Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Mary Ellen Trainor

Highest Rated: 86% Romancing the Stone (1984)

Lowest Rated: 9% Fire Birds (1990)

Birthday: Jul 8, 1952

Birthday:

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA

Perhaps best known for her memorable role as the mother of the two main characters in the beloved kids adventure movie "The Goonies" (1985), Mary Ellen Trainor began her acting career in the early '80s. The San Francisco native studied broadcast journalism at San Diego State University, where she was recruited by the station manager of radio station KSDO. After working for the outlet as an on-air personality, Trainor eventually moved over to KCBS, where she acted as station editor. After marrying director Robert Zemeckis in 1980, Trainor moved into acting. She made her first film appearance in the blockbuster hit "Romancing the Stone" (1984), directed by her husband. Audiences were taken with Trainor's sweetness and charisma, and she became a regular actor in projects directed by Zemeckis and by Richard Donner. Soon, Trainor was performing in films like "Die Hard" (1988) and "Scrooged" (1988). She returned for all four "Lethal Weapon" (1987) movies to play the role of harried police psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Woods. Her marriage to Zemeckis ended in 2000. She remained a regular presence on screen throughout the '00s and '10s. Trainor died on May 20, 2015. She was 62 years old.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

86% 69% Romancing the Stone
Watchlist
56% 78% The Monster Squad
Watchlist
50% 63% Little Giants
Watchlist
32% 48% Greedy
Watchlist
28% 47% Kuffs
Watchlist
9% 35% Fire Birds
Watchlist
71% Seduced and Betrayed
Watchlist
33% Someone to Love Me: A Moment of Truth Movie
Watchlist
Cake: A Wedding Story
Watchlist
Hope
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cake: A Wedding Story Jane Andrews (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 33% Someone to Love Me: A Moment of Truth Movie Jocelyn Hart (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hope Maize Burns (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 69% A Face to Die For Mrs. Gilmore (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 71% Seduced and Betrayed Charlotte (Character) - 1995
50% 63% Little Giants Karen O'Shea (Character) $18.8M 1994
32% 48% Greedy Nora (Character) $12.4M 1994
28% 47% Kuffs Nikki Allyn (Character) $19.6M 1992
9% 35% Fire Birds Janet Little (Character) $14.8M 1990
56% 78% The Monster Squad Emily (Character) $3.8M 1987
86% 69% Romancing the Stone Elaine (Character) - 1984

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 88% Roswell Unknown (Guest Star) 2001-2002
81% No Score Yet Relativity Eve Lukens (Character) 1996-1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Parker Lewis Mrs. Judy Lewis (Character) 1990-1992
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1989
No Score Yet 82% Amazing Stories Unknown (Character) 1987
87% 95% Cheers Mary (Guest Star) 1983