Robyn Elaine Lively Johnson (born February 7, 1972) 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.
people.comEarly life
Robyn Elaine Lively was born on 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 (né Brown) in 1979. She was later adopted by Ernie, who 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
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 a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as an insecure teen in the 1991 ABC Afterschool Special episode "Less Than Perfect Daughter". 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
Lively married fellow actor Bart Johnson on September 25, 1999.8 The couple have three children: Baylen, Kate, and Wyatt Blake.
Filmography
Film
| 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
| 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–present | 9-1-1: Lone Star | Marlene Harris | Recurring role (season 3-5) |
| 2022 | Cobra Kai | Jessica Andrews | Episode: "Extreme Measures" |
| 2024 | Lioness | Senator Albright | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Landman | Ellie | 3 episodes |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Return to Zork | Fairy |
Award nominations
| 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 |
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robyn Lively.References
"Lively, Robyn 1972–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved June 2, 2022. https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/lively-robyn-1972 ↩
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. https://archive.org/details/mcalpinegenealog00russ ↩
"Blake Lively's Siblings: All About Her Brothers and Sisters". Peoplemag. Retrieved September 3, 2024. https://people.com/all-about-blake-lively-siblings-7972464 ↩
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. https://www.wideopencountry.com/blake-lively-sister-robyn-lively/ ↩
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. https://player.fm/series/below-the-belt-show/interview-actress-robyn-lively-from-teen-witch-and-karate-kid-iii ↩
Dilillo, John (September 9, 2022). "Why 'Cobra Kai' Brought Back 'Karate Kid III' Character Jessice Andrews". TUDUM. Retrieved September 2, 2024. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/why-cobra-kai-brought-back-a-surprise-karate-kid-iii-character ↩
Patton, Tess (August 9, 2024). "'It Ends With Us' Cast and Character Guide | Photos". TheWrap. Retrieved September 3, 2024. https://www.thewrap.com/it-ends-with-us-cast-characters-photos/ ↩
"Happy Anniversary (Instagram)". September 26, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/BZg63RKFyvh/?ig_rid=02ac48d6-0b92-413d-bb45-761012b285f7 ↩