Helen Shaver
Encyclopedia
Helen Shaver is a Canadian actress and film
and television director
.
, Canada
, a small city located near London, Ontario
, with five sisters. As a child, she suffered from chronic rheumatic fever
and between the ages of five and 12 was forced to spend six months of each year in bed or in hospitals, which she said fostered her introspective side. She attended the Banff School of Fine Arts as a teenager and studied acting at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
(for her performance as "Ann MacDonald") in In Praise of Older Women (1978).
In 1985, Shaver appeared in the film Desert Hearts
as a 1950s university
professor
who falls in love with another woman. Her performance, with co-star Patricia Charbonneau
, drew critical praise and Shaver won the Bronze Leopard Award at the Locarno International Film Festival
. Another prominent film performance during that time came in 1986 as the love interest of Paul Newman
in his Oscar-winning portrayal of "Fast Eddie Felson" in Scorsese's The Color of Money
, a sequel to 1961's The Hustler
.
In 1980, Shaver starred with Beau Bridges
in the short-lived Fox TV series "United States" developed by Larry Gelbart
. A year later she starred in the short lived drama series Jessica Novak
. In 1990, she guest-starred as the murderer in Columbo: Rest In Peace, Mrs. Columbo, and has since appeared on such television shows as Hill Street Blues
, T. J. Hooker
and as the title character of the short-lived series Jessica Novak. From 1996-1999, Shaver co-starred on the TV series Poltergeist: The Legacy
, playing Dr. Rachel Corrigan, a widowed psychiatrist with an 8-year-old daughter who is helped by the Legacy in the pilot episode. In 2000, she won a Genie Award
for her portrayal of a drug-addicted prostitute in the independent feature We All Fall Down.
Shaver made her feature-length directorial debut in 1999 with Summer's End, which won an Emmy. Shaver has also directed a number of television shows and cable movies, including The Outer Limits
, Judging Amy
, Joan of Arcadia
, Medium
, The OC, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, The L Word
, Jericho
, Journeyman
, Private Practice, The Unit
and Crusoe
. In 2003, she won a Gemini award
for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series for the Just Cause
television series.
In 2004, Helen Shaver was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and television director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
.
Early life
Shaver was born and raised in St. Thomas, OntarioSt. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a small city located near London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, with five sisters. As a child, she suffered from chronic rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
and between the ages of five and 12 was forced to spend six months of each year in bed or in hospitals, which she said fostered her introspective side. She attended the Banff School of Fine Arts as a teenager and studied acting at the University of Victoria in British Columbia.
Career
After roles in such Canadian features as Outrageous! (1977), Starship Invasions (1977), Who Has Seen the Wind (1977) and High Ballin’ (1978), Shaver won a Canadian Film Award as Best Lead Actress opposite Tom BerengerTom Berenger
Tom Berenger is an American actor known mainly for his roles in action films.-Early life:Berenger was born as Thomas Michael Moore in Chicago to an Irish Catholic family. Berenger's father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Berenger has a sister, Susan...
(for her performance as "Ann MacDonald") in In Praise of Older Women (1978).
In 1985, Shaver appeared in the film Desert Hearts
Desert Hearts
Desert Hearts is a 1985 lesbian-themed romantic drama film loosely based on the Jane Rule novel Desert of the Heart. Directed by Donna Deitch, the film stars Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau with a supporting performance by Audra Lindley....
as a 1950s university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
who falls in love with another woman. Her performance, with co-star Patricia Charbonneau
Patricia Charbonneau
Patricia Charbonneau is an American actress, probably best known for playing the part of Cay Rivvers in Desert Hearts, her first film role.Charbonneau was born in Valley Stream, New York on Long Island...
, drew critical praise and Shaver won the Bronze Leopard Award at the Locarno International Film Festival
Locarno International Film Festival
The Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
. Another prominent film performance during that time came in 1986 as the love interest of Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
in his Oscar-winning portrayal of "Fast Eddie Felson" in Scorsese's The Color of Money
The Color of Money
The Color of Money is a 1986 film directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Richard Price, based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis....
