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Tess Harper

Tess Harper

Actor · Born August 15, 1950 (76) · 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

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 15, 1950 (76)
From
Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
70 on MovieCove · 97 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 27% in 30 days

What are Tess Harper's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Morality
22%
Survival
18%
Self
16%
Society
10%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds21 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 45 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 11 · Serious 17 · Dark 17

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 41 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 26 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 21 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 35 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 24 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 20 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 6 · Affecting 20 · Heavy 19

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 30 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 17 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 17
Threshold guardian
4 of 17
Shadow
2 of 17
Mentor
2 of 17
Herald
2 of 17
Shapeshifter
1 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
24
Warm
14
Hopeful
13
Dread
9
Other
36

How their films linger

Hopeful19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet29
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Tess Harper's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 70 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (25).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tess Harper's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

97 credits, 70 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Our Almost Completely True Story(2021)

    as Tess

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • American Outlaws(2023)

    as Loretta Hillhouse

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Good Side of Bad(2023)

    as Mary Ellen

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Rosebud Lane(2022)

    as Sugar

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Evening Hour(2020)

    as Dorothy Freeman

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Long Shadow(2019)

    as Mama Doris

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • El Camino(2019)

    as Mrs. Pinkman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Burden(2018)

    as Hazel

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Guy(2015)

    as Mrs. McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Boys On Film 13: Trick & Treat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Linda (segment "Surprise")

  • Surprise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Linda

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sheila Miller

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Frank(2014)

    as Frank's Mom

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Sunlight Jr.(2013)

    as Kathleen

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Straight A's(2013)

    as Mother

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Heart(2012)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Wish(2011)

    as Trudy Willis

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Revenge(2011)

    Show as Carole Lyn Miller

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Fatal Secrets(2009)

    as Naomi

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Crash(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Wendy Olinville

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • In Plain Sight(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as A.U.S.A. Rolly

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Breaking Bad(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mrs. Pinkman

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • No Country for Old Men(2007)

    as Loretta Bell

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Broken(2006)

    as Clare

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Augusta King

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Saving Sarah Cain(2007)

    as Miriam Esh

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Kiss the Bride(2007)

    as Barbara Davis

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Judy's Got a Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Susan Lemen

  • Brothers & Sisters(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth Ridge

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Broken Bridges(2006)

    as Dixie Rose Delton

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Jam(2006)

    as Ruby

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Karla(2006)

    as Molly Czehowicz

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Jesus, Mary and Joey(2005)

    as Liz O`Callahan

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Loggerheads(2005)

    as Elizabeth

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Whisperer(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Wilkins

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dinah Troy

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Pam Nelson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Angel in the Family(2004)

    as Mrs. Nelly Tomkins

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Jack & Bobby(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Karen Carmichael

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Lonely Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Sharon Lertola (2009)

  • One Tree Hill(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as May Scott

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Patricia Spade

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Rising Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Rebecca Hodge

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Polly Danko

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia Barrett

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The in Crowd(2000)

    as Dr. Amanda Giles

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Hallander

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Nissman

  • Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator / Older Laura Ingalls Wilder

  • Dirty Laundry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Beth Greene

  • The Jackal(1997)

    as The First Lady

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Cracker: Mind Over Murder(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Virginia

  • A Child's Wish(1997)

    as Joanna Chandler

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Killing Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Tina Decapprio

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 7 episodes · as Lois Hobson

  • A Stranger to Love(1996)

    as Linda Grant

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Road to Galveston(1996)

    as Julia Archer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Death in Small Doses(1995)

    as Jerri Sims

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Betsy Baxter

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Christy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 18 episodes · as Fairlight Spencer

  • Grace Under Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Joan

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Katie Malloy

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Verna Heath

  • My New Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Kimmy Hayes

  • In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion(1992)

    as Vickie Singer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Turning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Martha Harnish

  • Michael Jackson´s Black or White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Mother

  • The Man in the Moon(1991)

    as Abigail Trant

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Hidden Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Dede

  • My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys(1991)

    as Cheryl

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will?(1990)

    as Sara Lee

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Incident at Dark River(1989)

    as Betty McFall

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Criminal Law(1988)

    as Detective Stillwell

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Her Alibi(1989)

    as Sally Blackwood

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Unconquered(1989)

    as Mrs. Mary Flowers

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Far North(1988)

    as Rita

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Little Girl Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Clara Brady

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ishtar(1987)

    as Willa

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Daddy(1987)

    as Ann Burnette

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Crimes of the Heart(1986)

    as Chick Boyle

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Patricia Pittman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Promises to Keep(1985)

    as Gwen Palmer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "Quarantine")

  • A Summer to Remember(1985)

    as Jeannie Wyler

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Reckless Disregard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Meredith Craig

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Irene Rutledge

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Flashpoint(1984)

    as Ellen

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Celebrity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as Susan French

  • Silkwood(1983)

    as Linda Dawson

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Amityville 3-D(1983)

    as Nancy Baxter

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Chiefs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · as Carrie Lee

  • Tender Mercies(1983)

    as Rosa Lee

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land(1983)

    as Janet Briggs

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Kentucky Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 97 titles from 1983 to 2023; peak year 1983.

Biggest box office

No Country for Old Men (2007)

$172M worldwide

Highest rated

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19832023

Peak 1983 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting97 of 97: 97 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score51st

By decade

1980s24 · acting1990s26 · acting2000s29 · acting2010s12 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 25 roles
83880308

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Tess Harper's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 50; across their 45 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 45

Midcredits score across 70 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th20
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 70 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed34

Most divisive · actor

Good Side of Bad (2023)

85th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Breaking Bad (2008)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 39 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Tess Harper's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles37–87 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles13–51 · median 43 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles42–85 · median 60 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles20–65 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles29–80 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Tess Harper work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tess Harper's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bruce Beresford shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles