
Acting
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).

The Mentalist
2008

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999

Criminal Minds
2005

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000

Lost
2004

The Drew Carey Show
1995

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993

Fringe
2008

Cold Case
2003

The A-Team
1983

Diagnosis: Murder
1993

ER
1994

L.A. Law
1986

V.I.P.
1998

Justified
2010

Hill Street Blues
1981

Touched by an Angel
1994

Switched at Birth
2011

Nash Bridges
1996

American Crime Story
2016

St. Elsewhere
1982

Three's Company
1977

Perception
2012

Laverne & Shirley
1976

Roswell
1999

Extant
2014

The Deliberate Stranger
1986

Invasion
2005

Head of the Class
1986

Homecoming
2018

Pineapple Express
2008

Heathers
2018

Pay It Forward
2000

Boys Don't Cry
1999

So NoTORIous
2006

Roseanne
1988