During the height of her career, Branigan also made acting appearances, first in 1981 in "An American Girl in Berlin" for West German television, and then after the success of "Gloria", guest appearances on American television series such as "CHiPs" ("Fox Trap", season 6, episode 16, in which she played Sarah, lead singer of the female rock band Cadillac Foxes), "Automan" and "Knight Rider". She would later appear in independent films including "Mugsy's Girls" (aka "Delta Pi", 1985) with Academy Awards winner Ruth Gordon, and the Australian film "Backstage". She sang on major national television and radio campaigns for products including Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola and Chrysler, which sponsored her 1985–1986 "Hold Me" tour.