The American actress-author-composer Jessica Harper, who was born on October 10, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, launched her professional acting career soon after graduating from Sarah Lawrence. Drawing on her considerable singing skills, she was an understudy in the Broadway production of the "tribal love" rock musical Hair (1979) -- other ...
You'll notice a lack of willingness on my part to sell myself. I make audiences come to me -- if they feel like it -- rather than forcing myself on them.
2
"I was interested in painting more than anything else, but I got bored. Then I studied modern dance. But I got bored. I started studying acting. I didn't get bored. I'd always loved the theater, but never thought I could do it until suddenly I got a part in "Hair." It was such a fluke it led me to think I could do it forever." (on how she first got into acting in college)
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Fact
1
She has English, Scottish, Swedish, and Welsh ancestry. One of her maternal great-grandfathers was an Episcopal priest.
2
Release of her book, "A Place Called Kindergarten". [2006]
Mother, with her husband Tom Rothman, of daughters Elizabeth Rothman (b. 1989) and Nora Rothman (b. 1991).
6
She's the daughter of a former nightclub singer and an advertising executive.
7
Named Parenting's Mom of the Month [August, 2006].
8
Turned down a role in Me, Myself & Irene (2000) because it would have prevented her from seeing her daughter perform in a play.
9
Bears a striking resemblance to Australian actress Frances O'Connor.
10
Produced the musical albums for children "Inside Out" and "Rhythm In My Shoes" and also performs on the albums with her daughters Nora and Elizabeth.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Suspiria
2017
filming
Anke
Proof
2015
TV Series
Virginia Tyler
Crossing Jordan
2005
TV Series
Dorris Meisner
Minority Report
2002
Anne Lively
7th Heaven
1999
TV Series
Norma Moon
Ally McBeal
1998
TV Series
Sister Helen
Nothing Sacred
1997
TV Series
Elizabeth
On the Edge of Innocence
1997
TV Movie
Mrs. Alice Walker
Chicago Hope
1997
TV Series
Phyllis Church
The Story First: Behind the Unabomber
1996
TV Movie
Linda
Boys
1996
Mrs. John Baker
Safe
1995
Joyce
Mr. Wonderful
1993
Funny Face
Tales from the Crypt
1990
TV Series
Marie
It's Garry Shandling's Show.
1988-1990
TV Series
Phoebe Bass
Eat a Bowl of Tea
1989
American prostitute (uncredited)
Big Man on Campus
1989
Dr. Fisk
Wiseguy
1989
TV Series
Jenny McPike
The Blue Iguana
1988
Cora
Once Again
1987
TV Movie
Carrie
Trying Times
1987
TV Series
Sydney
Starman
1987
TV Series
Charlotte Hart
Moonlighting
1986
TV Series
Janine Dalton
The Equalizer
1986
TV Series
Kate Parnell
The Imagemaker
1986
Cynthia
When Dreams Come True
1985
TV Movie
Annie
Tales from the Darkside
1985
TV Series
Prudence
My Favorite Year
1982
K.C. Downing
Pennies from Heaven
1981
Joan
Shock Treatment
1981
Janet Majors
Stardust Memories
1980
Daisy
The Evictors
1979
Ruth Watkins
Studs Lonigan
1979
TV Mini-Series
Loretta Lonigan
Little Women
1978
TV Mini-Series
Jo March
Aspen
1977
TV Mini-Series
Kit Kendrick
Hawaii Five-O
1977
TV Series
Sunny Mandell
Suspiria
1977
Suzy Bannion
Love and Death
1975
Natasha
Inserts
1975
Cathy Cake
Phantom of the Paradise
1974
Phoenix
The Garden Party
1973
Short
Peggy
NBC Children's Theatre
1971
TV Series
Elizabeth Tyler
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Pennies from Heaven
1981
"It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" 1936, "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries" 1931
Shock Treatment
1981
performer: "Bitchin' In The Kitchen", "In My Own Way", "Lullaby", "Little Black Dress", "Me of Me", "Shock Treatment", "Carte Blanche", "Looking for Trade", "Anyhow, Anyhow"
Phantom of the Paradise
1974
performer: "Faust", "Special to Me", "Old Souls"
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
No Peas for the Weary
2016
Short story by
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Inserts
1975
music consultant
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Brian De Palma Backstage at the Paradise
2014
Video documentary short very special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Valerie's Home Cooking
2015
TV Series documentary
Herself - Book Club Member
MindFlux
2010
Documentary
Herself
Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman
2008
TV Series
Herself
Paradise Regained: Brian de Palma's 'Phantom of the Paradise'
2006
Video documentary
Herself
Suspiria 25th Anniversary
2001
Video documentary
Herself
Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror
2000
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Il mondo dell'orrore di Dario Argento
1985
Documentary
Herself / Suzy Banyon
Late Night with David Letterman
1983
TV Series
Herself
To Woody Allen from Europe with Love
1980
Documentary
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1974
TV Series
Herself - Actress
Taking Off
1971
Herself (uncredited)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fear at 400 Degrees: The Cine-Excess of Suspiria
2009
Video documentary short
Suzy Bannion
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
2006
Documentary
Herself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1991
CableACE
CableACE Awards
Actress in a Comedy Series
It's Garry Shandling's Show. (1986)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1981
Stinker Award
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or End Credits