Lisa Pelikan
Encyclopedia
Lisa Pelikan is an American stage, film and television actress.
She was born in Berkley, California, the daughter of American parents Helen L., a psychologist, and Robert G. Pelikan, an international economist
who served as the minister-counselor from the United States at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. She attended the Juilliard School
with a full scholarship to its drama division. Pelikan is primarily a stage actor and director, but is also known to film audiences for her film debut as the younger version of Vanessa Redgrave
's title character in Julia (1977) (for which Redgrave won an Oscar), and her role as the widowed mother Sarah Hargrave in the film sequel Return to the Blue Lagoon
(1991).
Pelikan's first regular Television work was as maid Kate Mahaffey on the CBS
soap opera
Beacon Hill. Other high points in her career include her performances as the lusty Lucy Scanlon in the Television miniseries Studs Lonigan
(1979), and the title character of the horror film Jennifer
(1978). She also won a Drama-Logue Award
for her one-woman play about Zelda Fitzgerald
entitled "Only a Broken String of Pearls".
She was married to fellow actor Bruce Davison
, with whom she has one son, Ethan. She and Davison are divorced.
She was born in Berkley, California, the daughter of American parents Helen L., a psychologist, and Robert G. Pelikan, an international economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
who served as the minister-counselor from the United States at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. She attended the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
with a full scholarship to its drama division. Pelikan is primarily a stage actor and director, but is also known to film audiences for her film debut as the younger version of Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave, CBE is an English actress of stage, screen and television, as well as a political activist.She rose to prominence in 1961 playing Rosalind in As You Like It with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has since made more than 35 appearances on London's West End and Broadway, winning...
's title character in Julia (1977) (for which Redgrave won an Oscar), and her role as the widowed mother Sarah Hargrave in the film sequel Return to the Blue Lagoon
Return to the Blue Lagoon
Return to the Blue Lagoon is a 1991 American romance and adventure film starring Milla Jovovich and Brian Krause, produced and directed by William A. Graham. The screenplay by Leslie Stevens was based on the novel The Garden of God by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The original music score was composed...
(1991).
Pelikan's first regular Television work was as maid Kate Mahaffey on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Beacon Hill. Other high points in her career include her performances as the lusty Lucy Scanlon in the Television miniseries Studs Lonigan
Studs Lonigan
Studs Lonigan is the title of a novel trilogy by American author James T. Farrell: Young Lonigan, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan, and Judgment Day. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked the Studs Lonigan trilogy at 29th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.The...
(1979), and the title character of the horror film Jennifer
Jennifer (1978 film)
Jennifer is a 1978 horror film directed by Brice Mack, starring Lisa Pelikan. The story has some similarities to the 1976 classic Carrie, about a social misfit with psychic powers who gets revenge on her cruel classmates. The original music score is composed by Porter Jordan. The film's tagline is:...
(1978). She also won a Drama-Logue Award
Drama-Logue Award
The Drama-Logue Award was a theater award established in 1977, given by the publishers of Drama-Logue newspaper, a weekly west-coast theater trade publication. Winners were selected by the publication's theater critics, and would receive a certificate at an annual awards ceremony...
for her one-woman play about Zelda Fitzgerald
Zelda Fitzgerald
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald , born Zelda Sayre in Montgomery, Alabama, was an American novelist and the wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. She was an icon of the 1920s—dubbed by her husband "the first American Flapper"...
entitled "Only a Broken String of Pearls".
She was married to fellow actor Bruce Davison
Bruce Davison
Bruce Davison is an American actor and director.-Early life:Davison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Marian E. , a secretary, and Clair W. Davison, a musician, architect, and draftsman for the Army Engineers. His parents divorced when he was three years old. He was raised by his...
, with whom she has one son, Ethan. She and Davison are divorced.
Filmography
- Marlowe (2007) (TV) as Laura Devin
- Sacrifices of the Heart aka Spring Thaw (2007) (TV) as Virginia Doyle
- Strong MedicineStrong MedicineStrong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and...
(2003) (TV) as Babs Darner - For the People (2002) (TV) as Annika Jacobs
- Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
(2002) (TV) as Dr. Garrison - The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
(2001) (TV) as Carol Ritter - Off SeasonOff SeasonOff Season is a 2001 TV movie directed by Bruce Davison, and starring Sherilyn Fenn, Rory Culkin, Hume Cronyn, Adam Arkin, and Bruce Davison...
(2001) (TV) as Ashley Manson - Shadow of DoubtShadow of DoubtShadow of Doubt is a 1998 American independent mystery-thriller film directed by Randal Kleiser and starring Melanie Griffith, Tom Berenger, Craig Sheffer, and Huey Lewis.-Plot:...
(1998) as Leslie Saxon - Color of Justice (1997) (TV) as Betty
- It's My PartyIt's My PartyIt's My Party may refer to:*"It's My Party" , a 1963 number-one single by Lesley Gore*It's My Party , a 1996 film*It's My Party , a weekly reality TV show broadcast by RTÉ in summer 2006...