, a sequel to 1961's The Hustler
The Hustler (film)
The Hustler is a 1961 American drama film directed by Robert Rossen from the 1959 novel of the same name he and Sidney Carroll adapted for the screen...
.
In 1980, Shaver starred with Beau Bridges
Beau Bridges
Lloyd Vernet "Beau" Bridges III is an American actor and director.- Early life :Bridges was born in Los Angeles, the son of actor Lloyd Bridges and his college sweetheart, Dorothy Bridges . He was nicknamed "Beau" by his mother and father after Ashley Wilkes's son in Gone with the Wind, the book...
in the short-lived Fox TV series "United States" developed by Larry Gelbart
Larry Gelbart
Larry Simon Gelbart was an American television writer, playwright, screenwriter and author.-Early life:...
. A year later she starred in the short lived drama series Jessica Novak
Jessica Novak
Jessica Novak is a 1981 drama television series that aired on CBS from November 5, 1981 till December 3, 1981 and was written by Ira Steven Behr...
. In 1990, she guest-starred as the murderer in Columbo: Rest In Peace, Mrs. Columbo, and has since appeared on such television shows as Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
, T. J. Hooker
T. J. Hooker
T.J. Hooker is an American police drama television program starring William Shatner in the title role as a 15-year veteran police sergeant. The series premiered as a mid-season replacement on March 13, 1982 on ABC and ran on the network until May 4, 1985...
and as the title character of the short-lived series Jessica Novak. From 1996-1999, Shaver co-starred on the TV series Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy, and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers...
, playing Dr. Rachel Corrigan, a widowed psychiatrist with an 8-year-old daughter who is helped by the Legacy in the pilot episode. In 2000, she won a Genie Award
Genie Award
Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. From 1949-1979, the awards were named the Canadian Film Awards...
for her portrayal of a drug-addicted prostitute in the independent feature We All Fall Down.
Shaver made her feature-length directorial debut in 1999 with Summer's End, which won an Emmy. Shaver has also directed a number of television shows and cable movies, including The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
, Judging Amy
Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
, Joan of Arcadia
Joan of Arcadia
Joan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi , who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m...
, Medium
Medium (TV series)
Medium is an American television drama series that premiered on NBC on January 3, 2005, and ended on CBS on January 21, 2011. Themed on supernatural gifts, its lead character, Allison DuBois , is a medium employed as a consultant for the Phoenix, Arizona district attorney's office...
, The OC, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, The L Word
The L Word
The L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
, Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
, Journeyman
Journeyman (TV series)
Journeyman is a 2007 American science fiction television drama created by Kevin Falls for 20th Century Fox Television which aired on the NBC television network. It starred Kevin McKidd as Dan Vasser, a San Francisco reporter who involuntarily travels through time...
, Private Practice, The Unit
The Unit
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force...
and Crusoe
Crusoe (TV series)
Crusoe is a television adventure drama based loosely on the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. The series' 13 episodes aired on NBC during the first half of the 2008-2009 television season. It follows the adventures of Robinson Crusoe: a man who has been shipwrecked on an island for six years...
. In 2003, she won a Gemini award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series for the Just Cause
Just Cause (TV series)
Just Cause is an award-winning Canadian legal drama television series produced by Mind's Eye Entertainment. Filming was done in Vancouver, British Columbia but the series is set in San Francisco, California.-Plot:...
television series.
In 2004, Helen Shaver was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame
Canada's Walk of Fame
Canada's Walk of Fame , located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a walk of fame that acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of successful Canadians...
.
Personal life
Shaver dated screenwriter Stephen C. Peters, and is currently married to Steve Smith, the key grip she met during the filming of Desert Hearts. They have a son, Mackenzie.Filmography
- Starship InvasionsStarship InvasionsStarship Invasions is a 1977 Canadian science fiction film produced by Ed Hunt and filmed in Toronto, Ontario.-Production and release:The film began production under the title Alien Encounters, and a previous working title was War of the Aliens...
