Born in Brooklyn, Jessica Walter was raised in Queens, New York and graduated from Manhattan’s High School of Performing Arts. In the early 1960s, she was taught alongside James Caan and Christopher Lloyd at NYC’s Neighborhood Playhouse before getting her big break, a ordinary role on the soap opera Love of Life. She appeared on the show from 1962 to 1965. She also had a persistent role on Trapper John, M.D. as Melanie McIntyre, Trapper John’s ex-wife.
Her first notable film role was in the 1971 movie Play Misty for Me, in which she played a psychotic young woman stalking a disc jockey (played by Clint Eastwood). Walter’s other film credits from that era include Lilith, Grand Prix, The Group, Bye Bye Braverman, and Number One.
She was the producers’ primary choice for the role of “Alexis Carrington” in the primetime soap opera Dynasty.
In 1983, she had a part in the short-lived NBC prime time soap opera Bare Essence as “Ava Marshall”.
Since then, Walter has worked regularly in television and theater, though she did make an appearance in the 1994 film PCU. In the nineties, Walter lent her voice to Fran Sinclair on the ABC comedy Dinosaurs, and appeared on “Just Shoot Me!” as Eve Gallo, the mother of Maya and the ex-wife of magazine publisher Jack Gallo (George Segal).
From 2003 to 2006, she appeared in a regular role as the scheming socialite matriarch Lucille Bluth on FOX’s critically acclaimed comedy series, Arrested Development. Despite her credible portrayal of Lucille (in 2005, Walter received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role), the actress has maintained that “I’m nothing like Lucille. Nothing. My daughter will tell you. I’m really a very nice, boring person.” Walter will be seen next on the 2008 version of Beverly Hills 90210 Spin Off.
Walter’s daughter, Brooke, was born in 1975. Since 1983, Walter has been married to actor Ron Leibman, with whom she co-starred in Neil Simon’s play Rumors. They also appeared together as husband and wife in the film Dummy and in the TV Series Law & Order in the episode, “House Counsel.