Annie Potts, born Anne Hampton Potts on October 28, 1952, is a beloved American actress whose career has spanned over four decades, earning her acclaim for both comedic and dramatic roles across film and television. She first captured Hollywood’s attention with her Golden Globe-nominated performance in the 1978 comedy Corvette Summer, where she starred opposite Mark Hamill. She followed this with a Genie Award win for her leading role in the 1981 Canadian film Heartaches, solidifying her reputation as a versatile talent. Potts then achieved enduring pop culture fame by playing the quick-witted receptionist Janine Melnitz in the supernatural blockbuster Ghostbusters (1984) and its 1989 sequel Ghostbusters II, a role she would reprise in later video games and animated series. She also charmed audiences in the 1980s with her performance as Iona, the eccentric record store owner, in the John Hughes classic Pretty in Pink (1986), and appeared in the comedies Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) and Who's Harry Crumb? (1989). Perhaps her most iconic voice role came as the porcelain shepherdess Bo Peep in Pixar’s Toy Story (1995), a character she reprised in Toy Story 2 (1999), Toy Story 4 (2019), and the upcoming Toy Story 5 (2026), endearing her to generations of fans.

On television, Potts became a household name as the sweet-natured Mary Jo Jackson Shively on the long-running CBS sitcom Designing Women, which aired from 1986 to 1993. Her portrayal earned her widespread recognition and showcased her impeccable comedic timing alongside Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, and Jean Smart. She later earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her guest role as Dana Palladino on the sitcom Love & War from 1993 to 1995. Potts took on a dramatic lead as teacher Louanne Johnson in the ABC series Dangerous Minds for one season from 1996 to 1997, and then received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for her performance as Mary-Elizabeth "M.E." Sims in the Lifetime drama Any Day Now, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Her later television work included a memorable turn as the scheming Cricket Caruth-Reilly on the short-lived ABC series GCB in 2012, and a recurring role as the grandmother on the family drama The Fosters from 2013 to 2018. Potts found a new generation of fans as the sharp-tongued, loving Meemaw (Constance Tucker) on the hit CBS prequel Young Sheldon from 2017 to 2024, a role she has continued in the spin-off series George and Mandy's First Marriage beginning in 2024. She also stars in the medical drama Best Medicine, which premiered in 2026. With a career defined by warmth, wit, and an unmistakable voice, Annie Potts remains a cherished figure in American entertainment, seamlessly moving between blockbuster films, animated classics, and beloved television series.