Jessica Harper in LOVE AND DEATH

About Jessica Harper (1949 - )

Jessica Harper was born in Chicago, Illinois.   She graduated from Sarah Lawrence. 

Jessica Harper began as a member of the Broadway cast of "Hair."

Harper worked in films, as the erotically charged "Cathy Cake" in INSERTS in 1974.   In the same year, she played Phoenix, the singing love interest of a musician with a disfigured face, who sells his soul to the devil to get her, in Brian De Palma's Rock Opera, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE.

Jessica Harper also appeared as an ensemble player in LOVE AND DEATH in 1975 and starred in STARDUST MEMORIES in 1980.  In 1981, Jessica Harper played the dutiful wife of a scampy, Depression era salesman husband who falls for another gal, with Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in PENNIES FROM HEAVEN.

Jessica Harper was on "It's Garry Shandling's Show" (1989-90) as Garry's girlfriend for a season.

On finding her vocation in acting, Harper confided, ""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."

Harper has now embarked on a career as a writer of children's books and music.  Jessica has produced 2 musical albums for children "Inside Out" and "Rhythm In My Shoes." Harper has written four children's books with her sister, Lindsay Harper DuPont. 

Jessica Harper's other notable credits include...