Andra Akers
{{short description|American actress and philanthropist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Andra Akers
| birth_date = September 16, 1943
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| death_date = March 20, 2002 (aged 58)
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| occupation = Actress, philanthropist
| relatives = Anthony B. Akers (father)
John Russell Pope (grandfather)
Ellery Akers (sister)
William Ellery
}}
Andra Akers (September 16, 1943 – March 20, 2002) was an American actress and philanthropist. A character actress, she appeared in films, theater and television, usually in tough or brassy roles.
Early life and education
Akers was born in New York City. Her father, Anthony B. Akers, was a veteran World War II naval officer and attorney who became the United States ambassador to New Zealand during the Kennedy administration. Her mother, Jane Pope, was the daughter of the architect John Russell Pope. She was descended from William Ellery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=andra-akers&pid=284862|title=Andra Akers Obituary - Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles Times|website=Legacy.com |accessdate=Apr 19, 2019}} Her sister, Ellery Akers, is a poet and naturalist based in Northern California.{{Cite web|date=2002-04-16|title=Andra Akers|url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/people-news/andra-akers-1117865471/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Variety|language=en}}
Career
During her time in New Zealand she attended Victoria University of Wellington and appeared in a 1962 production of Chekhov's The Seagull.[http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/downloads/Salient25101962.pdf Dramatic Occasion], Salient, July 23, 1962, p4 She continued her studies at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York, majoring in theater and political science.{{Citation needed |date=June 2023}}
She made her film debut in Brian de Palma's Murder a la Mod in 1968.{{Cite web|url=https://reelfilm.com/depalma.htm#murder|title=The Films of Brian De Palma - Reviews by David Nusair|website=Reelfilm.com}} Her acting career spanned the 1960s through to the mid-1980s, during which time she made several guest appearances in popular television series. In 1986 she retired from acting to found Synergy International, later renamed the Essence Institute, an interdisciplinary think tank involving video and electronic artists, mathematicians, computer scientists and others.{{Citation needed |date=June 2023}}
Death
Akers died in Los Angeles in 2002 following complications from surgery.{{cite web |title=Andra Akers Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/andra-akers-obituary?pid=284862 |publisher=Legacy.com}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 1968
| Tracy | |
| 1969
| Wedding Guest | |
| 1978
| Naomi | |
| 1984
| E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind | Aunt Mona | |
| 1985
| Silver | |
| 1986
| Andrea | |
| 1986
| Odd Jobs | Mrs. Finelli | |
| 1986
| Blonde Saleswoman | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 1975
| Linda Kamm | Episode: "Glitter with a Bullet" |
| 1976
| Visions | Kate Scofield | Episode: "Liza's Pioneer Diary" |
| 1976
| Jessica Farmer | Episode: "Angels on Wheels" |
| 1976–1977
| Christine Addams | 21 episodes |
| 1977
| Desiree | Episode: "Remembrance" |
| 1977
| Rafferty | Mrs. Hollander | Episode: "Rafferty" |
| 1977
| Baretta | Doris Johnson | Episode: "Make the Sun Shine" |
| 1978
| Taxi | Rita | Episode: "Come as You Aren't" |
| 1978
| Family | Roz Cornick | Episode: "Expectations" |
| 1979
| Dallas | Sally Bullock | Episode: "Return Engagements" |
| 1979 / 1982
| Louisa Clement / Dana Blake | Episodes: "Death in the slow Lane" / "Harts and Palms" |
| 1981
| Pen 'n' Inc. | Gretchen Vanderwyck | Television film |
| 1981
| Vanessa Curtis | Episode: "The Intruder" |
| 1981
| Hardcase | Laura Tinkerbell | Television film |
| 1982
| Molly Hargrove | Episode: "Birds Gotta Fly" |
| 1982
| Lizzie Palmer | Episode: "Old Hickory and the Pirate" |
| 1985
| Pamela Devereaux | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| 1986
| Killer in the Mirror | Stacey Courtney |
| 1986
| Mrs. Kendrick | Episode: "Big Man on Mulberry Street" |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0015199}}
- [https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=andra-akers&pid=284862 Andra Akers obituary], Los Angeles Times, April 7, 2002
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akers, Andra}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:Sarah Lawrence College alumni
Category:American film actresses
Category:American stage actresses