Hyser appeared in various films in the early 1980s, the last of which — Just One of the Guys (1985) — achieved some cult status. She then mainly guest-starred in TV shows, including a recurring role in L.A. Law as Jimmy Smits's girlfriend. Hyser was interested in the role of Dr. Melfi on The Sopranos, but the role went to Lorraine Bracco. In the early 1990s, Hyser stopped appearing on TV in favor of once more making movies and screenwriting
