--- name: "Anne Archer" canonical: "https://film.one/person/anne-archer" roles: ["Actor"] born: "24 August 1947" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 77 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-20T06:46:36.131721+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Anne Archer Actor. Born 24 August 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 24 August 1947, Los Angeles, California, USA - **Active:** 1987–1993 - **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 70 (1), 1990s 84 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Archer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230199, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000271/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10427 ## Streaming the US now - **Hulu:** [*Fatal Attraction*](https://film.one/film/fatal-attraction.md) (70) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Anne Archer > Anne Archer plays the wife the plot has put in danger, and plays her as someone who could run the marriage without the hero's help. In *Fatal Attraction* she made a thinly written part hold the film together; the career since has asked less of her. Watch Beth Gallagher for a minute in *Fatal Attraction* (1987) and you notice what Anne Archer does that most actors cast as the wife do not. She is not waiting for the plot to reach her. Beth runs a flat, a daughter and a husband, and Archer plays her as a woman who would manage perfectly well if the husband vanished, which is the one thing Michael Douglas's Dan cannot bear to know. James Dearden's script gives her almost nothing to say, so she builds the character out of how she listens. We came away pitying Glenn Close, as the film means us to, and on Beth's side, which it does not quite mean and which Archer arranged on her own. The part arrived after fifteen years of television guest spots and supporting film work, with one early lead in *Lifeguard* (1976). It made her, and for a while it looked as if it would keep making her: Cathy Ryan opposite Harrison Ford in *Patriot Games* (1992) and *Clear and Present Danger* (1994), Claire Kane in Robert Altman's *Short Cuts* (1993). Then the leads thinned out. Since the 2000s the work has been sporadic, a film such as *Lullaby* (2014), recurring television parts, stage work including *The Graduate* in 2001. What she does well is poise under pressure at home: the woman at the centre of a household while men run about outside it. The Ryan films want exactly that, a doctor married to a man in a dangerous job who never seems to be merely his wife. Altman wanted something else, an actor who could be exact in small scenes where nobody is the lead, and she gave him that too. The limitation is that Hollywood found the shape and kept casting her into it, and the shape is a supporting one. She said as much to the Los Angeles Times in 1990: "I was good in a lot of films that nobody saw. You have to be in a film that gets a wide audience. That's what makes the difference." *Body of Evidence* (1993), a film almost nobody has a good word for, got seen and did her no favours. Start with *Fatal Attraction*, which is a first-rate thriller for ninety minutes and something worse in the last reel, and watch Archer rather than Douglas whenever the phone rings. Then *Short Cuts*. She is one of those actors whose best work sits in films remembered for somebody else, and she appears to have made her peace with that some time ago. ## Biography Anne Archer is an American actress. She was born on 24 August 1947 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actors John Archer and Marjorie Lord. She studied theatre arts at Pitzer College and was named Miss Golden Globe in 1971. Her feature film debut came in *The Honkers* (1972). Archer received Academy Award, BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Beth Gallagher in *Fatal Attraction* (1987). She is also known for appearances in *Patriot Games* (1992) and *Clear and Present Danger* (1994) as Dr Cathy Ryan, and for her Golden Globe-winning performance in Robert Altman's *Short Cuts* (1993). On stage, she played Mrs Robinson in the West End production of *The Graduate* (2001) and the title role in *The Trial of Jane Fonda* (2014). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Short Cuts* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Claire Kane — [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md) - *Fatal Attraction* (1987), Fi1m 70, as Beth Gallagher — [page](https://film.one/film/fatal-attraction.md) ## Complete filmography (91) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Brilliant Minds* (2024), series, as Bonnie Nichols - *The Dropout* (2022), series, as Charlotte Shultz — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-dropout.md) - *Trafficked* (2017), as Mother Monica - *The Grinder* (2015), series, as Lenore Sanderson-Grant - *The Squeeze* (2015), Producer - *Lullaby* (2014), as Rachel - *Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story* (2010), as Dr. Cathy Ryan (archive footage) - *Ghosts of Girlfriends Past* (2009), as Vonda Volkom - *Privileged* (2008), series, as Laurel Limoges - *Felon* (2008), as Maggie - *Judicial Indiscretion* (2007), as Monica Barrett - *End Game* (2006), as The First Lady - *Cut Off* (2006), as Louise - *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, as Beth Gordon - *The Iris Effect* (2005), as Sarah Hathaway - *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, as Barbara Reynolds - *Man of the House* (2005), as Professor Molly McCarthy - *The L Word* (2004), series, as Lenore