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Robyn Lively

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robyn Lively
Lively in November 2014
Born
Robyn Elaine Lively

(1972-02-07) February 7, 1972 (age 52)
OccupationActress
Years active1977–present
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse
(m. 1999)
Children3
FatherErnie Lively (step-father)
RelativesJason Lively (brother)
Lori Lively (sister)
Eric Lively (half-brother)
Blake Lively (half-sister)
Ryan Reynolds (brother-in-law)

Robyn Elaine Lively Johnson (born February 7, 1972)[1] is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the 1989 films Teen Witch and The Karate Kid Part III, as well as the TV shows Doogie Howser, M.D., Twin Peaks, Savannah, and Saving Grace.

Early life

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Robyn Elaine Lively was born February 7, 1972 to talent manager Elaine Lively (née McAlpin) and her first husband Ronald Otis Lively.[2] Her older siblings are sister Lori and brother Jason Lively.

Following her parents divorce, her mother married acting coach Ernie Lively in 1979. She was later adopted by Ernie, whom is the father of her younger half siblings, Eric and Blake Lively.[3] Her mother, adoptive father, and all four siblings are or have been in the entertainment industry.

Career

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Lively began her career as a child actress: at age six, she made her screen debut in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier in 1978. Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in several television shows including Silver Spoons, Punky Brewster and Starman. She appeared in the feature films Wildcats, The Karate Kid Part III, Teen Witch, and Not Quite Human.[4]

After she was cast as Jessica Andrews in The Karate Kid Part III in 1989, producers were forced to modify her role of protagonist Daniel LaRusso's new love interest because Lively was only 16 at the time of filming and still a minor while Ralph Macchio was 27 (although his character Daniel is 17). This situation caused romantic scenes between Jessica and Daniel to be rewritten so that the pair only developed a close friendship.[5] In 2022, Lively reprised her role as Jessica Andrews in the fifth season of Cobra Kai, where it is revealed that Daniel is married to her cousin, Amanda.[6]

At 19, Lively was nominated for an Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as an insecure teen in the 1991 ABC Afterschool Special episode "Less Than Perfect Daughter".[citation needed] In the 1990s she had recurring roles on Twin Peaks, Doogie Howser, M.D., and Chicago Hope. In 1996 she appeared as Lane McKenzie, one of three lead characters in the short-lived WB drama Savannah.

In 2003 Lively played NCIS Special Agent Vivian Blackadder in the JAG episodes "Ice Queen" and "Meltdown" (the backdoor pilot for NCIS).

In 2008 Lively appeared alongside Holly Hunter in an episode of Saving Grace and also had a role in Cold Case. In 2010 she appeared alongside Twin Peaks costars in the Dual Spires episode of Psych and starred in the TV series Gortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street for Amazon Studios as Gortimer Gibbon's mother, Claire.

In 2020, Lively starred in the thriller Through the Glass Darkly which premiered at the Frameline Film Festival on September 19, 2020.

She appeared in the 2024 romantic drama film, It Ends with Us as Ms. Byland. The film starred and was produced by her sister, Blake.[7]

Personal life

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Lively and her husband Bart Johnson in 2011

Lively married fellow actor Bart Johnson on September 25, 1999.[8] The couple have three children: Baylen, Kate, and Wyatt Blake.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Best of Times Jaki
Wildcats Alice Needham
1988 Buckeye and Blue Buckeye Thatcher
1989 The Karate Kid Part III Jessica Andrews
Teen Witch Louise Miller
1995 Dream a Little Dream 2 Rachel Holfield
2006 Simon Says Leanne
2007 7-10 Split Diane Burke
A Dance for Bethany Abbey
2008 The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Winds of Change Nancy Stratemeyer Uncredited
Murder.Com Lauren
2010 Letters to God Maddy Doherty
2011 Sironia Barbara
Brother's Keeper Macaire Leemaster
2014 Ouija Mrs. Galardi
2015 Chasing Ghosts Lydia Simmons
2017 Small Town Crime Deborah Nevile
2020 Through the Glass Darkly Charlie
2023 National Anthem Fiona
Best Clowns Donna
2024 Someone Like You Dr. Jenny Allen
Ganymede Floy Fletcher
It Ends with Us Ms. Byland

