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Sharon Gless Biography

Birth Name:Sharon Marguerite Gless

Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, United States

Profession Actress, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Received the Theatre School at DePaul University's Award for Excellence in the Arts, in 2007
  • Won the 2010 Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series
  • Quote: "(On telling her grandfather she wanted to act) "He said, 'Stay out of it, it's a filthy business!' Later, he mellowed, and when I was 26 he gave me $150 for my first acting classes․ I worked as a secretary during the day and went to class at night․""
  • Her theater credits include her debut in Lillian Hellman's "Watch on the Rhine," at Stage West, and at London's West End in 1993 as Annie Wilkes in Stephen King's "Misery․"
  • In 2009, she produced and starred in a one-night performance of the play "A Round-Heeled Woman," in London
  • She is best known for her portrayal of Christine Cagney in the 1980s TV drama "Cagney & Lacey," for which she won numerous awards
  • Her grandfather, Neil S․ McCarthy, was a Hollywood lawyer who drew up the first contract between a studio and a player, and ironically, Gless herself was the last contract player in Hollywood history

Awards

  • 1983Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1984Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1985Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1986Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 1987Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1987Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1988Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: winner
  • 1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: winner
  • 1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1991Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1992Q Award-Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a New Drama Series: nominated
  • 2004TV Land Award-Favorite Crimestopper Duo: nominated
  • 2006TV Land Award-Coolest Crime Fighting Team: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2007TV Land Award-Favorite Lady Gumshoe: nominated
  • 2008OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Jury Prize-Best Actress: winner
  • 2010FilmOut Audience Awards-Best Actress: winner
  • 2010Gracie-Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated