Donna Pescow Biography: Age, Husband, Son, Net Worth, Height, Movies & TV Shows

Donna Gail Pescow is an American actress and director best known for her role as Annette in the 1977 blockbuster Saturday Night Fever, which launched her career, and for starring in television series such as Angie, Out of This World, and Even Stevens.

Her portrayal of Annette, a Brooklyn girl with dreams of escaping her roots, earned her a New York Film Critics Circle nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Profile

• Full Name: Donna Gail Pescow
• Stage Name: Donna Pescow
• Born: 24, March 1954
• Age: 71 years old
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Director
• Height: 1.68m
• Parents: Marty Pescow, Rhoda Epstein
• Siblings: Sharon Pescow
• Spouse: Arnold Zelonka (m. 1987)
• Children: Jack Casey Zelonka
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Donna Gail Pescow was born on March 24, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York, to Marty Pescow, a newsstand owner in downtown Manhattan, and Rhoda Epstein. She grew up with her elder sister, Sharon, in a Jewish family of Russian descent.

Her parents divorced when she was six, and her mother later married Irving Epstein.

She attended Sheepshead Bay High School in Brooklyn, where she took drama classes alongside Rocky co-star Carl Weathers, and later graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in 1975. She further honed her craft under the tutelage of Lee Strasberg in New York City.

Career

Donna Pescow began her career on stage, landing a featured role in the national touring company of Ah! Wilderness alongside Barbara Bel Geddes and Richard Kiley after graduating from AADA. In 1973, she starred in the Off-off-Broadway musical Poor Old Fool, though it closed after a few weeks.

Her breakthrough came in 1977 when she auditioned six times for the role of Annette in Saturday Night Fever, relearning her Brooklyn accent to portray the character authentically. The film’s success, grossing $237.1 million, propelled her to fame and earned her a New York Film Critics Circle nomination for Best Supporting Actress. That same year, she joined the ABC soap opera One Life to Live as Celena Arquette, marking the start of her television career.

Pescow’s career flourished in the late 1970s and 1980s with her starring role as Angie Falco-Benson in the ABC sitcom Angie (1979–1980), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series and a People’s Choice Award nomination. She made history in 1982–1983 as Dr. Lynn Carson on All My Children, playing the first lesbian character on daytime television, a role that won her a Media Award from the Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Artists (AGLA) for its sensitive portrayal.

From 1987 to 1991, she starred as Donna Garland in the syndicated sci-fi sitcom Out of This World, showcasing her comedic talent as the mother of a half-alien teenager. Her stage work during this period included performances in A…My Name is Alice, Grease, Guys & Dolls, and Wendy Wasserstein’s Isn’t It Romantic.

Pescow’s versatility continued into the 2000s with her role as Eileen Stevens in the Disney Channel sitcom Even Stevens (2000–2003), where she also directed three episodes, earning three Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series. She reprised her role in The Even Stevens Movie (2003).

Her later work includes guest appearances on The Sopranos (2007), The Flash (2017–2018), and Truth Be Told (2021), as well as films like Carol of the Bells (2019) and a 2023 Capital One Christmas commercial reuniting her with John Travolta. Pescow’s enduring presence in television, film, and theater, along with her cabaret performances in New York and Los Angeles, reflects her multifaceted talent and dedication to the arts.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @donnapescow

Personal Life

Donna Pescow married advertising executive Arnold Zelonka in November 1987, and the couple welcomed their son, Jack Casey Zelonka, in 1989. They reside in Los Angeles, where Pescow maintains a private life focused on family and philanthropy.

A dedicated animal lover, she actively supports animal welfare and adoption programs. Her passion for giving back extends to various charitable causes, and she is known for her humor and warmth in public appearances, often surprising fans with witty remarks.

Filmography

• Saturday Night Fever (1977)
• Rainbow (1978)
• Advice to the Lovelorn (1981)
• The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)
• Policewoman Centerfold (1983)
• Obsessed with a Married Woman (1985)
• Jake Speed (1986)
• Glory Years (1987)
• Ivory Tower (1998)
• Dead Husbands (1998)
• The Even Stevens Movie (2003)
• One Sung Hero (2006)
• Holiday Road Trip (2013)
• Carol of the Bells (2019)

Net Worth

Donna Pescow has an estimated net worth of $2 million. Her wealth stems from her extensive acting career, including her iconic role in Saturday Night Fever, starring roles in sitcoms like Angie, Out of This World, and Even Stevens, and her work as a director.