Anecdotes

Was engaged to Dennis Quaid for about 3 years before marrying Howard Deutch. She met Quaid on the set of her first movie Les dents de la mer 3 (1983).

Wanted nothing more when she was at the American Ballet Theatre than to dance with the star dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov. She was heartbroken when he remarked that she was "a beautiful dancer, but too stocky." Shortly after, she left the company.

Has been best friends with Christopher Lloyd since they co-starred in Retour vers le futur (1985). They have also done four movies together outside the trilogy.

Claims she was one of the few ballerinas at the American Ballet Theatre that didn't have an eating disorder.

Has two daughters, Madelyn Deutch (born March 23, 1991) and Zoey Deutch (born December 1, 1994) with her husband Howard Deutch.

Met husband Howard Deutch when he directed her in Coeur et trio (1987).

She was in series of Burger King commercials in the early 1980's, the series also starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elisabeth Shue.

Did her own singing in Howard, une nouvelle race de héros (1986).

After production of Retour vers le futur 2 (1989) wrapped, she kept the prosthetic breasts she wore during the scenes that took place in the alternate 1985. Because the prosthetic was created on a mold of her real chest, she didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands.

It took approximately four hours to apply the makeup that would make her and co-stars Crispin Glover and Tom Wilson appear to be middle-aged adults in Retour vers le futur (1985).

Has appeared in Friends (1994) as her character from Caroline in the City (1995). "Friends" star Matthew Perry has appeared in "Caroline in the City" as his character Chandler Bing.

Danced in more than 45 ballets with the ABT.

The dress she wore during the 'Enchantment Under The Sea' high school dance scenes in Retour vers le futur (1985) is still in her possession. Her daughter, Zoey Deutch, once took that dress and wore it for Halloween, after which she got in trouble for it.

Won scholarships to the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.

Her brother, Andrew Thompson, was also a modern ballet dancer with the Colorado Ballet. They both took ballet classes throughout their youth, and he helped her pay for her classes later on in life.

Her first role was as water skiing water show performer, she did not know how to water ski or even swim prior to being cast.

She made her big major directorial debut with The Goldbergs (2013), as ABC was pressuring the producers to hire more female directors. Thompson says that she has "a super affection for Philadelphia, having been a dancer there years ago. Plus, being married to a New York Jew, I have learned how healthy it is for people to be honest and express emotions. Which is what 'The Goldbergs' is all about".

Her character's name in Retour vers le futur (1985) underwent numerous changes when the script was being written. In an early draft, her character was called Mary Ellen, and in later drafts, she was called Eileen before it finally became Lorraine.

She is the mother of actress-writer Madelyn Deutch and actress Zoey Deutch.

She appeared with both her daughters in Mayor Cupcake (2011). The mother, daughter, sister relationships of their roles are the same ones they have in real life.

She sung with both her daughters in the 2008 A Night at Sardi's Bye Bye Birdie production to benefit Alzheimer's research.

She has sung duets with both her daughters at a number of the What A Pair benefit concerts supporting breast cancer research.

In Retour vers le futur 2 (1989) a clip for Jaw 19 is mentioned in the movie, Lea was in a supporting role in the movie Les dents de la mer 3 (1983).

She directs and appears in the film The Year of Spectacular Men (2017) with her daughters, Madelyn Deutch and Zoey Deutch. The film's screenplay was authored by her daughter, Madelyn.

She met former fiancée, Dennis Quaid on the set of Les dents de la mer 3 (1983).

Good friends with her Caroline in the City (1995) co-star, Amy Pietz.

She is of Irish, English, Scots-Irish, German, and distant Dutch, ancestry.

Attended Marshall-University High School (Minneapolis).

She played Salle Bowles in the musical Cabaret for 8 months.

She has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Retour vers le futur (1985).

Daughter-in-law of Murray Deutch.

She was Cecily "Sissy" Loper in the live action video game, MysteryDisc : Murder Anyone? in 1982.

Aunt of Elizabeth Goodrich.

Has a brother named Barry Eldon Thompson.

Her husband's uncle is actor Robert Walden.

Younger sister of Coleen Goodrich, Andrew Thompson and Shannon Thompson Katona.

Sister-in-law of Phillip Goodrich.

She wears a size 7 1/2 shoe.

Niece of playwright and actor P.J. Barry.

She was awarded the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Twin Cities Film Festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Appears as the psychic Cassandra in Big Fish Games' hidden object game "Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake," which debuted in 2012. Her daughter Madelyn Deutch also appears as Ghost Patrol Tech Kelli.