Actress.  A blonde character actor,  she usually portrayed brassy sidekicks or tough businesswomen.  She appeared in the films “Murder a la Mod” (1968),  “The Wedding Party” (1969),  “Moment by Moment” (1978),  “E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind” (1984),  “Desert Hearts” (1985),  “Just Between Friends” (1986),  “Odd Jobs” (1986),  and “Nothing in Common” (1986), as well as the  television movies “Copacabana” (1985) and “Killer in the Mirror” (1986). She also appeared in guest roles in a number of popular television shows: “Police Woman”,  “Charlie’s Angels”,  “Baretta”,  “Taxi”,  “Dallas”, “Moonlighting”,  and others.  In 1986, after retiring from acting, she founded the International Synergy Institute, later called the Essence Institute, a multidisciplinary think tank in Los Angeles, California. Her death was due to surgical complications. (bio by: Jen Snoots)  Family links:  Parents:  Anthony Boyce Akers (1914 – 1976)  Jane Pope Ridgway (1917 – 2011)