Tess Harper
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- August 15, 1950 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA
- Active Years
- 1983–2023 (41 Years)
- Total Credits
- 99 credits in database
Acting Born Aug 15, 1950 Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA 99 credits
Biography
Tessie Jean Harper, known professionally as Tess Harper, is an American actress born on August 15, 1950. She gained recognition for her early film work, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her debut role in 1983's Tender Mercies. Harper earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1986 film Crimes of the Heart. Her filmography includes appearances in Flashpoint, Ishtar, Far North, and No Country for Old Men. Harper also had a recurring role on the first three seasons of the television series Breaking Bad, which aired from 2008 to 2010.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Tess Harper.
Frequent co-stars
Kyle Chandler
2 shared titles
Collin Wilcox Paxton
2 shared titles
Dermot Mulroney
2 shared titles
Patricia Arquette
2 shared titles
Lance E. Nichols
2 shared titles
Jessica Lange
2 shared titles
Hurd Hatfield
2 shared titles
Javier Bardem
1 shared title
Tommy Lee Jones
1 shared title
Josh Brolin
1 shared title
Career timeline
American OutlawsRosebud LaneOur (Almost Completely True) Love StoryGood Side of Bad
The Evening Hour
Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to PageThe Long Shadow
El Camino: A Breaking Bad MovieThe Road to El Camino: Behind the Scenes of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Burden
The Perfect GuyBoys On Film 13: Trick & TreatSurprise
How to Get Away with MurderFrank
Straight A'sSunlight Jr.
The Christmas Heart
RevengeA Christmas Wish
Fatal Secrets
Breaking BadIn Plain SightCrash
Private PracticeNo Country for Old MenKiss the BrideBrokenSaving Sarah Cain
Brothers and SistersJamKarlaJesus, Mary and JoeyBroken Bridges
Grey's AnatomyCriminal MindsGhost WhispererLoggerheads
Jack & BobbyJack & BobbyAngel in the FamilyLonely Place
One Tree HillCold Case
Without a Trace
The DivisionThe Rising Place
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationThe In Crowd
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitJudging AmyBeyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Dirty Laundry
The JackalCrackerA Child's WishThe Killing Secret
Early EditionA Stranger to LoveThe Road to Galveston
Death in Small Doses
Touched by an AngelChristy
Walker, Texas RangerGrace Under FireMichael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films
In the Line of Duty: Siege at MarionMy New GunWilling to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader StoryThe Turning
The Hidden RoomThe Man in the MoonMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will?
Full Filmography
99 titles- American Outlaws (2023) as Loretta Hillhouse
- Rosebud Lane (2023) as Sugar
- Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story (2023) as Tess
- Good Side of Bad (2023) as Mary Ellen
- The Evening Hour (2021) as Dorothy Freeman
- Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page (2020) as Self
- The Long Shadow (2020) as Mama Doris
- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) as Mrs. Pinkman
- The Road to El Camino: Behind the Scenes of El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) as Self
- Burden (2018) as Hazel
- The Perfect Guy (2015) as Mrs. McCarthy
- Boys On Film 13: Trick & Treat (2015) as Linda (segment "Surprise")
- Surprise (2015) as Linda
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014) as Sheila Miller
- Frank (2014) as Frank's Mom
- Straight A's (2013) as Mother
- Sunlight Jr. (2013) as Kathleen
- The Christmas Heart (2012) as Elizabeth
- Revenge (2011) as Carole Lyn Miller
- A Christmas Wish (2011) as Trudy Willis
- Fatal Secrets (2009) as Naomi
- Breaking Bad (2008) as Mrs. Pinkman
- In Plain Sight (2008) as A.U.S.A. Rolly
- Crash (2008) as Wendy Olinville
- Private Practice (2007) as Augusta King
- No Country for Old Men (2007) as Loretta Bell
- Kiss the Bride (2007) as Barbara Davis
- Broken (2007) as Clare
- Saving Sarah Cain (2007) as Miriam Esh
- Judy's Got a Gun (2007) as Susan Lemen
- Brothers and Sisters (2006) as Beth Ridge
- Jam (2006) as Ruby
- Karla (2006) as Molly Czehowicz
- Jesus, Mary and Joey (2006) as Liz O`Callahan
- Broken Bridges (2006) as Dixie Rose Delton
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Pam Nelson
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Dinah Troy
- Ghost Whisperer (2005) as Ellen Wilkins
- Loggerheads (2005) as Elizabeth
- Jack & Bobby (2004)
- Jack & Bobby (2004) as Karen Carmichael
- Angel in the Family (2004) as Mrs. Nelly Tomkins
- Lonely Place (2004)
- One Tree Hill (2003) as May Scott
- Cold Case (2003) as Sharon Lertola (2009)
- Without a Trace (2002) as Patricia Spade
- The Division (2001) as Polly Danko
- The Rising Place (2001) as Rebecca Hodge
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Julia Barrett
- The In Crowd (2000) as Dr. Amanda Giles
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Mrs. Hallander
- Judging Amy (1999) as Barbara Nissman
- Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (1999) as Narrator / Older Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Dirty Laundry (1998) as Beth Greene
- The Jackal (1997) as The First Lady
- Cracker (1997)
- A Child's Wish (1997) as Joanna Chandler
- The Killing Secret (1997) as Tina Decapprio
- Early Edition (1996) as Lois Hobson
- A Stranger to Love (1996) as Linda Grant
- The Road to Galveston (1996) as Julia Archer
- Death in Small Doses (1995) as Jerri Sims
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Betsy Baxter
- Christy (1994) as Fairlight Spencer
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as Katie Malloy
- Grace Under Fire (1993) as Joan
- Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films (1993) as Self (uncredited)
- In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion (1992) as Vickie Singer
- My New Gun (1992) as Kimmy Hayes
- Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story (1992) as Verna Heath
- The Turning (1992) as Martha Harnish
- The Hidden Room (1991) as Dede
- The Man in the Moon (1991) as Abigail Trant
- My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991) as Cheryl
- Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will? (1990) as Sara Lee
- Unconquered (1989) as Mrs. Mary Flowers
- Her Alibi (1989) as Sally Blackwood
- Criminal Law (1989) as Detective Stillwell
- Incident at Dark River (1989) as Betty McFall
- Far North (1988) as Rita
- Little Girl Lost (1988) as Clara Brady
- thirtysomething (1987)
- Daddy (1987) as Ann Burnette
- Ishtar (1987) as Willa
- L.A. Law (1986) as Patricia Pittman
- Crimes of the Heart (1986) as Chick Boyle
- The Twilight Zone (1985) as (segment "Quarantine")
- A Summer to Remember (1985) as Jeannie Wyler
- Reckless Disregard (1985) as Meredith Craig
- Promises to Keep (1985) as Gwen Palmer
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Irene Rutledge
- Celebrity (1984) as Susan French
- Flashpoint (1984) as Ellen
- Tender Mercies (1983) as Rosa Lee
- Silkwood (1983) as Linda Dawson
- Chiefs (1983) as Carrie Lee
- Amityville 3-D (1983) as Nancy Baxter
- Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983) as Janet Briggs
- Kentucky Woman (1983)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Tess Harper best known for?
Tess Harper is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including American Outlaws (2023), Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story (2023), El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019), Burden (2018).
When and where was Tess Harper born?
Tess Harper was born on August 15, 1950 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA.
How many credits does Tess Harper have?
Tess Harper has accumulated over 99 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1983 to 2023.
What is Tess Harper's background in cinema and television?
Tessie Jean Harper, known professionally as Tess Harper, is an American actress born on August 15, 1950. She gained recognition for her early film work, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her debut role in 1983's Tender Mercies. Harper earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Support...
Tess Harper by the numbers
99credits
67films
32TV series
1983–2023active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Unconquered (1989) as Mrs. Mary Flowers — aged about 38
- Breaking Bad (2008) as Mrs. Pinkman — aged about 57
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Dinah Troy — aged about 54
- Christy (1994) as Fairlight Spencer — aged about 43
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Pam Nelson — aged about 54
- Ghost Whisperer (2005) as Ellen Wilkins — aged about 54
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Tess Harper.