: United States
Beth develops a deep bond with a dog she rescues. But when her self-absorbed husband loses the dog, the search takes some unexpected turns.


Woody Allen: A Documentary
2011 · 3h 13m
country: United States
An intense portrait of the iconic filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician Woody Allen: his life, family and friends; his writing and directing habits, and his relationship with performers.


The Big Year
2011 · 1h 42m
country: United States
Three fanatical bird-watchers spend an entire year competing to spot the highest number of species as El Nino sends an extraordinary variety of rare breeds flying up into the U.S., but they quickly discover that there are more important things than coming out on top of the competition.


Rabbit Hole
2010 · 1h 31m
country: United States
Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident.


Rage
2009 · 1h 38m
country: United Kingdom
A schoolboy uses his cellphone camera to shoot intimate interviews with people working at a New York fashion house and secretly posts them on the internet. Result: a bitterly funny expose of an industry in crisis, during a week in which an accident on the runway becomes a murder investigation, and denial leads to devastation.


Synecdoche, New York
2008 · 2h 4m
country: United States
A theater director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he attempts to create a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse as part of his new play.


Passengers
2008 · 1h 33m
country: Canada
After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire, is assigned by her mentor to counsel the flight's five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident -- which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened -- Claire is intrigued by Eric, the most secretive of the passengers.


Dan in Real Life
2007 · 1h 38m
country: United States
Advice columnist Dan Burns is an expert on relationships, but somehow struggles to succeed as a brother, a son and a single parent to three precocious daughters. Things get even more complicated when Dan finds out that the woman he falls in love with is actually his brother's new girlfriend.


Dedication
2007 · 1h 35m
country: United States
A modern love story in which a misanthropic, emotionally complex author of a hit children's book is forced to team with a beautiful illustrator after his best friend and collaborator passes away. As Henry struggles with letting go of the ghosts of love and life, he discovers that sometimes you have to take a gamble at life to find love.


A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
2006 · 1h 44m
country: United States
Dito Montiel, a successful author, receives a call from his long-suffering mother, asking him to return home and visit his ailing father. Dito recalls his childhood growing up in a violent neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., with friends Antonio, Giuseppe, Nerf and Mike.


Robots
2005 · 1h 30m
country: United States
Rodney Copperbottom is a young robot inventor who dreams of making the world a better place, until the evil Ratchet takes over Bigweld Industries. Now, Rodney's dreams – and those of his friends – are in danger of becoming obsolete.


Category 6: Day of Destruction
2004 · 2h 55m
country: United States
Three tornadoes converge to wreak havoc on Chicago, disrupting the power grid and creating the worst super-storm in history: a category 6 twister.


The Blackwater Lightship
2004 · 1h 38m
country: United States
A man in the final stages of AIDS is cared for by his sister and mother and grandmother.


Thank You, Doctor Rey
2003 · 1h 31m
country: France
A gay young man is recruited into an illicit love triangle to watch a much older man’s sexual liaison, but ends up witnessing what turns out to be his murder. The next day the young man's opera diva mother informs him that his estranged father has been in Paris... until the previous night when he was murdered. Seeking help with a psychiatrist, the young man comes across an eccentric actress who has come totally unhinged by the death of that psychiatrist, the infamous Docteur Rey. At first mistaking her for the doctor, the young man embarks on a madcap mystery, reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel, with Paris as the backdrop.


I Am Sam
2001 · 2h 12m
country: United States
Sam, a neurodivergent man, has a daughter with a homeless woman who abandons them when they leave the hospital, leaving Sam to raise Lucy on his own. But as Lucy grows up, Sam's limitations as a parent start to become a problem and the authorities take her away. Sam convinces high-priced lawyer Rita to take his case pro bono and in turn teaches her the value of love and family.


Not Afraid, Not Afraid
2001 · 1h 26m
country: Unknown
After being abandoned by her husband after 28 years, an overbearing, self-centered psychologist embarks on a quest to revisit her past loves, accompanied by her 6-year-old grandson, who has Down syndrome, after he turns up unexpectedly in her van.


