Andra Akers

Andra Akers
Born	September 16, 1943 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	March 20, 2002 (aged 58) 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. Her sister, Ellery Akers, is a poet and naturalist based in Northern California.

Career

During her time in New Zealand she attended Victoria University of Wellington and appeared in a 1962 production of Chekhov's The Seagull. She continued her studies at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York, majoring in theater and political science.

She made her film debut in Brian de Palma's Murder a la Mod in 1968. 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.

Death

Akers died in Los Angeles in 2002 following complications from surgery.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1968	Murder a la Mod	Tracy
1969	The Wedding Party	Wedding Guest
1978	Moment by Moment	Naomi
1984	E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind	Aunt Mona
1985	Desert Hearts	Silver
1986	Just Between Friends	Andrea
1986	Odd Jobs	Mrs. Finelli
1986	Nothing in Common	Blonde Saleswoman

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1975	Police Woman	Linda Kamm	Episode: "Glitter with a Bullet"
1976	Visions	Kate Scofield	Episode: "Liza's Pioneer Diary"
1976	Charlie's Angels	Jessica Farmer	Episode: "Angels on Wheels"
1976–1977	Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman	Christine Addams	21 episodes
1977	All's Fair	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, 1981	Hart to Hart	Dana Blake / Louisa Clement	2 episodes
1981	Pen 'n' Inc.	Gretchen Vanderwyck	Television film
1981	Flamingo Road	Vanessa Curtis	Episode: "The Intruder"
1981	Hardcase	Laura Tinkerbell	Television film
1982	The Dukes of Hazzard	Molly Hargrove	Episode: "Birds Gotta Fly"
1982	Voyagers!	Lizzie Palmer	Episode: "Old Hickory and the Pirate"
1985	Copacabana	Pamela Devereaux	Television film
1986	Killer in the Mirror	Stacey Courtney
1986	Moonlighting	Mrs. Kendrick	Episode: "Big Man on Mulberry Street"

External links

• Andra Akers at the Internet Movie Database
• Andra Akers obituary, Los Angeles Times, April 7, 2002