Sheila Kelley Movies and Career Information

Sheila Kelley (born October 9, 1961) is an American television actress. She's best known for her roles as Gwen Taylor on L.A. Law and as Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett Hayes on Sisters. Kelley was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to Catherine Holway Thom Kelley, a registered nurse and Dr. Jay Hilary Kelley, professor emeritus, School of Mineral and Energy Resources, West Virginia University. He is also an engineer/inventor. Kelley studied ballet at a young age and matriculated into New York University's Tisch School of Arts for further study. After the advice of doctors who were worried about the consequences of the rigorous dance training on her hips, she redirected her studies to film directing and acting. She also studied with Michael Howard. She was encouraged to pursue her passion for acting by her high school principal, Dr. George Vollrath, and ultimately moved to California in order to advance her career. Kelley began her acting career in the 1980s in television, with her first credited TV role in 1987. She played the character Gwen Taylor in the legal drama L.A. Law from 1990-1993. Most of her work has been in guest roles on American TV series, although she notably played