Sheila Kelley
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
A talented, poised and pretty young performer of film and TV since the late 1980s, Sheila Kelley turned to acting after a congenital hip condition dimmed her hopes for a career as a professional dancer. Spontaneous yet disciplined, Kelley has received good notices in both comedies and dramas. She was widely seen in a recurring role as cunning legal secretary Gwen Taylor late in the run of the popular legal drama "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1990-93). For the final season of the NBC drama "Sisters" (NBC, 1995-96), Kelley assumed the role of Charley from actress Jo Anderson.
Kelley first registered on screen in "Some Girls" (1988) as the eldest of three beautiful sisters who get intimate with Patrick Dempsey. She soon followed with a small part in "Staying Together" (1989), actor-director Lee Grant's comedy-drama of small-town family life. Substantial supporting roles followed in Bill Forsyth's quirky Burt Reynolds vehicle "Breaking In" (1989), as the poetic call girl/girlfriend ("What would I do with your balls were they mine?") of Casey Siemaszko, and in John Boorman's underrated "Where the Heart Is" (1990), as a grad student going for a masters in paranormal religion. Kelley also fared well amid the bright young ensemble of "Singles" (1993), as a lovelorn woman.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1963
Born in Greenberg, Pennsylvania
1979
Moved to NYC at age 16 (date approximate)
1987
Feature debut, a small part in the British teen comedy "Wish You Were Here"
1987
TV-movie debut, "Tonight's the Night", an ABC comedy-drama about one weekend in a singles bar
1988
North American film debut, "Some Girls", a Canadian co-production
1988
Moved to Los Angeles
1989
First feature lead, Bill Forsyth's "Breaking In"
1989
First TV guest shot, "thirtysomething"
1989
US film debut, Lee Grant's "Staying Together"
1990
Played secretary Gwen Taylor, a recurring character on "L.A. Law" often involved with Corbin Bernsen's Arnie Becker
1994
First starring role in a TV-movie, "Deconstructing Sarah", a USA mystery
1996
Appeared in supporting role in "One Fine Day"
1999
Acted in the ABC adapation of "John Sandford's 'Mind Prey'"
2000
Seen briefly in the comedy "Nurse Betty"
2000
Was one of the producers of the film "Dancing at the Blue Iguana", featuring Darryl Hannah and directed by Michael Radford
Family
Companions
