Ann Dusenberry (born September 13, 1953) is an American film, television, and stage actress. She appeared in about 50 film and television productions from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. Among her best-known roles are those of Tina Wilcox in the horror film ''
Jaws 2
''Jaws 2'' is a 1978 American horror thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and co-written by Carl Gottlieb. It is the sequel to Steven Spielberg's '' Jaws'' (1975), and the second installment in the ''Jaws'' franchise. The film stars Roy ...
'' (1978), Stevie in the drama film ''
Heart Beat'' (1980) and Valerie in the thriller ''
Cutter's Way
''Cutter's Way'' (originally titled ''Cutter and Bone'') is a 1981 American neo-noir thriller film directed by Ivan Passer. The film stars Jeff Bridges, John Heard, and Lisa Eichhorn. The screenplay was adapted from the 1976 novel '' Cutter a ...
'' (1981). After her retirement from the film industry in 1992, she remained active as an actress on stage, performing sporadically.
Biography
Early life and education
Ann Dusenberry was born in
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
as the daughter of Bruce and Katie Dusenberry.
[ Dusenberry studied theater arts for four years, first at the ]University of Arizona
The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...
, then Occidental College
Occidental College (informally Oxy) is a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1887 as a coeducational college by clergy and members of the Presbyterian Church, it became non-sectarian in 1910. It is ...
, where she earned her degree. She got her first role by circulating her resume and photograph within the Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to:
* Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate
** Universal Pictures, an American film studio
** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex
* Various theme parks operat ...
offices using internal envelopes obtained by her boyfriend, a truck driver for Universal. She then signed a seven-year contract with Universal.[
]
Acting career
Dusenberry made her acting debut in 1975 with a small role as a barmaid in the film '' White Line Fever''. She gained attention in 1978 for the role of Tina Wilcox in ''Jaws 2
''Jaws 2'' is a 1978 American horror thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and co-written by Carl Gottlieb. It is the sequel to Steven Spielberg's '' Jaws'' (1975), and the second installment in the ''Jaws'' franchise. The film stars Roy ...
'', the sequel to Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic. Dusenberry was hired as a contract actress by Universal
Universal is the adjective for universe.
Universal may also refer to:
Companies
* NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company that is a subsidiary of Comcast
** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of N ...
for the role. Due to the long shooting time away from her home in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, she actually had no interest in playing the role. While the film originally directed by John D. Hancock, he was fired after a short time of shooting and replaced by Jeannot Szwarc
Jeannot Szwarc (21 November 1937 – 14 January 2025) was a French director known for his work in American film and television. His film credits included '' Jaws 2'', ''Somewhere in Time'', ''Supergirl'' and '' Santa Claus: The Movie''. Szwarc ...
. This also resulted in the dismissal of many actors who had already signed on. Dusenberry's role, however, was still expanded during script changes and she received co-starring credit. She had another success in 1978 with the role of Amy March in the miniseries ''Little Women
''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes, in 1868 and 1869. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters— Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details th ...
'', an adaptation of the novel of the same name. She also took on the role in the short-lived 1979 television series based on it, but the show was canceled after four episodes.
Dusenberry's best-known film appearances in the 1980s include her role as Stevie in '' Heart Beat'' alongside Nick Nolte
Nicholas King Nolte (; born February 8, 1941) is an American actor. Known for his leading man roles in both dramas and romances, he has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award. Nol ...
and Sissy Spacek
Mary Elizabeth "Sissy" Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Sissy Spacek, numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including ...
, and as Valerie in ''Cutter's Way
''Cutter's Way'' (originally titled ''Cutter and Bone'') is a 1981 American neo-noir thriller film directed by Ivan Passer. The film stars Jeff Bridges, John Heard, and Lisa Eichhorn. The screenplay was adapted from the 1976 novel '' Cutter a ...
'' alongside Jeff Bridges
Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He is known for his Leading actor, leading man roles in film and television. In a career spanning over seven decades, he has received List of awards and nominations received by ...
. In the 1986 film '' The Men's Club'', she again starred alongside Roy Scheider
Roy Richard Scheider (; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer who achieved fame with his leading and supporting roles in celebrated films from the 1970s through to the mid-1980s. He was nominated for t ...
, her co-star from ''Jaws 2''. In addition to her appearances in films, she mainly played roles for television. In 1977 she starred alongside Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. Regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, he has starred in Harrison Ford filmography, many notable films over seven decades, and is one of List of highest-grossing actors, the highest-gr ...
, shortly before the latter's breakthrough with ''Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and Cultural impact of Star Wars, quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop cu ...
'', in the television thriller '' The Possessed''. Other television roles included that of Amory (aka Angel Collins) in '' Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model?'' (1977) and the dual role of Joy Morgan and Elaine Steel in ''Killjoy'' (1981) alongside Kim Basinger
Kimila Ann Basinger ( ; born December 8, 1953) is an American actress. She has garnered acclaim for her work in film, for which she has received various accolades including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a ...
. She also appeared in numerous successful series of the period, including ''Magnum, P.I.
''Magnum, P.I.'' is an American crime drama television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from December 11, 1980, to May 1, 1988, during its first-run broadcast on ...
'' (1982), ''Remington Steele
''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on NBC from October 1, 1982, ...
'' (1983) and ''Murder, She Wrote
''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...
'' (1986 and 1987). In 1986, she starred as the daughter of Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...
's character in the short-lived series ''Life with Lucy
''Life with Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball. Created by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis, the series aired for one season on ABC from September 20 to November 15, 1986. It is the only Lucille Ball sitcom to not air on CB ...
''.
After co-starring in the 1992 thriller ''Play Nice'' and a guest appearance in the series ''The Commish
''The Commish'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC in the United States from September 28, 1991, to January 11, 1996. The series focuses on the work and home life of a suburban police commissioner in fictional Eastb ...
'' (1992), she retired from acting in front of the camera in the early 1990s. However, Dusenberry continues to be active as a stage actress. Among other roles, she played Mrs. Gibbs in the play ''Our Town
''Our Town'' is a three-act play written by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written", it presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 ...
'' (1998). Other plays have included 2014's ''Noises Off
''Noises Off'' is a 1982 farce by the English playwright Michael Frayn.
Frayn conceived the idea in 1970 while watching from the wings a performance of '' The Two of Us'', a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave. He said, "It was funni ...
'' and 2021's ''Ripcord''.
Personal life
She is married to composer Brad Fiedel
Bradley Ira Fiedel (born March 10, 1951) is an American composer. He has written for film and television and has collaborated with James Cameron on ''The Terminator'' (1984), '' Terminator 2: Judgment Day'' (1991) and ''True Lies'' (1994). On th ...
, with whom she lives in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...
. They have two daughters named Alixandra and Zoe. She received an MA degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and works as Artistic Director of the Actors' Conservatory Theatre in Santa Barbara.
Filmography
Film
Television
Theatre
* ''Our Town
''Our Town'' is a three-act play written by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written", it presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 ...
'' (1998) - Mrs Gibbs
* ''Noises Off
''Noises Off'' is a 1982 farce by the English playwright Michael Frayn.
Frayn conceived the idea in 1970 while watching from the wings a performance of '' The Two of Us'', a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave. He said, "It was funni ...
'' (2014)
* ''Full Circle'' (2020)
* ''Ripcord'' (2021)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dusenberry, Ann
Living people
Actresses from Tucson, Arizona
Occidental College alumni
University of Arizona alumni
1953 births
20th-century American actresses