Honestly, you’ve definitely seen Maree Cheatham. You might not have known her name at the moment she popped up on your screen, but the face? Unmistakable. Whether she was playing a quirky grandmother on Nickelodeon, a sophisticated socialite in a soap opera, or a woman literally being shot through a roof in a Tim Burton classic, Cheatham has a way of sticking in your brain. She is one of those rare "chameleon" actors who has navigated nearly six decades in Hollywood without ever losing steam.
Most people know her from one of two very different worlds: the high-drama landscape of daytime soaps or the neon-colored sitcom sets of the 2010s. But Maree Cheatham movies and tv shows cover a ridiculous amount of ground. We are talking about a career that started in the black-and-white era of Gunsmoke and is still going strong in 2026.
The Soap Opera Legend Who Started It All
If you’re a fan of Days of Our Lives, Maree Cheatham is basically royalty. She originated the role of Marie Horton on the very first episode back in 1965. Think about that for a second. She was there when the show was just a fledgling experiment on NBC.
Her character, Marie, went through the absolute ringer. We’re talking suicide attempts, miscarriages, and the classic soap trope of falling in love with a man who (spoiler alert) turned out to be her own brother, Tommy, who had undergone plastic surgery. Naturally, after that mess, the character did what any sensible person would do: she became a nun.
But Cheatham didn't just stop at Days. She hopped over to Search for Tomorrow to play the legendary "woman you love to hate," Stephanie Wyatt. She stayed there for a decade, racking up Emmy nominations and cementing her status as a daytime powerhouse. Later, she joined General Hospital as the wacky Aunt Charlene.
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The Weird, Wonderful World of Maree Cheatham Movies
It’s always a trip when you’re watching a cult classic and suddenly realize a soap legend is in the cast. Take Beetlejuice (1988), for instance. Cheatham plays Sarah Dean, the wife of Robert Goulet’s character. Her big moment? Getting launched through the ceiling by a supernatural force. It’s a tiny role, but it’s iconic.
She has this weirdly consistent habit of appearing in the most influential comedies of the 90s and 2000s.
- The Wedding Singer: She’s the lady on the plane asking about the "Mile High Club."
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith: She pops up in the middle of the Brangelina chaos.
- A Night at the Roxbury: She fits right into the absurdity of the Butabi brothers.
She isn't usually the lead, but she's the texture. She makes the world of the movie feel lived-in and real. Directors like Tim Burton and Frank Coraci clearly loved her because she can deliver a line with a straight face no matter how ridiculous the premise is.
Why Gen Z Knows Her as "Nona"
If you grew up in the 2010s, you probably don't care about Marie Horton or 1960s medical dramas. To a whole generation, Maree Cheatham is Nona from Sam & Cat.
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Playing Ariana Grande’s grandmother was a brilliant pivot. Nona was cheerful, independent, and lived in "Elderly Acres," but she was always around to help Sam and Cat with their babysitting business. Cheatham brought a certain warmth to the show that balanced out the high-energy chaos of the lead characters. It’s probably the role that earns her the most "Oh my god, it's her!" moments in public these days.
From Hart of Dixie to Young Sheldon: The Modern Era
Even in the last few years, she hasn’t slowed down. She played the terrifyingly stern Bettie Breeland on Hart of Dixie, proving she could still do "intimidating matriarch" better than anyone. Then she showed up on Young Sheldon as Dorothy, and most recently, in a 2025 episode of Matlock playing—you guessed it—a nun.
That Matlock appearance was actually a massive "Easter egg" for long-time fans. Seeing her back in a habit 60 years after her Days of Our Lives character joined a convent was a full-circle moment that most actors never get to experience.
What to Watch: A Quick Cheatham Cheat Sheet
If you want to see the range of Maree Cheatham movies and tv shows, don't just stick to one genre. Mix it up.
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- For the Classics: Check out the pilot of Days of Our Lives. It’s a time capsule.
- For the Laughs: Watch her scenes in The Wedding Singer. Short, sweet, and hilarious.
- For the Drama: Find old clips of her as Stephanie on Search for Tomorrow. She plays "manipulative" with such grace.
- For the Vibes: Watch Baskets on FX. She played Maggie, and the show’s dry, surreal humor suited her perfectly.
The Bottom Line
Maree Cheatham is the ultimate "working actor." She didn't chase the type of fame that burns out in five years. Instead, she built a career based on being reliable, versatile, and genuinely talented. Whether she's a nun, a socialite, or a grandmother to a pop star, she brings a specific "Cheatham energy" that makes the project better.
Next time you're scrolling through a streaming service and see a familiar-looking older woman with a sparkle in her eye, check the credits. It’s probably Maree.
Your Next Step: If you’re a fan of her more recent work like Sam & Cat, go back and find the 1988 film Beetlejuice. It's the perfect way to see how she transitions from "refined lady" to "slapstick comedy victim" in the span of a single scene. You can usually find it streaming on Max or available for rent on Amazon.