(1996) (uncredited) as Party Guest - Present Tense, Past Perfect (1995) (TV) as Lisa
- Return to the Blue LagoonReturn to the Blue LagoonReturn to the Blue Lagoon is a 1991 American romance and adventure film starring Milla Jovovich and Brian Krause, produced and directed by William A. Graham. The screenplay by Leslie Stevens was based on the novel The Garden of God by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The original music score was composed...
(1991) as Sarah Hargrave - Into the Badlands (1991) (TV) as Sarah Carstairs
- Lionheart (1990) as Helene Gaultier
- Windmills of the GodsWindmills of the GodsWindmills of the Gods is a 1987 thriller novel by American writer Sidney Sheldon.-Plot summary:Mary Ashley, a professor at Kansas State University, is offered an ambassadorship by Paul Ellison, the US president. She rejects the offer because her husband, Dr. Edward Ashley, does not want to leave...
(1988) (TV) - GhouliesGhouliesThe Ghoulies films are an American horror-comedy series released throughout the 1980s and 1990s and centered on a group of demons usually summoned by Satanic worshippers.-Ghoulies:...
(1985) as Rebecca - A Bunny's TaleA Bunny's TaleA Bunny's Tale is a 1985 television film based on American feminist icon and journalist Gloria Steinem's experiences working as a Playboy Bunny in 1963. It stars Kirstie Alley as Steinem.-Plot Summary:...
(1985) (TV) as Lee - Swing ShiftSwing Shift (film)Swing Shift is a 1984 feature film directed by Jonathan Demme and produced by and starring Goldie Hawn with Kurt Russell. It also starred Christine Lahti, Fred Ward and Ed Harris...
(1984) as Violet - The House of GodThe House of GodThe House of God is a satirical novel by Samuel Shem , published in 1978. It portrays the psychological harm done to medical interns during the course of medical internship in the early 1970s.-Storyline:...
(1984) as Jo Miller - This Is the LifeThis is the Life (TV series)This Is the Life is an American Christian television dramatic series. This anthology series aired in syndication from the 1950s through 1980s. The series was originally produced by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and distributed by the International Lutheran Laymen's League.-Format:This Is...
(TV series) (1983) - The Best Little Girl in the WorldThe Best Little Girl in the WorldThe Best Little Girl in the World is a 1981 television film directed by Sam O'Steen and executive produced by Aaron Spelling. The film is based upon the 1978 novel of the same name written by Steven Levenkron.-Plot:...
(1981) (TV) Gail Powell - The Women's RoomThe Women's RoomThe Women's Room is a novel by American feminist author Marilyn French first published in 1977.French was almost unknown among feminist circles before the publication of the book. It has been described as one of the most influential novels of the modern feminist movement...
(1980) (TV) as Kyla - The Last Convertible (1979) (TV) as Rosamond Ardley
- Homme en colere, L (1979) as Anne
- Studs LoniganStuds LoniganStuds Lonigan is the title of a novel trilogy by American author James T. Farrell: Young Lonigan, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan, and Judgment Day. In 1998, the Modern Library ranked the Studs Lonigan trilogy at 29th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.The...
(1979) (TV) as Lucy Scanlon - True GritTrue Grit: A Further AdventureTrue Grit: A Further Adventure is a 1978 television film sequel to the films True Grit and Rooster Cogburn.While John Wayne played the role of Rooster Cogburn in the first two films, Warren Oates played him in this 1978 television film.-Plot:...
(1978) (TV) as Mattie Ross - JenniferJennifer (1978 film)Jennifer is a 1978 horror film directed by Brice Mack, starring Lisa Pelikan. The story has some similarities to the 1976 classic Carrie, about a social misfit with psychic powers who gets revenge on her cruel classmates. The original music score is composed by Porter Jordan. The film's tagline is:...
(1978) as Jennifer Baylor - Perfect Gentlemen (1978) (TV) Annie Cavagnaro
- The Best of Families (1977) (TV) as Mary Margaret Rafferty
- Julia (1977) as Young Julia
- The Blue HotelThe Blue Hotel"The Blue Hotel" is a short story by American author Stephen Crane . The story first appeared in the 1899 collection entitled The Monster and Other Stories...
(1977) (TV) as Younger Daughter - I Want to Keep My Baby (1976) (TV) as Miranda
- Valley ForgeValley Forge (play)Valley Forge is a 1934 play by Maxwell Anderson, about the winter that George Washington spent in Valley Forge. Philip Merivale played Washington in the original production, and Richard Basehart played him in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television version....
(1975) (TV) as Tavis - The Country GirlThe Country GirlThe Country Girl may refer to:* The Country Girl , a 1915 silent film, based on an 18th-century play by David Garrick* The Country Girl , a 1954 film based on a play by Clifford Odets, starring Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly...
(1973) (TV) as Nancy