
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).

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999

The Mentalist
2008

Criminal Minds
2005

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000

Lost
2004

Diagnosis: Murder
1993

Fringe
2008

ER
1994

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993

Cold Case
2003

The Drew Carey Show
1995

The A-Team
1983

L.A. Law
1986

Touched by an Angel
1994

Hill Street Blues
1981

St. Elsewhere
1982

Nash Bridges
1996

Justified
2010

V.I.P.
1998

Three's Company
1977

Switched at Birth
2011

Perception
2012

Roswell
1999

American Crime Story
2016

Laverne & Shirley
1976

Extant
2014

Homecoming
2018

Head of the Class
1986

Invasion
2005

Pineapple Express
2008

Pay It Forward
2000

Roseanne
1988

Heathers
2018

Boys Don't Cry
1999

So NoTORIous
2006

The Jackie Thomas Show
1992