Tara Buckman is an American film and television actress whose career spanned from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. She became a familiar presence on both the small and big screens, appearing in a wide range of popular television series and feature films across multiple genres.

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Buckman began her acting journey in Hollywood with guest appearances on acclaimed TV dramas and series during the late 1970s. In these early years, she showcased her versatility with roles in shows such as The Rockford Files, Kojak, CHiPs, The Hardy Boys Mysteries, Quincy, M.E., Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and more, earning recognition for her captivating screen presence and adaptability.

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She secured recurring television work as Officer Brandy Ames on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo and later as Norma Kirkland on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives from 1984–1985, demonstrating her ability to engage audiences in both comedic and dramatic roles.

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Buckman also appeared in several television films of the era, including Death Car on the Freeway and The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, expanding her profile beyond episodic television.

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On the big screen, Buckman is perhaps best known for her role as Jill Rivers in the 1981 ensemble action-comedy The Cannonball Run, a cult favorite that featured an all-star cast led by Burt Reynolds and has remained a beloved piece of pop culture cinema.

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She continued to build her filmography throughout the 1980s and early 1990s with a mix of genre films and cult titles. Notable credits include the controversial horror film Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), roles in Snowballing (1984), Never Too Young to Die (1986), Terminal Exposure (1987), Blue Angel Cafe (1989), High Finance Woman (1990), and her most recent significant film role as Dr. Julie Casserly in the sci-fi sequel Xtro II: The Second Encounter (1991).

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Though she stepped back from acting in the mid-1990s, Buckman’s varied body of work across television and film reflects a dynamic career marked by memorable performances in both mainstream and cult entertainment.