Background and career
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer ( FY-fər; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress and producer. One of Hollywood's most bankable stars of the 1980s and 1990s, her work has earned her numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Pfeiffer began her career in the late 1970s with minor television and film appearances. After landing her first leading role in Grease 2 (1982), her breakthrough came with her portrayal of Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983). Mainstream success followed with The Witches of Eastwick (1987), Tequila Sunrise (1988), and Married to the Mob (1988); her performance in the latter earned Pfeiffer her first of six consecutive Golden Globe nominations. She earned consecutive Academy Award nominations, Best Supporting Actress for Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and Best Actress for The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), winning a Golden Globe for the latter.
By the early 1990s, Pfeiffer was one of the world's highest-paid actresses. She played Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) and received her third Academy Award nomination for Love Field (1992). She continued to star in prominent films throughout the decade, including Frankie & Johnny (1991), The Age of Innocence (1993), and Wolf (1994). Through her production company, Via Rosa Productions, she produced and starred in several films, including Dangerous Minds (1995). In the 2000s, Pfeiffer reduced her workload to focus on her family, appearing in select projects such as What Lies Beneath (2000), White Oleander (2002), Hairspray, and Stardust (both 2007).
Following a hiatus, Pfeiffer returned to prominence in 2017 with roles in Where Is Kyra?, Mother!, and Murder on the Orient Express. That same year, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the television film The Wizard of Lies, followed by her eighth Golden Globe nomination for French Exit in 2020. Since Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Pfeiffer has played Janet van Dyne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of 2026, she stars as family matriarchs in the streaming television series The Madison and Margo's Got Money Troubles; her work as both an actress and producer on the latter earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
How Michelle Pfeiffer makes money
Through her production company, Via Rosa Productions, she produced and starred in several films, including Dangerous Minds (1995). The film received positive reviews and grossed over $63.7 million domestically, equivalent to $181 million in 2025 dollars, becoming one of her earliest critical and commercial successes.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (2026-06-23), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