(1977) - High-Ballin'High-ballin'High-Ballin is a Canadian film about truckers released in 1978, directed by Peter Carter. Jerry Reed plays the "Iron Duke", an independent trucker who stands up to the local trucker boss, King Carroll, who tries to drive independent truckers out of business. Duke's friend Rane, played by Peter...
(1978) - In Praise of Older Women (1978)
- The Amityville HorrorThe Amityville HorrorThe Amityville Horror: A True Story is a book by Jay Anson, published in September 1977. It is also the basis of a series of films released between 1979 and 2005...
(1979) - The Osterman WeekendThe Osterman Weekend (film)The Osterman Weekend is a 1983 suspense thriller film directed by Sam Peckinpah, based on the novel of the same name by Robert Ludlum. The film stars Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Burt Lancaster, Dennis Hopper, Meg Foster and Craig T. Nelson...
(1983) - Best DefenseBest DefenseBest Defense is a comedy film starring Dudley Moore and Eddie Murphy. It was released in 1984 by Paramount Pictures.-Plot:The movie takes place as two parallel plots separated by several years: Moore is an engineer developing a targeting system on a tank for the United States Army and Murphy is an...
(1984) - Countdown to Looking GlassCountdown to Looking GlassCountdown to Looking Glass is a Canadian made-for-television movie that premiered in the United States on HBO on 14 October 1984 and was also broadcast on CTV in Canada. The movie presents a fictional confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over the Strait of Hormuz, the...
(1984) - Desert HeartsDesert HeartsDesert Hearts is a 1985 lesbian-themed romantic drama film loosely based on the Jane Rule novel Desert of the Heart. Directed by Donna Deitch, the film stars Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau with a supporting performance by Audra Lindley....
(1985) - The Color of MoneyThe Color of MoneyThe Color of Money is a 1986 film directed by Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Richard Price, based on the 1984 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis....
(1986) - The Park is MineThe Park Is Mine (1986 film)The Park Is Mine, is a 1986 made-for-TV movie directed by Steven Hilliard Stern,starring Tommy Lee Jones as a Vietnam War veteran. Mitch takes control of Central Park in New York City, in what many would call an act of domestic terrorism, to honor those who died and served in the Vietnam War and...
(1986) - The BelieversThe BelieversThe Believers is a horror/neo-noir film directed by John Schlesinger, released in 1987 and starring Martin Sheen, Robert Loggia and Helen Shaver...
(1987) - The Land Before TimeThe Land Before TimeThe Land Before Time is a 1988 American animated adventure film directed and co-produced by Don Bluth , and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall....
(1988) - Columbo: Rest In Peace, Mrs. Columbo (1990)
- Tremors 2: AftershocksTremors 2: AftershocksTremors 2: Aftershocks is a 1996 action-horror-sequel to Tremors, in which the character of Earl Bassett, returning from the first movie, is hired to deal with a subterranean "Graboid" infestation at a Mexican oilfield. It was directed by S.S. Wilson, and stars Fred Ward, Christopher Gartin,...
(1996) - Born to Be WildBorn to Be Wild (film)Born to Be Wild is a 1995 American family comedy film. The film grossed $3.7 million in the box office.-Plot:Rick Heller is a juvenile delinquent who keeps getting himself into trouble. To keep him out of trouble his mother puts him to work cleaning the cage of a female gorilla named Katie which...
- The Sweetest Gift (1998)
- Summer's End (1999)
- We All Fall Down (2000)
- The KeeperThe KeeperThe Keeper may refer to:* The Keeper , starring Christopher Lee* The Keeper , starring Giancarlo Esposito* The Keeper , starring Michael Neeley...
(2004) - NumbNumb (film)Numb is a 2007 American drama film written and directed by Harris Goldberg. According to an interview with Goldberg on a bonus feature of the DVD release, he was inspired to write the screenplay by his own experience battling depersonalization disorder and clinical depression.-Plot:When modestly...
(2007) - The Craft (film)The Craft (film)The Craft is a 1996 American supernatural teen horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. The film's plot centers on a group of four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain...
(1996)