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Who is Anne Archer?
Anne is an American actress who’s been active in the film industry since the early 1970s. She’s possibly still best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as Beth Gallagher in the 1987 movie “Fatal Attraction”. Some of her other notable film credits include “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger”, in which she played the wife of Jack Ryan, a character famously portrayed by Harrison Ford.
Early Life and Education
Anne Archer was born on 24 August 1947, in Los Angeles, California, into a family already rooted in the entertainment industry. Her parents, actors John Archer and Marjorie Lord, were well-established in their careers, setting a natural path for Anne into show business. Despite this, Anne’s upbringing was not completely overshadowed by her parents’ stardom, and she managed to live a relatively normal life during her early years.
She attended Hollywood High School and subsequently enrolled at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where she studied theatre arts. She spent some time studying in Spain and France, gaining cultural experiences that would influence her future roles.
Roles in Movies
Anne made her film debut in the 1972 action comedy, “The Honkers”, in which she starred alongside James Coburn and Lois Nettleton. In the following years, she appeared in TV movies, “The Blue Knight” (1973), “The Log of the Black Pearl” (1975), and “The Dark Side of Innocence” (1976).
In 1978, she starred opposite Chuck Norris, in the thriller “Good Guys Wear Black”, and also played the love interest of Sylvester Stallone’s character in the sports drama “Paradise Alley”. Another notable role for Anne was in the 1984 Brian Forbes’ action thriller “The Naked Face”, which also starred Roger Moore, Elliott Gould and Rod Steiger.
However, it was her role in 1987 film “Fatal Attraction” that earned her widespread recognition. In this critically acclaimed thriller, she played Beth Gallagher, the steadfast wife of Michael Douglas’s character, who finds herself and her family terrorized by her husband’s former lover, played by Glenn Close. Her nuanced performance of a woman navigating the turbulent waters of betrayal earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
also think it's Anne Archer's entire Fatal Attraction wardrobe 🙂 #fallvibes #fallfashion pic.twitter.com/oqWjFZnEVK
— Blake Turck (@styleisland) October 11, 2019
Following “Fatal Attraction”, Anne took on the world of action and espionage with her role in “Patriot Games” in 1992, in which she played Dr. Caroline ‘Cathy’ Ryan, the wife of Tom Clancy’s iconic character, Jack Ryan. Anne reprised her role in 1994’s “Clear and Present Danger”, further establishing her character as a strong, intelligent woman who served as a pillar of strength for her husband during his dangerous missions.
In 2000, Anne was part of the ensemble in the action crime drama “The Art of War”, alongside Wesley Snipes. Here, she took on the role of a translator working for United Nations who becomes entangled in a major conspiracy.
Although she’s primarily known for her roles in action and thriller films, the 2000s saw Anne embrace more comedic roles, in movies such as “Uncle Nino” (2003), “Man of the House” (2005), and “Cut Off” (2006). In 2009, she played a supporting role in the romantic comedy “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”, which centers on a womanizer (played by Matthew McConaughey) who’s haunted by ghosts of his ex-girlfriends.
In 2014, Anne starred in the drama “Lullaby”, in which she portrayed a dying mother who requests her children’s permission to die, offering a deeply touching performance.
She has since appeared in the 2017 film “Trafficked” a crime drama based on true events about a global human trafficking network. Most recently, in 2022, she starred in “A Ticket to the Circuis”, a biopic about the life of the writer Norris Church-Mailer. She’s also rumored to be playing one of the lead roles in the upcoming comedy-drama “Ulysses Coyote”, written and directed by Stephen Savage.
Roles in TV Series
After making her small-screen debut in the 1970 series “Men at Law”, Anne has continued to leave a significant imprint on a wide array of TV productions. In the early days of her television career, she appeared in several popular series like “Hawaii Five-O”, “Ironside” and “Little House on the Prairie”.
One of her most significant TV roles came in the late 1980s with the series “Falcon Crest”, in which she portrayed the cunning and ruthless Cassandra Wilder. Her performance in this popular prime-time soap opera paved the way for more mainstream success in the future, however, it would take 11 years before Anne made a comeback to the small screen, with a supporting role in the mini-series “Camino de Santiago” (1999).
Moving into the new millennium, Anne continued her small-screen success with roles in several notable series. She had a recurring role in the popular show “Boston Public” and made guest appearances on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “The L Word”.
In 2006, Anne appeared in three episodes of the popular sitcom “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, playing the role of Danny DeVito’s character’s ex-wife, Barbara.
In 2008 and 2009, she guest-starred in the comedy-drama “Privileged”, in which she played Laurel Limoges, a wealthy cosmetic mogul. The series was based on the book “How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls”, written by Zoey Dean and was adapted for television by Rina Mimoun. While the series was canceled after just one season due to low ratings, it developed a cult following. It was praised for its character development and the performances of its cast, particularly Joanna Garcia in the lead role and Anne as the formidable Laurel.
Anne’s next TV series appearance was in 2016, in an episode of the sitcom “The Grinder”, which starred Rob Lowe as a famous TV lawyer who has to move back to his small hometown after his career takes a turn for the worse.
Most recently, in 2022, she played the role of Charlotte Shultz in Hulu’s biographical drama “The Dropout”, based on the real-life story of Elizabeth Holmes (played by Amanda Seyfried), a controversial Silicon Valley entrepreneur who attempted to revolutionize the healthcare industry.
Love Life and Relationships
Anne’s love life has been as fascinating as her career. Her first marriage was to actor William Davis in 1969, with whom she has a son named Tommy. However, the couple divorced in November 1978, and not long afterwards, in December 1978, she married Terry Jastrow, a renowned producer and director. The couple has a son, Jeffrey Tucker Jastrow, and they remain married today, after more than four decades, a rarity in the often turbulent waters of Hollywood relationships.
Ties with Scientology
Anne has been an active member of the Church of Scientology, a controversial religious organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Her association with the church began in the 1970s when she was introduced to it by her husband, Terry Jastrow. Despite the numerous controversies and criticisms surrounding the church, Anne has been open about her faith and credits Scientology for giving her the emotional stability and discipline she needs in her acting career.
Net Worth
As of 2023, Anne’s net worth is estimated at more than $20 million. This impressive figure is largely a result of her long and successful acting career, but Anne’s wealth is also attributed to her real estate investments in Los Angeles.
