Lois Smith (born November 3, 1930) is an American actress whose career in theatre, film, and television has spanned five decades.

Smith was born Lois Arlene Humbert in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Carrie Davis (née Gottshalk) and William Oren Smith, a telephone company employee . She is a graduate of the University of Washington.

Smith made her film debut in East of Eden in 1955. Additional film credits include Five Easy Pieces, Up the Sandbox, Fatal Attraction, Fried Green Tomatoes, How to Make an American Quilt, Dead Man Walking, Twister, Minority Report, Tumbleweeds, Hollywoodland and Sweet Land. Much of Smith's career has been spent in television, appearing in early anthology series (Studio One, Robert Montgomery Presents), soap operas (Another World, Somerset, The Edge of Night, All My Children), and numerous primetime dramas, including The Defenders, Dr. Kildare, Route 66, thirtysomething, The Practice, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Grey's Anatomy.

Smith made her Broadway debut in the 1952 comedy Time Out for Ginger. A member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, she appeared as Ma Joad in their production of The Grapes of Wrath in Chicago, San Diego, and London before bringing it to New York City, where her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination.

Smith lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.

Is an ordained minister and officiated at the wedding of actor Tim Hopper and his wife.

Once taught acting at Juilliard.

Studied acting with Lee Strasberg at the Actors' Studio.

Earned Tony nominations for her supporting performances in the plays "The Grapes of Wrath" (1990) and Sam Shepard's "Buried Child" (1996).

Has twice been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play): in 1990 for portraying Ma Joad in "The Grapes of Wrath," a part she recreated in the television version of the same title, Grapes of Wrath, The (1991) (TV); and in 1996 for Sam Shepard's "Buried Child," which was directed by her "Grapes of Wrath" co-star Gary Sinise.