Anne Hampton Potts (born October 28, 1952) is an American actress. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Corvette Summer (1978) and won a Genie Award for Heartaches (1981), before appearing in Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), and in various projects within the Ghostbusters franchise. She also appeared in the films Pretty in Pink (1986), Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), and Who's Harry Crumb? (1989). She voiced Bo Peep in the Toy Story franchise (1995–1999, 2019–present) and in various Disney video games.
On television, Potts played Mary Jo Jackson Shively on the CBS sitcom Designing Women (1986–1993). She was nominated for a 1994 Primetime Emmy Award for playing Dana Palladino on the CBS sitcom Love & War (1993–1995), she played teacher Louanne Johnson on ABC drama Dangerous Minds for one season 1996–1997, and was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award in 1998 and 1999 for playing Mary-Elizabeth "M.E." Sims in the Lifetime drama series Any Day Now (1998–2002). Her other television credits include GCB (2012), The Fosters (2013–2018), Young Sheldon (2017–2024), Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage (2024–present), and Best Medicine (2026–present).
Early life and education Potts was born in Nashville, Tennessee, the third child of Dorothy Harris (née Billingslea) and Powell Grisette Potts. She has two older sisters. They grew up in Franklin, Kentucky, where she graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School in 19701970 Franklin-Simpson High School yearbook where she was a cheerleader.
She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in theater. In 1973, Potts and her first husband, Steven Hartley, were in a car crash that left several bones below her waist broken, including compound fractures to both legs, and caused the loss of the heel of her right foot. Hartley lost his left leg.Working Mother, January 1997, p. 25
Career Potts made her debut on the big screen in 1978 in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy film Corvette Summer, with Mark Hamill. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1979 for her role in the film. In 1982, she won Genie Awards for Best Performance by a Foreign Actress for her role in the film Heartaches, about a young woman married to a stock car racer and carrying his friend's child. In 1980, she played Edith Bedelmeyer, a woman who shared an attic apartment with three other women (played by Georgia Engel, Lorna Patterson, and Francine Tacker) on the short-lived comedy series Goodtime Girls.
Potts played receptionist Janine Melnitz in the film Ghostbusters (1984), and reprised her role in the sequels Ghostbusters II (1989), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), as well as Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009); she created the character's trademark New York accent based on a friend's who was from the city. Potts then appeared as the pragmatic interior designer Mary Jo Shively on the CBS television sitcom Designing Women (1986–1993). She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1994 for her role as Dana Palladino on CBS's Love & War (1993–1995). She then played teacher Louanne Johnson on the ABC drama Dangerous Minds (1996–1997), and Mary Elizabeth (O'Brien) Sims on the Lifetime Television drama series Any Day Now (1998–2002), for which she was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.
Other notable roles include a supporting role in John Hughes's Pretty in Pink (1986), as well as the films Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), and Who's Harry Crumb? (1989), the voice of Bo Peep in four of the Toy Story films (1995, 1999, 2019 and 2026) and in various Disney video games, and guest-starring roles on such CBS's television series as Magnum, P.I., Joan of Arcadia, Close to Home, Two and a Half Men, and ABC's Men in Trees, Ugly Betty, and Boston Legal. She played a recurring role as Sophie Devere in the NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from 2005 to 2009.
Potts has done work on audio books; including as the narrator and heroine of Larry McMurtry's Telegraph Days, winning the 2007 Audie Award for Solo Narration-Female, for her portrayal. She starred in the film version of McMurtry's Texasville, a sequel to The Last Picture Show. She made her Broadway debut upon joining the cast of the Tony Award–winning play God of Carnage on November 17, 2009, succeeding Hope Davis in the role of Annette.
In 2012, Potts starred as Elizabeth "Gigi" Stopper in ABC's comedy-drama series GCB, with Leslie Bibb, Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Aspen, Miriam Shor, and Marisol Nichols. She says she based her portrayal of the character on Dixie Carter, adding, "Were she still alive, the role would have been hers and should have been." Potts also played a leading role in the 2012 Hallmark Channel original musical film The Music Teacher, about a high-school music teacher who is on the brink of losing her beloved school music program because of district budget cuts. In an effort to spare the program, Daley's former students band together to stage a musical to raise money to keep the program alive.Annie Potts to Star in Hallmark Movie 'The Music Teacher' (Exclusive) , The Hollywood Reporter, February 21, 2012, by Lesley Goldberg
In March 2013, Potts signed on for the lead role of the ABC comedy-drama pilot Murder in Manhattan about a mother and daughter who team up as amateur sleuths. ABC later looked for a cable network to distribute the series, opting not to air it on network television. In late 2013, it was announced that Potts would join Diane Paulus' revival of Pippin beginning January 21, 2014. She replaced Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh in the role of Pippin's grandmother Berthe. This marked her first appearance in a Broadway musical.
From 2013 to 2018, she appeared as Sharon Elkin on the ABC Family series The Fosters. From 2017 to 2024, she was a series regular on the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon, playing Connie "Meemaw" Tucker, Sheldon's maternal grandmother. Starting in 2024, she reprises the role in a recurring capacity in Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. In 2026, she appeared on the TV series Best Medicine.
Personal life Potts married Steven Hartley in 1973 and they divorced in 1978. She married Greg Antonacci in 1978 and they divorced in 1980. Her third marriage was to B. Scott Senechal from 1981 to 1989; they have one son. She has two sons with her fourth husband, James Hayman, whom she married in 1990.
Filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes1978 Corvette Summer Vanessa King of the Gypsies Persa 1981 Heartaches Bonnie Howard 1984 Ghostbusters Janine Melnitz Crimes of Passion Amy Grady 1986 Pretty in Pink Iona Jumpin' Jack Flash Liz Carlson1987 The Man Who Fell to Earth Louise1988 Pass the Ammo Darla Porter She's Having a Baby Herself Cameo1989 Who's Harry Crumb? Helen Downing Ghostbusters II Janine Melnitz 1990 Texasville Karla Jackson1992 Breaking the Rules Mary Klinglitch1995 Toy StoryBo PeepVoice role A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.1999 Toy Story 22004 Elvis Has Left the Building Shirl2007 The Sunday Man Mrs. Culp Short film2014 Chu and Blossom Aunt Harley2015 As Good As You Dr. Laura Berg2016 Ghostbusters Vanessa the hotel clerk Cameo All At Once Ginny Maxwell2017 Humor Me Dee Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town Mary2018 Happy Anniversary Diane 2019 Toy Story 4Bo PeepVoice role2020 Lamp Life2021Arlo the Alligator Boy EdméeGhostbusters: AfterlifeJanine Melnitz2024 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire2026 Toy Story 5 Bo Peep Voice cameo202640 Dates and 40 NightsGigi
Television Year Title Role Notes1977 Black Market Baby Linda Cleary Television film Busting Loose Helene 3 episodes1978 Family Caddy Wilde Episode: "Magic"1979 Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers Flatbed Annie Television film Visions Ellen Episode: "Ladies in Waiting"1980 Goodtime Girls Edith Bedelmeyer Main role1982 Something So Right SundayTelevision film Bayou Romance Lily1983 Cowboy D.G. Remington Steele Annie Carpenter Episode: "Steele Crazy After All These Years"1983–1986 Magnum, P.I. Tracy Spencer 2 episodes1984 Why Me? DariaTelevision film It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Cindy Mills1985 The Twilight Zone Cathy Lowery Episode: "Wordplay"1986–1993 Designing Women Mary Jo Shively Main role1987 CBS Schoolbreak Special Kathy Sanders "My Dissident Mom" Amazing Stories Bev Binford (voice) Episode: "The Family Dog"1989 Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration Co-host TV special1993–1995 Love & War Dana Palladino Main role1995 Her Deadly Rival Kris Lansford Television film 1996–1997 Dangerous Minds LouAnne Johnson Main role1997 Over the Top Hadley Martin Main role, also producer1998 Hercules Syrinx (voice) Episode: "Hercules and the Muse of Dance"1998–2002 Any Day Now Mary Elizabeth 'M.E.' Sims Main role1999 Johnny Bravo Wrangler (voice) Episode: "Dude Ranch Doofus"2003 Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story Julie Posey Television film2004 Huff Doris Johnson 4 episodes2004–2005 Joan of Arcadia Lieutenant Lucy Preston Recurring role2005 Close to Home Dr. Marla Dodds Episode: "Divine Directions"2005–2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sophie Devere4 episodes2007 Men in Trees Mary Alice O'Donnell2008 Ugly Betty Linda Episode: "Zero Worship" Boston Legal Joy Espenson Episode: "The Bad Seed" Queen Sized Joan Baker Television film2009 Two and a Half Men Lenore Episode: "Mmm, Fish. Yum."2010 Marry Me Vivienne Carter Miniseries2010Freshman FatherKathy PattonTelevision film2011 Five Charlotte's Mom2012 GCB Gigi Stopper Main role The Music Teacher Alyson Daley Television film Fish Hooks Nurse Fishington (voice) 3 episodes Animal Practice Virginia Coleman 2 episodes2013–2018 The Fosters Sharon ElkinRecurring role2013 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Tawny Zingwald (voice) Episode: "Stank'd to the Future/Wave Slayers" Grey's Anatomy Joyce Episode: "Map of You"2014 Instant Mom Roberta Montgomery Episode: "True Romance" Young & Hungry Donna Kaminski (voice) Episode: "Pilot"; uncredited2015 Major Crimes Clarissa Episode: "Special Master: Part Two" NCIS: New Orleans Olivia Brody Episode: "Broken Hearted"2015–2016 Chicago Med Helen Manning Recurring role 2016 Scandal Louise Baker Episode: "Buckle Up" Royal Pains Mrs. Sacani 2 episodes2017–2019Welcome to the WayneOlympia Timbers (voice)4 episodes2017–2024Young SheldonConstance "Connie" Tucker (Meemaw)Main role2021I Heart ArloEdmée (voice)5 episodes2024–presentGeorgie & Mandy's First MarriageConstance "Connie" Tucker (Meemaw)Recurring role 2026Best MedicineAunt Sarah Main role
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes1995Disney's Animated Storybook: Toy StoryBo Peep1999 Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue2009 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Janine Melnitz2010 Toy Story 3: The Video GameBo Peep2016 Disney Magic Kingdoms Voice lines removed in a later update2019 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Remastered Janine Melnitz Archival recordings2023 Disney Speedstorm Bo Peep
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2009–2010 God of Carnage AnnetteBroadway 2014 Pippin Berthe
Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Work Result 1979 Golden Globe Awards New Star of the Year – Actress Corvette Summer 1982 Genie Awards Best Performance by a Foreign Actress Heartaches 1994 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Love & Warrowspan=6 1999Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesAny Day Now 20002019Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association AwardsBest Voice PerformanceToy Story 4Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesYoung Sheldon2023
References
External links