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Lisa Jane Persky

Lisa Jane Persky

Actor · Born May 5, 1955 (71) · New York City, New York, USA

Lisa Jane Persky (born May 5, 1955) is an American actress. Persky was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of Jane Holley (née Wilson) and Mort Persky. She grew up in New York's Greenwich Village and attended the High School of Art and Design. She debuted as Robert Duvall's daughter in The Great Santini and went on to act in such movies as American Pop, The Big Easy, When Harry Met Sally..., Coneheads, KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park, and Peggy Sue Got Married. She wrote for New York Rocker magazine in the 1970s and dated former Blondie bass player Gary Valentine Lachman. On January 19, 2008, she married music historian and former co-star of the Comedy Central game show Beat the Geeks Andy Zax. In 2009 and 2010, Persky began making appearances on The Best Show on WFMU radio program, as both as a regular caller and as an in-studio special guest. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lisa Jane Persky, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 5, 1955 (71)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 49 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 42% in 30 days

What are Lisa Jane Persky's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
Self
47%
Bonds
32%
Morality
7%
Survival
6%
Society
5%
Power
4%
Identity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 11 · Intense 2

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 5

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 10 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 8 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Warm
7
Romantic
6
Hopeful
4
Absurd
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Lisa Jane Persky's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lisa Jane Persky'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

49 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Grilled(2006)

    as Sally Wilson

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Invasion(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Disheveled Woman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Twins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Marcy

  • The Dogwalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Allison

  • My First Mister(2001)

    as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • An American Rhapsody(2001)

    as Pattie

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Fenwick

  • Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back(2000)

    as Wilma Aday

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Tumbleweeds(1999)

    as Diner Waitress

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Goosed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as The Psychic

  • Perfect Assassins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Janice Franklin

  • Where's Marlowe?(1998)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Karen Garvey

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Female Perversions(1996)

    as Margot

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Destiny Turns on the Radio(1995)

    as Katrina

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Pontiac Moon(1994)

    as Alicia Frank

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Alison Spears · as Stasi Reynolds

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Dead Funny(1994)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Weinsider

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Coneheads(1993)

    as Lisa Farber

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Antagonists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 9 episodes · as Joanie Rutledge

  • Vital Signs(1990)

    as Bobby

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Last of the Finest(1990)

    as Harriet Gross

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Grand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny Seaton

  • When Harry Met Sally...(1989)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Great Balls of Fire!(1989)

    as Babe

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Marion Keisker

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Sharing Richard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Private Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • The Big Easy(1986)

    as McCabe

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Peggy Sue Got Married(1986)

    as Delores Dodge

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Designing Women(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Crime Story(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joanne Goldman

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Crime Story: Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Joanne Goldman

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Shirley Crater

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as (segment "The Once and Future King")

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Kate

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Sure Thing(1985)

    as Mary Ann Webster

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Cotton Club(1984)

    as Frances Flegenheimer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Shattered Vows(1984)

    as Cathy

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Desperate Intruder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Linda

  • Breathless(1983)

    as Salesgirl

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • American Pop(1981)

    as Bella (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Emmy Soames

  • The Great Santini(1979)

    as Mary Anne Meechum

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park(1978)

    as Dirty Dee

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Fitzpatricks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Elaine: A Story of Lost Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Felicie

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles from 1976 to 2006; peak year 1985.

Biggest box office

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

$93M worldwide

Highest rated

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19762006

Peak 1985 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting49 of 49: 49 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s17 · acting2000s8 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
7888

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 Lisa Jane Persky's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978)

88th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 42. 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 Lisa Jane Persky's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles14–49 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles28–72 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles30–58 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles28–49 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 15 · mildMedian 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 Lisa Jane Persky work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lisa Jane Persky's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jim McBride shares the most, 3.

Directors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles