August 24, 2020

Another unsung hero of cinema & TV - Tess Harper


Imagine starting your film career in an Oscar winning film and getting a Golden Globe nomination for your acting. Following it up with the 3D installment of a long running horror franchise. Then following that up with another film that received another tonne of Oscar nominations. Then your next film you yourself get an Ocar nomination while acting your more famous co-stars off the screen. Finally to top if off, starring in one of the most infamous box office disasters of the 80's. All in the space of 4 years. It's a hell of a way to start a career ain't it. For that beginning alone Tess Harper should be a superstar. But sadly she's not. To be honest, most people won't even know her name.

She's been a factory worker contaminated by radiation and then investigated by Meryl Streep. Been suspected of murder by Jessica Fletcher and defended against murder by the suits of L.A. Law. Played the mother of Albequerque's most famous meth cook. Been in the line of fire of Bruce Willis and his ridiculously large gun (Fnarr). She's played a sister of a thirty-something and a mammy in a Michael Jackson video. Walker Texas Ranger saved her life and she was touched by an angel. She's lived in the most haunted house in New York State and had her family threatened by the scariest haircut in New Mexico. Popped up in massively popular Netflix original and the best thing HBO have done this decade. Comedy, drama, western, musicals, horror, Tess has been everywhere. Even the Twilight Zone. Check out her checkered 37 year old career here


Greatest Hits

Tender Mercies. Rosa Lee. The woman who tames Mac Sledge. A quietly brilliant feature film debut that deserved it's award nominations.

Crimes Of The Heart. Chick Boyle. Steals the show from not only Diane Keaton, but Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek too and gets an Oscar nom for her troubles.

No Country For Old Men. Loretta Bell. The only person in Texas Tom Bell will take advice from. Condescending in that way you can't get mad at.

Frank. Frank's mam. Her explanation of her son's behaviour is the most touching moment in Lenny Abrahamson's haunting comedy drama.


Breaking Bad. Mrs Pinkman. Momma of Jesse. She loves her son but she's willing to kick him out too. Until it all backfires on her. Gets a nice cameo in El Camino too.

Previous Heroes

Michael Berryman
Mike Starr
M.C. Gainey
Mare Winningham
Dale Dickey
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Harris Yulin
Pepe Serna
Udo Kier
Fairuza Balk
Ernie Hudson
Lin Shaye
James Remar
Cloris Leachman
James Hong
David Strathairn
Frankie Faison
Conchata Ferrell
Dick Miller
Veronica Cartwright
Edie McClurg
Barry Shabaka Henley           
Raymond Cruz                        
Reg E.Cathey                          
Elizabeth McGovern               
John Amos                              
Bruce Greenwood                  
Mary McDonnell                     
Gerald McSorley                       
John Rothman                        
Margo Martindale                   
Kurtwood Smith                     
Paula Malcolmson                 
Luis Guzman                          
David Morse                           
Linda Hunt                              
Keith David                             
Zeljko Ivanek
Fiona Shaw
Xander Berkeley
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
C.C.H Pounder
William Forsythe
Beth Grant
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Regina King
Ric Young
Mark Rolston
Illeana Douglas
Jeanette Goldstein
Al Leong
Allan Graf
Bill Nunn
Thomas Rosales Jr



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