Photo: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Jessica Walter had the rare gift of being terrifying and hilarious within the same career, often with the same arched eyebrow. Her obsessive fan in Play Misty for Me set a template for screen menace, and decades later her wickedly sardonic mothers on Arrested Development and Archer proved she could weaponize comedy just as sharply. More than 170 credits and an Emmy speak to relentless craft. What I admire is the precision: she never overplayed cruelty or comedy, she simply aimed it. She passed in 2021, but that voice and that withering stare remain unmistakable. A consummate, underrated professional.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jessica Walter
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェシカ・ウォルター
- Reading
- じぇしか・うぉるたー
- Born
- January 31, 1941 – March 24, 2021
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Snake
- Origin
- Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 173 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- stage actor / film actor / television actor / voice actor / actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- High School of Performing Arts
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- Emmy Award
- Actor Awards
- 1975 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Play Misty for Me | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Jessica Walter born?
January 31, 1941 – March 24, 2021.
Where is Jessica Walter from?
Jessica Walter is from Brooklyn, New York, United States.
What does Jessica Walter do?
Jessica Walter works as stage actor, film actor, television actor, voice actor, actor.
How tall is Jessica Walter?
Jessica Walter is 173 cm.
What is Jessica Walter known for?
Notable works include Play Misty for Me.
Stage actor — see all → · Film actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.