# Sheila Kelley (American actress)

Sheila Kelley (born October 9, 1963) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Gwen Taylor on L.A. Law, Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett Hayes on Sisters, and Debbie Wexler on The Good Doctor.

## Early life

Kelley was raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the youngest child in a household of six girls and three boys. The two eldest were children of Leonard and Kate Thom; following Thom's 1950 death in a train accident, Kate married mining engineer and inventor Jay Kelley, with whom she had seven children including Sheila.
Kelley studied ballet, anatomy and movement physiology at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. One day during the months immediately following her freshman year, Kelley began suffering from the effects of congenital hip dysplasia, which ended her hopes of a dance career. Kelley switched to taking acting classes, and graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After working in public relations, she acquired a talent agent, began performing in plays, and with friends formed an Off-Off-Broadway theater troupe, The Elephant Company.

## Career

Kelley began her acting career in the 1980s in television, with her first credited TV role in 1987. Her first film was Some Girls in 1988. She played the character Gwen Taylor in the legal drama L.A. Law from 1990 to 1993. Most of her work has been in guest roles on American TV series, although she notably played a stripper and performed a seductive dance routine onscreen in the 2000 feature film Dancing at the Blue Iguana.
Kelley was cast in a recurring role in the final season of Lost in 2010, playing Zoe. From 2011 to 2012, she played Carol Rhodes on Gossip Girl.

## Personal life

Kelley and actor Richard Schiff married in 1996. Kelley was cast to play his love interest, and later his wife, on The Good Doctor. They have a son, Gus, born in 1994, and a daughter, Ruby, born in August 2000.
Following her role as a stripper in the film Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), Kelley became a fan of pole dancing, and built a national chain of exercise studios around her "S Factor" exercise method, including her book, S Factor: Strip Workouts for Every Woman, DVDs, and inspirational monthly editorials at the "S Factor" website. Her fitness program incorporates Pilates, yoga, stretching and pole dance routines.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | Some Girls | Irenka | |
| 1989 | Breaking In | Carrie aka Fontaine | |
| 1989 | Staying Together | Beth Harper | |
| 1989 | Mortal Passions | Adele | |
| 1989 | Private Debts | Jessie Burdette | Short film |
| 1990 | Where the Heart Is | Sheryl | |
| 1991 | Soapdish | Fran | |
| 1991 | Pure Luck | Valerie Highsmith | |
| 1991 | Wild Blade | Ginger | |
| 1992 | Passion Fish | Kim | |
| 1992 | Singles | Debbie Hunt | |
| 1993 | So I Married an Axe Murderer | Sherry (photos of ex-girlfriend) | Uncredited |
| 1993 | Mona Must Die | Rachel McSternberg | |
| 1994 | A Passion to Kill | Beth | |
| 1996 | One Fine Day | Kristen | |
| 1997 | Santa Fe | Leah Thomas | |
| 2000 | Nurse Betty | Joyce | |
| 2000 | Dancing at the Blue Iguana | Stormy | Also producer |
| 2003 | Matchstick Men | Kathy | |
| 2005 | Mozart and the Whale | Janice | |
| 2010 | Bloodworth | Louise Halfacre | |
| 2013 | Last Weekend | Vivian | |
| 2014 | The Guest | Laura Peterson | |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Tonight's the Night | Tanya | Television film |
| 1987 | The Betty Ford Story | Charlotte | Television film |
| 1988 | Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami | Trish | Television film |
| 1989 | The Fulfillment of Mary Gray | Kate | Television film |
| 1989 | thirtysomething | Cheryl Eastman | Episode: "First Day/Last Day" |
| 1990–1993 | L.A. Law | Gwen Taylor | Recurring (seasons 4–5); main cast (seasons 6–7); 42 episodes |
| 1991 | The Chase | Roxanne | Television film |
| 1993 | Full Stretch | Pam Pearson | Episode: "Ivory Tower" |
| 1993 | The Hidden Room | Susan | Episode: "Best Intentions" |
| 1994 | Deconstructing Sarah | Sarah Vincent/Ruth | Television film |
| 1995 | Wings | Sarah | Recurring 2 episodes |
| 1995 | The Secretary | Deidre Bosnell | Television film |
| 1995–1996 | Sisters | Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett | Main cast (season 6); 23 episodes |
| 1998 | Touched by an Angel | Carrie Nichols Carver | Episode: "What Are Friends For?" |
| 1998–1999 | ER | Coco Robbins | Recurring 3 episodes |
| 1999 | Mind Prey | Andi Manette | Television film |
| 2001 | Family Law | Jennifer Palmer | Episode: "Intentions" |
| 2001 | The Jennie Project | Leah Archibald | Television film |
| 2002 | MDs | Pam Kellerman | Recurring 4 episodes |
| 2003 | The Division | Tess Stanton | Episode: "Strangers" |
| 2006 | The Sopranos | Allison Crider | Episode: "Join the Club" |
| 2010 | Lost | Zoe | Recurring 5 episodes |
| 2010 | Hawaii Five-0 | Nancy Harris | Episode: "Palekaiko" |
| 2011–2012 | Gossip Girl | Carol Rhodes | Recurring 8 episodes |
| 2012 | NCIS | Victoria Dearing | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" |
| 2013 | Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: | Pole instructor | Season 3, Episode 11 |
| 2018–2021 | The Good Doctor | Debbie Wexler | Recurring 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Turner & Hooch | Emily Turner | Recurring 2 episodes |