Donna Gail Pescow(born March 24, 1954) is an American film and television actress anddirector.She is known for her roles as Annette in the 1977 filmSaturday Night Fever,Angie Falco-Benson in the 1979–1980 sitcomAngie,Donna Garland in the sitcomOut of This Worldand Eileen Stevens in theDisney ChannelsitcomEven Stevens.
Donna Pescow | |
|---|---|
 Pescow in 2023 | |
| Born | Donna Gail Pescow March 24, 1954 |
| Education | Sheepshead Bay High School |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Known for | Out of This World Angie Even Stevens Saturday Night Fever |
| Spouse |
Arnold Zelonka (m.1987) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editPescow was born inBrooklyn,New York,on March 24, 1954, into aJewishfamily.[1][2][3]Her father Marty owned and ran a newsstand in downtownManhattanat 17 Battery Place. Pescow attendedSheepshead Bay High Schoolin Brooklyn and studied at theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts.Around 1973, she had a leading role in anOff-off Broadwaymusical entitledPoor Old Fool,though it closed after just a few weeks.
Career
editIn 1977, Pescow played Annette in theJohn TravoltafilmSaturday Night Fever.To prepare for the role, she had to relearn her Brooklyn accent, which she had significantly reduced for professional reasons. For this role, she was theNew York Film Critics' third-place choice for their award for Best Supporting Actress.[2]
Also in 1977, Pescow joined the cast of theABCsoap operaOne Life to Live,portraying Celena Arquette. The role proved to be brief, lasting less than a year, but it helped to launch her television career, including roles on two other ABC soap operas in later years.
In 1978, Pescow portrayed one ofJudy Garland's older sisters in the television biographical filmRainbow,directed byJackie Cooper.
She appeared as a celebrity panelist onMatch Gamein 1978.
Pescow starred in her own television series,Angie,which ran for two seasons from 1979 to 1980 on ABC. Her primary castmates wereRobert Hays,Debralee Scott,and fellow New YorkerDoris Roberts.
In 1982, Pescow was cast in the role of Dr. Lynn Carson, the firstlesbianon a daytimeserial,on the soap operaAll My Children,which she played until 1983.[4][5]After her run onAll My Childrenended, Pescow landed the role of Donna Garland in thefirst-run syndicationchildren's comedy seriesOut of This Worldin 1987, starring withMaureen FlanniganandJoe Alaskey.She stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1991.
AfterOut of This Worldended, Pescow went on to a series of smaller roles before returning to prominent television roles. She made guest appearances on the showsClueless,NYPD Blue,PaulyandIvory Tower,and in the 1998 television filmDead Husbands.
Pescow appeared on the ABC soap operaGeneral Hospitalfrom 1999 to 2001 as the villainous Gertrude Morgan, the evil aunt of Chloe Morgan (Tava Smiley). In 2001, Smiley was released from herGeneral Hospitalcontract and Pescow's character was written out. During her run onGeneral Hospital,Pescow also had a small role in the television filmPartnersand guest starred on the television seriesPhilly.
In 1999,Disneycontacted Pescow about appearing in a half-hour youth sitcom for the network. A pilot was filmed in 2000, and the series went on to becomeEven Stevens.It aired for three seasons onDisney Channel,from 2000 to 2003. She also directed three episodes of the series, which became a flagship for the network. After the series ended in 2003, Pescow and the rest of the cast returned for the finale filmThe Even Stevens Movie.
After taking several years off followingEven Stevens,Pescow appeared in the filmOne Sung HeroalongsideNicole Sullivan.She then took another brief break from acting, but she did appear in a 2006 episode ofCrossing Jordan.In 2007, Pescow appeared inthe series finaleofThe SopranosasDonna Parisi,the wife of mobsterPatsy Parisi.
In 2023, Pescow made a cameo appearance alongside John Travolta in aCapital OneChristmas ad, as the cashier in a shoe store that Santa (Travolta) visits.[citation needed]
Filmography
edit- 2023:Welcome to Chippendales(TV series) - Bridget (Jewellery Store) (episode: "February 31st" )
- 2017:The Flash(TV series) – Dr. Sharon Finkel (episode: "When Harry Met Harry..." )
- 2017:New Girl(TV series) – Priscilla (episode: "San Diego" )
- 2013:Holiday Road Trip(TV movie) – Margaret
- 2012:Operation Cupcake(TV movie) – Sheila
- 2010:Cold Case(TV series) – Nancy Kent '10
- 2007:The Sopranos(TV series) –Donna Parisi
- 2007:Crossing Jordan(TV series) – Debbie's Mother
- 2006:One Sung Hero(short) – Karen
- 2003:The Even Stevens Movie(TV movie) – Eileen Stevens
- 2002:Philly(TV series) – Ronnie Garfield
- 2000:Even Stevens(TV series) – Eileen Stevens / Bubbie Rose, 65 episodes (2000–2003)
- 2000:Partners(TV movie) – Bob's Wife
- 1999:General Hospital(TV series) – Gertrude Morgan (1999–2001)
- 1998:Dead Husbands(TV movie) – Rosemary Monroe
- 1998:Ivory Tower– Bonnie Benitez
- 1997:Pauly(TV series) – Ariana
- 1997:NYPD Blue(TV series) – Mrs. Carol Buono
- 1997:Clueless(TV series) – Sheila Kendall
- 1996:Nash Bridges(TV series) (episode: "Hit Parade" )
- 1994:Kenny Kingston Psychic Hotline(paid programming) withTed Lange
- 1987:Glory Years(TV movie) – Norma
- 1986:Jake Speed– Wendy
- 1987:Out of This World(TV series) – Donna Garland (Main Role), 96 episodes (1987–1991)
- 1986:Murder, She Wrote(TV series) – Cornelia
- 1985:Mr. Belvedere(TV series) – Candy
- 1985:Obsessed with a Married Woman(TV movie) – Susan
- 1984:Finder of Lost Loves(TV series) – Anne Sherman
- 1983:Hotel(TV series) – Cathy Connelly / Gloria Beck / Susan Garfield (1983–1987)
- 1983:Fantasy Island(TV series) – Carol Bowen / Paula Santino (1983–1984)
- 1983:All My Children(TV series) – Dr. Lynn Carson
- 1983:Policewoman Centerfold(TV movie) – Sissy Owens
- 1983:Trapper John, M.D.(TV series) – Linda D'Amico
- 1982:Cassie & Co.(TV series)
- 1982:The Day the Bubble Burst(TV movie) – Gloria Block
- 1981:Advice to the Lovelorn(TV movie) – Janice Vernon
- 1979:The Love Boat(TV series) – Connie / Gwen Winters S2 E18/ Irene (1979–1986)
- 1979:Angie(TV series) – Angie Falco Benson, 36 episodes (1979–1980)
- 1978:Rainbow(TV movie) – Jinnie Gumm
- 1978:Human Feelings(TV movie) – Gloria Prentice
- 1977:One Life to Live(TV series) – Celena Arquette
- 1977:Saturday Night Fever– Annette
References
edit- ^Harris, Harry (January 18, 1980)."Change Of 'Angie' Just Another Move In Spiraling Career".St. Petersburg Independent.p. 4B.RetrievedJune 10,2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^abWilson, Earl (January 18, 1978)."Travolta Keeps His Head".Boca Raton News.p. 6B.RetrievedJune 10,2018.
- ^Inman, David.The TV Encyclopedia.New York: Perigee, 1991. Print.
- ^Newcomb, Roger."Flashback: Gay Characters on Soaps 1983 & 1989".
- ^""All My Children" says goodbye – and we say thanks ".AfterEllen.September 22, 2011.
