Bitty Schram
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Natalie "Bitty" Schram (born July 17, 1968) is an American
actress, most widely known for having played Sharona Fleming
in the television series Monk
.
, Schram studied at the University of Maryland
on a tennis scholarship and graduated with a degree in advertising design. Having known for a number of years that she wanted to act, she pursued roles in both film and television as well as Broadway theater. The role that initially brought her note was Evelyn Gardner in the Penny Marshall
directed film, A League of Their Own
. Schram's character was the focus of the now famous line, "There's no crying in baseball!"
During 1993-95, she had a role in the original Broadway production of Neil Simon
's Laughter on the 23rd Floor
.
In 2002, Schram landed a major role opposite Tony Shalhoub
on the USA mystery series Monk
. USA Network
released her mid-way through the show's third season, stating they "decided to go in a different creative direction with some of its characters"; MSNBC
reported that "some members of the series' supporting cast, including Schram, Ted Levine
and Jason Gray-Stanford, attempted to renegotiate the terms of their contract" and cited Schram's departure as evidence of the industry's "hard line against raise-seeking actors who aren't absolutely essential to the show." Levine and Gray-Stanford remained on the show. Her role as Monk's assistant was replaced by Natalie Teeger
, played by Traylor Howard
. Schram returned to Monk
for an episode during the show's eighth and final season entitled "Mr. Monk and Sharona" on October 23, 2009, on USA Network
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, most widely known for having played Sharona Fleming
Sharona Fleming
Sharona Fleming is a fictional character in the award-winning series Monk. Sharona is a divorced practical nurse from New Jersey and a single mother with a young son named Benjy. She was played by Bitty Schram. Schram was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.-Biography:Sharona's...
in the television series Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
.
Career
Born in Mountainside, New JerseyMountainside, New Jersey
If you are looking for the community in Ontario, see Mountainside, Ontario.Mountainside is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States...
, Schram studied at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
on a tennis scholarship and graduated with a degree in advertising design. Having known for a number of years that she wanted to act, she pursued roles in both film and television as well as Broadway theater. The role that initially brought her note was Evelyn Gardner in the Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall is an American actress, producer and director.After playing several small roles for television, she was cast as Laverne DeFazio in the sitcom Laverne and Shirley...
directed film, A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
. Schram's character was the focus of the now famous line, "There's no crying in baseball!"
During 1993-95, she had a role in the original Broadway production of Neil Simon
Neil Simon
Neil Simon is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has written numerous Broadway plays, including Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and The Odd Couple. He won the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Lost In Yonkers. He has written the screenplays for several of his plays that...
's Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Laughter on the 23rd Floor
Laughter on the 23rd Floor is a play by Neil Simon.Inspired by Simon's early career experience as a junior jokesmith for Your Show of Shows, the play focuses on Sid Caesar/Jackie Gleason-like Max Prince, the star of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and his staff, including Simon's...
.
In 2002, Schram landed a major role opposite Tony Shalhoub
Tony Shalhoub
Anthony Marcus "Tony" Shalhoub is an American actor of Lebanese descent. His television work includes the roles of Antonio Scarpacci on Wings and sleuth Adrian Monk on the TV series Monk. He has won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his work in Monk...
on the USA mystery series Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
. USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
released her mid-way through the show's third season, stating they "decided to go in a different creative direction with some of its characters"; MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
reported that "some members of the series' supporting cast, including Schram, Ted Levine
Ted Levine
Frank Theodore "Ted" Levine is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Captain Leland Stottlemeyer in the television series Monk.-Early life and career:...
and Jason Gray-Stanford, attempted to renegotiate the terms of their contract" and cited Schram's departure as evidence of the industry's "hard line against raise-seeking actors who aren't absolutely essential to the show." Levine and Gray-Stanford remained on the show. Her role as Monk's assistant was replaced by Natalie Teeger
Natalie Teeger
Natalie J. Teeger is a fictional character on the American crime drama Monk. She becomes Adrian Monk's personal assistant midway through the third season of the show...
, played by Traylor Howard
Traylor Howard
Traylor Elizabeth Howard is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Sharon Carter on the television series Two Guys and a Girl and as Natalie Teeger on the USA Network series Monk.-Early life:...
. Schram returned to Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
for an episode during the show's eighth and final season entitled "Mr. Monk and Sharona" on October 23, 2009, on USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
.
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | G vs E G vs E G vs. E is an American fantasy-based television action series that had its first season air on USA Network during the summer and autumn of 1999. For the second season the series switched to Sci Fi Channel in early 2000. The series stars Clayton Rohner, Richard Brooks, and Marshall Bell.G vs... |
Ani | Episode: "Gee Your Hair Smells Evil" |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine Strong Medicine Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and... |
Juno Bouvoir | Episode: "Fix" |
| 2001 | Roswell Roswell (TV series) Roswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002... |
Bunny | Episode: "Secrets and Lies" |
| 2001–2002 | Felicity | Rita | Three episodes |
| 2002–2004, 2009 | Monk Monk (TV series) Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July... |
Sharona Fleming Sharona Fleming Sharona Fleming is a fictional character in the award-winning series Monk. Sharona is a divorced practical nurse from New Jersey and a single mother with a young son named Benjy. She was played by Bitty Schram. Schram was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.-Biography:Sharona's... |
39 Episodes; was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy |
| 2005 | Kitchen Confidential Kitchen Confidential (TV series) Kitchen Confidential is an American television sitcom that debuted on September 19, 2005 on the Fox network, based on Anthony Bourdain's New York Times bestselling book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly... |
Reese Ryder | Guest appearance in the show's first episode |
| 2006 | Thief | Lila Granville | 2 Episodes |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts... |
Jody | Episode: "This Joint's Haunted" |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Fathers & Sons | Terry | |
| 1992 | A League of Their Own A League of Their Own A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell... |
Evelyn Gardner | |
| 1993 | Pharmacy Clerk | ||
| 1993 | My Family Treasure | Young Alexandra | |
| 1994 | Chasers Chasers Chasers is a 1994 comedy film directed by Dennis Hopper. It is about a pair of United States Navy SPs who must escort a beautiful prisoner , and the troubles they encounter.- Plot :... |
Flo | |
| 1994 | Full Cycle | Sofie | |
| 1995 | Long Island Fever | Penny | |
| 1996 | One Fine Day | Marla | |
| 1996 | Marvin's Room | Janine | |
| 1996 | Lauren | ||
| 1996 | Caught Caught (1996 film) Caught is a 1996 erotic thriller film about a drifter who disrupts the simple life of a fish market owner and his wife. The film was directed by Robert M. Young, and stars Edward James Olmos, Arie Verveen, María Conchita Alonso, and Bitty Schram.... |
Amy | |
| 1998 | Cleopatra's Second Husband | Hallie | |
| 1998 | Kissing a Fool Kissing a Fool Kissing A Fool is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Doug Ellin. It primarily stars David Schwimmer, Jason Lee, and Mili Avital... |
Vicki Pelam | |
| 2001 | Gina | ||
| 2002 | Unconditional Love | Waitress | |
| 2004 | Christine Bigbee | ||
| 2006 | A-List | Samantha | |
| 2007 | You've Got a Friend | Miss Nelson |