Jen Harper | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jennifer Harper [1] |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1989–present |
Jen Harper is an American actress, known for her roles in television series In the Heat of the Night and Greenleaf .
Harper was born in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Spelman College in Medicine 1975, and later trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. [2] She later began performing on stage, appearing in A Midsummer Night's Dream in London, and later returned to United States. [3] From 1990 to 1994, Harper had a recurring role as Dr. Winona Day in the police drama series, In the Heat of the Night . [2] [3] Since then, Harper performed in many productions on Jomandi Theater, Horizon, Seven Stages the Alliance Theater, Theater in the Square, The Springer Opera House and Theatrical Outfit. [4]
In 2010s, Harper returned to television appearing in series, such as Drop Dead Diva , Born Again Virgin and Being Mary Jane . From 2016 to 2020 she played Deacon Connie Sykes in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Greenleaf . She also had a recurring role in the Bounce TV prime time soap opera, Saints & Sinners in 2018. In 2019, Harper starred in the comedy film, A Madea Family Funeral directed by Tyler Perry. [5] [6] In 2020, Harper appeared in the Holiday romantic comedy film, Cooking Up Christmas for Oprah Winfrey Network, [7] [8] and was regular cast member during the first season of Urban Movie Channel horror-anthology series, Terror Lake Drive . In 2021, she appeared in another made-for-television Holiday film, Kirk Franklin's A Gospel Christmas for Lifetime. [9] [10] Harper later was cast in a recurring roles in Black Mafia Family and Zatima .