Jessica Wesson

Jessica Wesson (born January 1, 1982) is a retired American actress. She is best known for her recurring role as Jennifer Sudarsky, Brad's (Zachery Ty Bryan) first girlfriend on the sitcom Home Improvement, and having supporting roles in the Universal films Casper and Flipper in the 1990s.

The birth of Wesson's acting career and her eventual rise to fame was no doubt influenced in part by a hometown community steeped in the fine arts. She was raised in Florence, Alabama, one of the quad-cities in the northwest region of the state commonly known as "the Shoals." The other cities include Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. Muscle Shoals is home to FAME Studios, which has been frequented by major recording artists for decades. Sheffield is the location of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, also frequented by recording artists. It was founded by four musicians called The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section--also known as "The Swampers"--about which reference was made in the lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama. Tuscumbia is home to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. It is also the location of Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, in whose honor an annual festival is held and local actors present the beloved play The Miracle Worker. In Florence, the dramatic arts are a daily feature of The Renaissance Fair, which is held in downtown Wilson Park each autumn. Florence is also the birthplace of W.C. Handy. The city hosts a festival each August to celebrate his life and music career.

The fine arts have traditionally been so celebrated in the Shoals that local high school students could elect to be on a fine arts diploma track, to expand their portfolios and prepare to become professional artists. But by the time Wesson entered high school, she had already achieved significant professional acting success and celebrity status in Hollywood. When she wasn't on-set for television and film roles, Wesson enjoyed life as a typical teen. She was well-liked by her peers and was a member of The Nenon Club of Florence, an all-girls social club. At Coffee High School, she was on the yearbook staff for The Coffee Pot. Among students honored in the categories of "Who's Who" in her senior class, she was selected by her peers as "Runway Worthy." Wesson graduated from Coffee in 1998. The school was later merged with what was its former rival high school in Florence (Bradshaw High School) to create Florence High School. Over the years, the fine arts department within Florence High School has further expanded and now boasts the Florence Academy of Fine Arts (FAFA). Local young actors in the Academy remain inspired by Wesson's acting career.

In 1993 and 1997, Wesson was nominated for a Young Artist Award[1] for Home Improvement and Flipper. She also co-starred in the film Milk Money (1994).[2]

Wesson also guest starred in the television series Baywatch, Boy Meets World and Odd Man Out. In 2001, she had a recurring role as Katie Albright on Judging Amy. Her last acting credit was a role in the 2001 film Longshot.[2]