An excellent character actress of the 1970s, 80s and 90s, Crouse had established herself as an outstanding off-Broadway actress in such roles as Ophelia opposite William Hurt's "Hamlet" and Viola in "Twelfth Night; she won an OBIE in her then-husband David Mamet's "Reunion" in 1980. After a strong cameo in "The Verdict" (1982), a moving performance as an Ethel Rosenberg-inspired character in "Daniel" (1983) and an Oscar-nominated turn in "Places in the Heart" (1984), Crouse played a cool, impressive lead in "House of Games" (1987), written and directed by Mamet. Her film career picked up in the mid-1990s with turns as Randy Quaid's ex-wife in "Bye Bye, Love" (1994), as the boy's mother in "The Indian in the Cupboard" (1995) and in support of Charlie Sheen in sci-fi actioner "The Arrival" (1996). Crouse also appeared briefly as Marilyn Monroe's acting coach in "Norma Jean and Marilyn" (HBO, 1996). She is the daughter of playwright/producer Russel Crouse.