Pieszecki - *November* (2004), as Carol Jacobs - *Uncle Nino* (2003), as Marie Micelli - *Night of the Wolf* (2002), as Claire McNichol - *The Gray in Between* (2002), as Ursula - *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Patricia Emerson - *Whispers: An Elephant's Tale* (2000), as Gentle Heart (voice) - *The Art of War* (2000), as Eleanor Hooks - *Rules of Engagement* (2000), as Mrs. Mourain - *Innocents* (2000), as Beryl Denright - *Camino de Santiago* (1999), series, as Isabelle Derek - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Trudy Morris - *My Husband's Secret Life* (1998), Actor - *Indiscretion of an American Wife* (1998), as Julia Burton - *Nico the Unicorn* (1998), as Julie Hastings - *Mojave Moon* (1996), as Julie - *Jake's Women* (1996), as Maggie - *The Man in the Attic* (1995), as Krista Heldmann - *Because Mommy Works* (1994), as Abby - *There Goes My Baby* (1994), as Narrator (voice) (uncredited) - *Clear and Present Danger* (1994), as Dr. Cathy Ryan - *Jane's House* (1994), as Mary Parker - *Roots of Roe* (1993), as Letters to Margaret Sanger (voice) - *Short Cuts* (1993), as Claire Kane — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md) - *Family Prayers* (1993), as Rita Jacobs - *Body of Evidence* (1993), as Joanne Braslow - *Nails* (1992), as Mary Niles - *Patriot Games* (1992), as Dr. Caroline "Cathy" Ryan - *The Last of His Tribe* (1992), as Henriette Kroeber - *Eminent Domain* (1991), as Mira Borski - *Narrow Margin* (1990), as Carol Hunnicut - *Love at Large* (1990), as Miss Dolan - *Question of Faith* (1988), as Debby Franke Ogg - *Fatal Attraction* (1987), as Beth Gallagher — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/fatal-attraction.md) - *A Different Affair* (1987), as Chris Larwin - *The Check is in the Mail...* (1986), as Peggy Jackson - *Too Scared to Scream* (1984), as Kate Bridges - *The Naked Face* (1984), as Ann Blake - *The Sky's No Limit* (1984), as Dr. Susan Keith Browning - *The Family Tree* (1983), series, Actor - *Waltz Across Texas* (1982), as Gail Weston · Story - *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Cassandra Wilder - *Green Ice* (1981), as Holbrook - *Raise the Titanic* (1980), as Dana Archibald - *Hero at Large* (1980), as J. Marsh - *Paradise Alley* (1978), as Annie - *Good Guys Wear Black* (1978), as Margaret - *The Pirate* (1977), series, as Jordana Mason - *Seventh Avenue* (1977), series, as Myrna Gold - *Lifeguard* (1976), as Cathy - *Trackdown* (1976), as Barbara - *The Dark Side of Innocence* (1976), as Nora Hancock Mulligan - *Switch* (1975), series, as Laurie - *A Matter of Wife... and Death* (1975), as Carol - *The Log of the Black Pearl* (1975), as Lila Bristol - *The Mark of Zorro* (1974), as Teresa - *Harry O* (1974), series, Actor - *Little House on the Prairie* (1974), series, as Kate Thorvald - *Petrocelli* (1974), series, as Sherril Brewster - *The Blue Knight* (1973), as Laila - *The Blue Knight* (1973), series, as Laila - *The All-American Boy* (1973), as Drenna Valentine - *Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice* (1973), series, as Carol Sanders - *Cancel My Reservation* (1972), as Crazy Hollister - *The Honkers* (1972), as Deborah Moon - *The Sixth Sense* (1972), series, Actor - *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor - *McCloud* (1970), series, as Wilhelmina Kirk - *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Louise - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Jane Michaels - *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, Actor - *Mannix* (1967), series, as Anne Avery - *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Lynne Ashton ## Gallery - ![Anne Archer](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-86cacc097182.jpg) Anne Archer — Anne_Archer,_1989-03.jpg: Alan Light derivative work: Lashiec (talk), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Anne_Archer%2C_1989-03-cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Anne Archer on the red carpet at the 61st Annual Academy Awards (1989)](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-b07d604e444f.jpg) Anne Archer on the red carpet at the 61st Annual Academy Awards (1989) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Anne_Archer%2C_1989-03.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Anne Archer on the red carpet at the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-7e4d70538d4a.jpg) Anne Archer on the red carpet at the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Ann_Archer_%28252960395%29_%28red_carpet%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Anne Archer on the red carpet at the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-b6cfb30d6404.jpg) Anne Archer on the red carpet at the 1989 Academy Awards, March 29, 1989 — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Ann_Archer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Anne Archer](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-b16e15830d53.jpg) Anne Archer — Image via TMDB - ![Anne Archer](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-c7c9f7c56aa7.jpg) Anne Archer — Image via TMDB - ![Anne Archer](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-79499e3c1390.jpg) Anne Archer — Image via TMDB - ![Anne Archer](https://film.one/media/person/400692/gallery-de0a6ca4baea.jpg) Anne Archer — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1988: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Fatal Attraction* ### Golden Globes — 1 won - 1970: Golden Globe Ambassador (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/anne-archer