Jessica Harper
Nude

The name might be only a little familiar, but the movies Jessica Harper has appeared in, and what she’s been doing on screen, will definitely jog your memory…and other body parts. In the 70s and 80s, she developed a reputation as a cult actress in unique flicks, and even earned the distinction of being, arguably, one of the first “serious” actresses to have an explicit on-screen sex scene in the X-rated (now NC-17) Inserts(1975), where she played Cathy Cake. Her film debut was no less auspicious, premiering as Phoenix in Brian De Palma’s cult comedy-fantasy-drama Phantom of the Paradise (1974). The perky brunette went on to star in not one, but two Woody Allen comedies Love and Death (1975) and Stardust Memories (1980). In between, Jessica starred in Susperia (1977) as Suzy Bannion, and roles in TV mini-series Aspen (1977) as Kit Kendrick and Studs Lonigan (1979) as Loretta Lonigan. The movie Shock Treatment (1981) followed, the unsung semi-sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), with Jessica in the Janet role previously held by Susan Sarandon. Also that same year, the petite pretty took a role opposite Steve Martin in Pennies From Heaven(1981), where her character Joan opens her robe, unties her negligee, and bares her small but very chipper breasts tipped with happy nipples to Mr. Martin. On TV, the Chicago-born actress has presented in numerous series, including a recurring part as Phoebe Bass in It’s Garry Shandling’s Show from 1988-1990, and as Cora in See in 2019—amongst a plethora of pop-up roles in series like Tales from the Darkside, Tales from the Crypt, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, and Proof. Done jogging?