This page uses content from the Tess Harper biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Tessie Jean Washam (born August 15, 1950), better known as Tess Harper, is an American actress.

Biography

Early life

Harper was born in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas and attended Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) in Springfield, Missouri.

Career

Harper began acting in theater production and appearances in theme parks, dinner theatres and children's theatre. Her first feature film was Tender Mercies, where she played Robert Duvall's younger wife. She earned a Golden Globe nomination for her part.

She appeared in the TV mini-series Chiefs (1983) and Celebrity (1984), as well as many made for TV movies including Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983) and Reckless Disregard (1985). In (1983) she appeared in Silkwood.

In 1986 she was nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work as Chick Boyle in Crimes of the Heart. She would also play parts in such films as Ishtar (1987), Far North (1988), The Man in the Moon (1991), The Jackal (1997) and Loggerheads (2005).

Harper had a regular role in the CBS TV series Christy from 1994 to 1995. Her roles have frequently been playing the part of a Southern lady, although she had worked to lose her Arkansas accent.

Private life

Harper married Ken Harper in 1971, but the couple divorced in 1976.

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