Debbie Harry is an American singer and actress who first came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the rock band Blondie in the late 1970s. She subsequently began appearing in art films for Amos Poe, like The Foreigner, before having her first leading role in the neo-noir film Union City (1980). She next starred opposite James Woods in David Cronenberg's body horror film Videodrome (1983), and had a supporting role in Forever, Lulu (1987). She garnered further notice for her role as Velma Von Tussle in John Waters's satirical dance film Hairspray (1988).
In the 1990s, Harry occasionally starred in independent films, including two films directed by James Mangold, Heavy (1995) and Cop Land (1997). In the 2000s, Harry continued to appear in supporting roles in independent features, with roles in Deuces Wild, Spun (both 2002), and My Life Without Me (2003). In 2008, she appeared in a minor part in Elegy.
In addition to film, Harry has appeared in several television series, including Tales from the Darkside (1987), The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1992), the animated series Phantom 2040 (1994–1995), and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996).
Filmography +Key Denotes works that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 Deadly Hero Singer Uncredited; appears alongside Chris Stein 1976 Unmade Beds Blondie 1978 Dee Trik 1980 Union City Lillian Roadie Herself 1981 Downtown 81 Fairy godmother 1982 Wild Style Herself Segment: "The Party" 1983 Videodrome Nicki Brand 1984 Rock & Rule Angel (singing voice) Terror in the Aisles Nicki Brand Archival footage 1987 Forever, Lulu Lulu 1988 Satisfaction Tina Hairspray Velma Von Tussle 1989 New York Stories Girl at Blind Alley Segment: "Life Lessons" 1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Betty Segment: "The Wraparound Story" Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe Television film 1991 Anneka (voice) Short film Intimate Stranger Cory Wheeler Television film 1993 Body Bags The Nurse Television film; segment: "Hair" 1994 Rakthavira Narrator Short film Dead Beat Mrs. Kurtz 1995 Heavy Delores Sandman Short film 1996 Drop Dead Rock Thor Sturmundrang 1997 Cop Land Delores the bartender Six Ways to Sunday Kate Odum L.A. Johns Madam "Jacq" Jacqueline Television film 1998 Joe's Day 1999 Zoo Dorothy, the waitress 2000 Red Lipstick Ezmeralda 2001 Marcella 2002 Deuces Wild Wendy Spun Neighbor All I Want Ma Mabley 2003 My Life Without Me Ann's mother A Good Night to Die Madison Fastidieux 2005 Honey Trap The Lawyer Short film Patch Belinda Short film I Remember You Now... Margaret Short film 2006 Full Grown Men Beauty 2007 Anamorph Neighbor 2008 Elegy Amy O'Hearn 2009 Simone Short film 2011 Pipe Dreams Norah Short film 2012 Believe the Magic Herself Short film 2014 River of Fundament Singing wake guest 2018 Bad Reputation Herself Documentary film 2019 Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews Herself Documentary film Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 Herself Episode: "Debbie Harry" 1981 Saturday Night Live Host Season 6, Episode 10 1987 Saturday Night Live Musical Guest Season 12, Episode 9 Andy Warhol's 15 Minutes Herself Episode 4 Crime Story Bambi Episode: "Top of the World" Tales from the Darkside Sybil Episode: "The Moth" 1989 Wiseguy Diana Price 3 episodes 1991 Monsters Dr. Moss Episode: "Desirable Alien" 1992 Neighbor Episode: "New Year's Pete" 1993 TriBeCa Cat Episode: "The Loft" 1994–1995 Phantom 2040 Vaingloria (voice) 10 episodes 1996 Sabrina the Teenage Witch Cassandra Episode: "Pilot" 2002 Absolutely Fabulous Herself Episode: "Gay" 2015–2016 Difficult People Kiki 2 episodes 2016 RuPaul's Drag Race Herself (guest judge) Episode: "New Wave Queens" 2020 High Fidelity Herself Episode: "What Fucking Lily Girl?"
Video games Year Title Role Notes 1993 Double Switch Elizabeth Live action 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Doris Voice
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