Jennifer Rhodes

A veteran supporting actress, Jennifer Rhodes is best known for playing Winona Ryder's mother in the dark comedy "Heathers." A native of Illinois, she studied drama at Southern Illinois University before heading to New York to continue her theatrical training. Her first two roles were playing Native American women, first in the Western TV show "The High Chaparral" and then in an uncredited part in the feature "Lawman." Rhodes had several small roles on TV and in films in the '70s, including a role in the blockbuster disaster film "The Towering Inferno," but didn't begin to make her mark until the next decade. She had a recurring role on the musical TV show "Fame" in 1985, and co-starred in the horror sequel "Slumber Party Massacre II." She had a memorable turn as the mother of Veronica Sawyer in the surprise 1988 hit "Heathers," and one year later also co-starred in the short-lived drama "Nightingales." Rhodes also appeared as Judge Billings on several episodes of the romantic drama "Equal Justice," and had a guest-starring role on the sci-fi sitcom "3rd Rock from the Sun" for four episodes in 1996. To younger viewers, she is best known as "Grams" on the popular supernatural show "Charmed," a role she played intermittently throughout its eight-season run.