The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn
1999 · 1h 25m
country: United States
In the small Southern community of Twin Pines, GA, lives Noah Dearborn, a master craftsman and farmer who cherishes his solitude almost as much as the local townspeople cherish him — especially restaurant owner Sarah McClellan. But when greedy real estate developers set their sights on Noah's land and he rejects their six-figure offer, this taciturn man is forced to summon all his strength in order to defend not only his property and way of life, but his sanity.


Practical Magic
1998 · 1h 44m
country: United States
Sally and Gillian Owens, born into a magical family, have mostly avoided witchcraft themselves. But when Gillian's vicious boyfriend, Jimmy Angelov, dies unexpectedly, the Owens sisters give themselves a crash course in hard magic. With policeman Gary Hallet growing suspicious, the girls struggle to resurrect Angelov -- and unwittingly inject his corpse with an evil spirit that threatens to end their family line.


The Horse Whisperer
1998 · 2h 49m
country: United States
The mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer to help the girl's equally injured horse.


Drunks
1997 · 1h 30m
country: United States
At the beginning of a nightly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Jim seems particularly troubled. His sponsor encourages him to talk that night, the first time in seven months, so he does - and leaves the meeting right after. As Jim wanders the night, searching for some solace in his old stomping grounds, bars and parks where he bought drugs, the meeting goes on, and we hear the stories of survivors and addicts - some, like Louis, who claim to have wandered in looking for choir practice, who don't call themselves alcoholic, and others, like Joseph, whose drinking almost caused the death of his child - as they talk about their lives at the meeting


The Associate
1996 · 1h 54m
country: United States
Laurel Ayres is a businesswoman trying to make it but unfortunately she works at a investment firm where she does all the work but all the senior investors like Frank Peterson grab all the credit. She then leaves and starts her own firm. While trying to find clients Laurel pretends that she has a male partner named Robert Cutty. And when she starts to do well all of her clients wants to meet Cutty which is difficult since he doesn't exist.


The Birdcage
1996 · 1h 59m
country: United States
A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner agree to put up a false heterosexual front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's conservative parents.


Bullets Over Broadway
1994 · 1h 38m
country: United States
After young playwright, David Shayne obtains funding for his play from gangster Nick Valenti, Nick's girlfriend Olive miraculously lands the role of a psychiatrist—but not only is she a bimbo who could never pass for a psychiatrist—she's a dreadful actress. David puts up with the leading man who is a compulsive eater, the grand dame who wants her part jazzed up, and Olive's interfering hitman/bodyguard—but, eventually he must decide whether art or life is more important.


The Scout
1994 · 1h 41m
country: United States
When his star recruit botches a Major League Baseball debut, humiliated talent scout Al Percolo gets banished to rural Mexico, where he finds a potential gold mine in the arm of young phenom Steve Nebraska. Soon, the New York Yankees put a $55 million contract on the table—provided a psychiatrist can affirm Nebraska's mental stability.


Cops & Robbersons
1994 · 1h 33m
country: United States
When the police discover that a mob hitman has moved in next door to the Robbersons, they set up a stakeout in the Robbersons' home. Hard-nosed, tough-as-nails Jake Stone and his young partner Tony Moore are assigned to the stakeout, but now it is a question of whether Jake can last long enough to capture the bad guys. The Robbersons want to help, and by doing so, drive Jake crazy.


Little Man Tate
1991 · 1h 39m
country: United States
Dede is a sole parent trying to bring up her son Fred. When it is discovered that Fred is a genius, she is determined to ensure that Fred has all the opportunities that he needs, and that he is not taken advantage of by people who forget that his extremely powerful intellect is harboured in the body and emotions of a child.


The Making of Edward Scissorhands
1990 · 4m
country: Unknown
Behind the scenes of Edward Scissorhands


Edward Scissorhands
1990 · 1h 45m
country: United States
A small suburban town receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward.


Cookie
1989 · 1h 34m
country: United States
Cookie Voltecki is the illegitimate daughter of mobster Dino Capisco, who has just finished thirteen years in prison. Since being released from jail, all that Dino wants is to settle some old scores, and make up for lost time with his daughter.


