Actor Character Relationship Sally Field Mary Lynn "M'Lynn '' Eatenton Social Worker; Wife to Drum Eatenton; Mother to Shelby, Jonathan and Tommy; Jackson 's mother - in - law; Jack Jr. 's maternal grandmother Dolly Parton Truvy Jones Beautician; Wife to Spud Jones; Mother to Louie; town gossip Shirley MacLaine Louisa "Ouiser '' Boudreaux Clairee Belcher 's best friend and confidant; Eatenton Family 's next - door neighbor; town curmudgeon, and Drum Eatenton 's nemesis Daryl Hannah Annelle Dupuy Desoto Newcomer to town; Apprentice Beautician hired by Truvy Jones; first married to Bunkie Dupuy; later marries Sammy Desoto Olympia Dukakis Clairee Belcher Former town first lady; sister to Drew Marmillion, sister - in - law to Belle Marmillion; aunt to Marshall and Nancy Beth Marmillion; best friend and confidant of Ouiser Boudreaux; friend of the Eatentons and Joneses Julia Roberts Shelby Eatenton Latcherie Eldest child and only daughter of Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton; sister to Jonathan and Tommy; marries Jackson Latcherie and gives birth to Jackson "Jack '' Latcherie, Jr.; suffers from type one diabetes Tom Skerritt Thomas Drummond "Drum '' Eatenton Husband of M'Lynn Eatenton, Father to Shelby, Jonathan and Tommy; Jackson Latcherie 's father - in - law; Jack Jr. 's maternal grandfather Sam Shepard Spud Jones Sporadically employed laborer; Truvy Jones 's husband and Louie 's father Dylan McDermott Jackson Latcherie Lawyer; Shelby Eatenton 's husband; Jack Jr. 's father; Drum and M'Lynn's son - in - law and Jonathan and Tommy 's brother - in - law Kevin J. O'Connor Sammy Desoto Annelle Dupuy 's eventual husband, who met her at Shelby and Jackson 's wedding reception Bill McCutcheon Owen Jenkins Ouiser Boudreaux 's former boyfriend who has returned to town Ann Wedgeworth Aunt Fern Thornton Jackson Latcherie 's aunt; her specialty is baking animal - shaped cakes Knowl Johnson Tommy Eatenton Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's first - born son and middle child; Shelby and Jonathan 's brother; Jackson 's brother - in - law; Jack Jr. 's maternal uncle Jonathan Ward Jonathan Eatenton Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's second - born son and youngest child; Shelby and Tommy 's brother; Jackson 's brother - in - law; Jack Jr. 's maternal uncle Ronald Young Drew Marmillion Clairee Belcher 's brother; Husband to Belle Marmillion; Father to Marshall and Nancy Beth Bibi Besch Belle Marmillion Drew Marmillion 's wife; Mother to Marshall and Nancy Beth; Clairee Belcher 's sister - in - law Janine Turner Nancy - Beth Marmillion Drew and Belle Marmillion 's daughter; Marshall 's sister; Clairee Belcher 's niece; town 's dethroned "Miss Merry Christmas '' James Wlcek Marshall Marmillion Drew and Belle Marmillion 's son; Nancy Beth 's brother; Clairee Belcher 's nephew; announces to his parents he is gay Tom Hodges Louie Jones Truvy and Spud Jones 's rebellious son C. Houser Jackson Latcherie, Jr. (1 year old) Jackson and Shelby Latcherie 's son; Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's maternal grandson; Jonathan and Tommy Eatenton 's maternal nephew Daniel Camp Jackson Latcherie, Jr. (3 years old) Jackson and Shelby Latcherie 's son; Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton 's maternal grandson; Jonathan and Tommy Eatenton 's maternal nephew
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Louisa "Ouiser '' Boudreaux