Tess Harper
Known for
An American actress from Arkansas, Tess Harper made a memorable film debut opposite Robert Duvall in 'Tender Mercies' (1983) and earned an Academy Award nomination for 'Crimes of the Heart' (1986). She later brought quiet Southern warmth to supporting roles in the Coen brothers' 'No Country for Old Men' (2007), as Tommy Lee Jones's wife, and to the television series 'Breaking Bad'. A grounded, unaffected performer often cast as steady rural women, the Southern-accented actress has built a long career of understated, emotionally truthful character work.
Tess Harper
43 Movies
29 Series
An American actress from Arkansas, Tess Harper made a memorable film debut opposite Robert Duvall in 'Tender Mercies' (1983) and earned an Academy Award nomination for 'Crimes of the Heart' (1986). She later brought quiet Southern warmth to supporting roles in the Coen brothers' 'No Country for Old Men' (2007), as Tommy Lee Jones's wife, and to the television series 'Breaking Bad'. A grounded, unaffected performer often cast as steady rural women, the Southern-accented actress has built a long career of understated, emotionally truthful character work.
Movies
Plays Loretta Bell
No Country for Old Men
2007
Plays Mrs. Pinkman
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
2019
Plays The First Lady
The Jackal
1997
Plays Abigail Trant
The Man in the Moon
1991
Plays Linda Dawson
Silkwood
1983
Plays Detective Stillwell
Criminal Law
1989
Plays Mrs. McCarthy
The Perfect Guy
2015
Plays Sally Blackwood
Her Alibi
1989
Plays Nancy Baxter
Amityville 3-D
1983
Plays Rosa Lee
Tender Mercies
1983
Plays Barbara Davis
Kiss the Bride
2007
Plays Molly Czehowicz
Karla
2006
Plays Mother
Straight A's
2013
Plays Mrs. Mary Flowers
Unconquered
1989
Plays Frank's Mom
Frank
2014
Plays Loretta Hillhouse
American Outlaws
2023
Plays Sugar
Rosebud Lane
2023
Plays Elizabeth
Loggerheads
2005
Plays Dr. Amanda Giles
The In Crowd
2000
Plays Willa
Ishtar
1987
Plays Kathleen
Sunlight Jr.
2013
Plays Ellen
Flashpoint
1984
Plays Hazel
Burden
2018
Plays Chick Boyle
Crimes of the Heart
1986
Plays Clare
Broken
2007
Plays Cheryl
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
1991
Plays Sara Lee
Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will?
1990
Plays Dixie Rose Delton
Broken Bridges
2006
Plays Martha Harnish
The Turning
1992
Plays Rita
Far North
1988
Plays Naomi
Fatal Secrets
2009
Plays Kimmy Hayes
My New Gun
1992
Plays Liz O`Callahan
Jesus, Mary and Joey
2006
Plays Miriam Esh
Saving Sarah Cain
2007
Plays Tess
Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story
2023
Plays Dorothy Freeman
The Evening Hour
2021
Plays Rebecca Hodge
The Rising Place
2001
Plays Mama Doris
The Long Shadow
2020
Plays Linda
Surprise
2015
TV Shows
Plays Fairlight Spencer
Christy
1994
Plays Lois Hobson
Early Edition
1996
Plays Mrs. Pinkman
Breaking Bad
2008
Plays Carrie Lee
Chiefs
1983
Plays Susan French
Celebrity
1984
Plays Sheila Miller
How to Get Away with Murder
2014
Plays Katie Malloy
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
Plays Irene Rutledge
Murder, She Wrote
1984
Plays May Scott
One Tree Hill
2003
Plays Beth Ridge
Brothers and Sisters
2006
Plays Julia Barrett
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Plays Patricia Pittman
L.A. Law
1986
Plays Ellen Wilkins
Ghost Whisperer
2005
Plays Polly Danko
The Division
2001
Plays Barbara Nissman
Judging Amy
1999
Plays (segment "Quarantine")
The Twilight Zone
1985
Plays Sharon Lertola (2009)
Cold Case
2003
Plays Patricia Spade
Without a Trace
2002
Plays Karen Carmichael
Jack & Bobby
2004
Plays Joan
Grace Under Fire
1993
Plays Dinah Troy
Criminal Minds
2005
Plays Pam Nelson
Grey's Anatomy
2005
Plays Betsy Baxter
Touched by an Angel
1994
Plays Wendy Olinville
Crash
2008
Plays Augusta King
Private Practice
2007
Plays A.U.S.A. Rolly
In Plain Sight
2008
Plays Dede
The Hidden Room
1991
Plays Virginia
Gun
1997
Plays Carole Lyn Miller
Revenge
2011
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story
Full Filmography
Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story
Tess
2023
Film
American Outlaws
Loretta Hillhouse
2023
Film
Good Side of Bad
Mary Ellen
2023
Film
Rosebud Lane
Sugar
2023
Film
The Evening Hour
Dorothy Freeman
2021
Film
The Long Shadow
Mama Doris
2020
Film
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Mrs. Pinkman
2019
Film
Burden
Hazel
2018
Film
The Perfect Guy
Mrs. McCarthy
2015
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Tess Harper and where are they from?
Tess Harper is 75 years old, born on August 15, 1950 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Tess Harper?
Tess Harper is best known for roles in No Country for Old Men, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, The Jackal.
How many movies has Tess Harper been in?
Over a 43-year career (since 1983), Tess Harper has appeared in 43 movies and 29 TV shows.
What was Tess Harper's first movie?
The career of Tess Harper began with Kentucky Woman (1983).
What is Tess Harper's most recent movie or series?
Tess Harper's most recent release is Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story, which premiered on December 8, 2023.
What TV shows has Tess Harper appeared in?
On television, Tess Harper has appeared in Breaking Bad, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds.
Tess Harper
1950-08-15 · Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA
Tessie Jean "Tess" Harper (née Washam; born August 15, 1950) is an American actress. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her first film role in 1983's Tender Mercies, and for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1986 film Crimes of the Heart. Her other film appearances include Flashpoint (1984), Ishtar (1987), Far North (1988), and No Country for Old Men (2007). She also had a recurring role on the first three seasons of Breaking Bad (2008–2010).
From Wikipedia