Parenthood
1989 · 2h 4m
country: United States
The story of the Buckman family and friends, attempting to bring up their children. They suffer/enjoy all the events that occur: estranged relatives, the 'black sheep' of the family, the eccentrics, the skeletons in the closet, and the rebellious teenagers.


Bright Lights, Big City
1988 · 1h 47m
country: Japan
A disillusioned young writer living in New York City turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife.


September
1987 · 1h 23m
country: United States
After a suicide attempt, Lane has moved into her country house to recuperate. Her best friend, Stephanie, has come to join her for the summer. Lane's mother, Diane, has recently arrived with her husband Lloyd, Lane's stepfather. Lane is close to two neighbors: Peter, and Howard. Howard is in love with Lane, Lane is in love with Peter, and Peter is in love with Stephanie.


The Lost Boys
1987 · 1h 37m
country: United States
When an unsuspecting town newcomer is drawn to local blood fiends, the Frog brothers and other unlikely heroes gear up to rescue him.


Radio Days
1987 · 1h 29m
country: United States
The Narrator tells us how the radio influenced his childhood in the days before TV. In the New York City of the late 1930s to the New Year's Eve 1944, this coming-of-age tale mixes the narrator's experiences with contemporary anecdotes and urban legends of the radio stars.


Hannah and Her Sisters
1986 · 1h 47m
country: United States
Between two Thanksgivings, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly.


The Purple Rose of Cairo
1985 · 1h 22m
country: United States
Cecilia is a waitress in New Jersey, living a dreary life during the Great Depression. Her only escape from her mundane reality is the movie theatre. After losing her job, Cecilia goes to see 'The Purple Rose of Cairo' in hopes of raising her spirits, where she watches dashing archaeologist Tom Baxter time and again.


Falling in Love
1984 · 1h 46m
country: United States
During shopping for Christmas, Frank and Molly run into each other. This fleeting short moment will start to change their lives, when they recognize each other months later in the train home and have a good time together. Although both are married and Frank has two little kids, they meet more and more often, their friendship becoming the most precious thing in their lives.


Footloose
1984 · 1h 47m
country: United States
When teenager Ren and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small town in the West, he's in for a real case of culture shock after discovering he's living in a place where music and dancing are illegal.
The Face of Rage
The Face of Rage
1983 · 1h 40m
country: United States
Filmed in quasi-documentary fashion, the made-for-TV The Face of Rage is set in a rehabilitation facility. Here a group of rapists are required to confront their victims face-to-face. The film concentrates on the bitter verbal sparring session between assaulter Richard (Graham Bechel) and assaultee Rebecca (Dianne Weist). Director Donald Wrye co-wrote the screenplay for Face of Rage with Hal Sitowicz, drawing much of the dialogue from real-life transcripts. The film was first aired as an "ABC Theatre" presentation on March 20, 1983, preceded with an all too appropriate "parental guidance" proviso.


Independence Day
1983 · 1h 50m
country: United States
Mary Ann Taylor loves the comforts of her hometown in Mercury, Texas. She has a steady job as a waitress in her father's diner, yet she can't help but feel unfulfilled by a life of pouring coffee and grilling hamburgers. Her real passion is photography, but pursuing her dream of becoming a photographer means leaving Mercury behind.


I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can
1982 · 1h 47m
country: United States
An adaptation of Barbara Gordon's nonfiction account of her addiction to Valium.


It's My Turn
1980 · 1h 31m
country: United States
A successful but stressed mathematics professor goes to her father's wedding and falls in love with her father's bride's son, a prematurely retired pro baseball player. She must choose between him and her current boyfriend, between Chicago and New York, and between research and administration.


Out of Our Fathers' House
1978 · 59m
country: United States
Drawn from the diaries and letters of noted feminists, such as women's suffrage founder Elizabeth Cady Stanton and labor organizer "Mother" Mary Jones, this unique production paints a compelling portrait of the women's liberation movement.


Zalmen, or The Madness of God
1975 · 2h
country: United States
This play takes place during Yom Kippur in a post-Stalinist Russian synagogue, where a Rabbi waits for a Western acting troupe and gets extremely angry about the repression of Jews in the Soviet Union.