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Summer of My German Soldier Sharon Bergen TV movie
1983 Boone Amanda Episode: "Words and Music"
1984 Knight Rider Becky Phillips Episode: "Race for Life"
Punky Brewster Lisa Episodes: "Punky Finds a Home: Part 2", "… Part 3"
1985 The New Leave It to Beaver Tracy 2 episodes
1986 Fuzzbucket Stevie Gerber TV movie
Silver Spoons Tammy Episode: "The Beach House"
Starman Beth McGovern Episode: "Like Father, Like Son"
Amazing Stories Kate Episode: "Welcome to My Nightmare"
1987 Not Quite Human Becky Carson TV movie
1988 The Dictator Reggie Domino Episode: "1.1"
1989 21 Jump Street Helen Ackerly Episode: "Mike's P.O.V."
Not Quite Human II Becky Carson TV movie
1990 Teen Angel Returns Cindy Main cast (as Robyn Elaine Lively)
Parker Lewis Can't Lose Tracy Lee Summers Episode: "G.A.G. Dance"
1990–91 Twin Peaks Lana Budding Milford Recurring role (season 2)
1991 ABC Afterschool Special Melissa Harmon Episode: "The Less Than Perfect Daughter"
Crazy from the Heart Franny Peyton TV movie
1991–93 Doogie Howser, M.D. Nurse Michele Farber Recurring role (seasons 2, 4)
1992 In Sickness and in Health Holly TV movie
Freshman Dorm Molly Flynn Main cast
1993 Quantum Leap Annie Wilkins Episode: "Dr. Ruth"
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Nancy Stratemeyer Episode: "Princeton, February 1916"
Precious Victims Wendy McBride TV movie
Against the Grain Jill Clemons Recurring role
1994–95 Chicago Hope Nurse Maggie Atkisson 8 episodes
1996 The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father Nancy Stratemeyer TV movie
1996–97 Savannah Lane McKenzie Collins Main cast
1997 Early Edition Jenny Sloane Episode: "Jenny Sloane"
1997–98 George and Leo Casey Wagonman #2 Main cast replacement
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Penelope Michaels Episode: "How Long Has This Been Going On?"
1999 The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Spring Break Adventure Nancy Stratemeyer TV movie (episode ""Princeton, February 1916" with new connecting segment)
The X-Files Angela Schiff Episode: "Field Trip"
Sam Churchill: Search for a Homeless Man Laura Anders TV movie
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Sophie Calloway Episode: "Thinking of You/Mama's Soup Pot/The Letter"
Santa Who? Claire Dreyer TV movie
2002 The District Jodi Episode: "The Greenhouse Effect"
Another Pretty Face Andrea 'Andie' Chase TV movie
2003 Crossing Jordan Connie Episode: "Pandora's Trunk: Part 1"
JAG NCIS Special Agent Vivian Blackadder 2-part episode: "Ice Queen" / "Meltdown"
The Drew Carey Show Erin Episode: "A Speedy Recovery"
American Dreams Sister Grace 2 episodes
2004 Strong Medicine Connie Episode: "Positive Results"
2005 Mystery Woman: Snapshot Madeline TV movie
CSI: NY Sarah Myers Episode: "Manhattan Manhunt"
2006 Nip/Tuck Miss Hudson Episode: "Willy Ward"
2007 Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board Carla TV movie
Cold Case Miriam Gunden Episode: "Running Around"
Saving Grace Darlene Dewey Episode: "And You Wonder Why I Lie"
2008 Criminal Minds Abby Corbin Episode: "Paradise"
30 Rock Kelsey Winthrop Episode: "Reunion"
Saving Grace Darlene Dewey 2 episodes
2009 Alligator Point Gina TV movie
2010 The Mentalist Sadie Harrington Episode: "Red All Over"
Psych Michelle Barker Episode: "Dual Spires"
2011 Who Is Simon Miller? Meredith Miller TV movie
2012 Longmire Connie Mallery Episode: "A Good Death is Hard to Find"
2013 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Kerry Episode: "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot"
2014 Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street Claire Gibbon Main cast
2018 Hawaii Five-0 Helen Meech Episode: "O na hoku o ka lani wale no kai 'ike i kahi o Pae"
Code Black Pamela Kessler Episode: "Home Stays Home"
2019 The Good Doctor Diane Monroe Episode: "Risk and Reward”
Dwight in Shining Armor Lady Ermingarde Episode: "Dragon"
Into the Dark Val Episode: "They Come Knocking"
The Affair Lauren Episode: #5.2
Light as a Feather Deb Brady Recurring role (season 2)
2020 The Rookie Mrs. Dayton Episode: "Now and Then"
All Rise Nancy Frost 2 episodes
2022-2023 9-1-1: Lone Star Marlene Harris Recurring role (season 3)
2022 Cobra Kai Jessica Andrews Episode: "Extreme Measures"

Video games

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Year Title Role
1993 Return to Zork Fairy

Award nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1984 Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a New Television Series Boone Nominated
1985 Best Young Actress - Guest in a Television Series Knight Rider Nominated
1987 Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film - Comedy or Drama Wildcats Nominated
1989 Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture Teen Witch Nominated
1991 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special ABC Afterschool Special

(Episode: "The Less Than Perfect Daughter")

Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Lively, Robyn 1972–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  2. ^ McAlpin Russell, Doris (1990). McAlpin(e) genealogies, 1730-1990: Alexander McAlpin of South Carolina and Georgia and his descendants, plus other McAlpin(e) families of North America. Gateway Press. Ronald Otis Lively.
  3. ^ "Blake Lively's Siblings: All About Her Brothers and Sisters". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  4. ^ Blackwood, Emily (February 29, 2024). "Inside Blake Lively's Close Bond With Her Older Sister, Former '80's Child Star Robyn Lively". Wide Open Country. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Below the Belt Show (October 25, 2017). "Below the Belt Show: Interview: Actress Robyn Lively from Teen Witch and Karate Kid III (10/25/17)". Player FM. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Dilillo, John (September 9, 2022). "Why 'Cobra Kai' Brought Back 'Karate Kid III' Character Jessice Andrews". TUDUM. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Patton, Tess (August 9, 2024). "'It Ends With Us' Cast and Character Guide | Photos". TheWrap. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "Happy Anniversary (Instagram)". September 26, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
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