Helen Shaver(born February 24, 1951)[1][2]is a Canadian actress and film and television director. After appearing in a number of Canadian movies, she received aCanadian Screen Award for Best Actressfor her performance in the romantic dramaIn Praise of Older Women(1978).[3]She later appeared in the filmsThe Amityville Horror(1979),The Osterman Weekend(1983),Desert Hearts(1985),The Color of Money(1986),The Believers(1987),The Craft(1996),Tremors 2: Aftershocks(1996) andDown River(2013). She received another Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress nomination for the 1986 drama filmLost!,and won aBest Supporting ActressforWe All Fall Down(2000). Shaver also starred in some short-lived television series, includingUnited States(1980) andJessica Novak(1981), and from 1996 to 1999 starred in the Showtime horror series,Poltergeist: The Legacy,for which she received aSaturn Award for Best Actress on Televisionnomination.
Helen Shaver | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 24, 1951 St. Thomas, Ontario,Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
In the mid-1990s, Shaver began working as a television director, directing more than 50 shows. She won threeDirectors Guild of Canada Awards,oneDirectors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film,twoCanadian Screen Awards,and threeWomen's Image Network Awards.She was nominated for anEmmy Awardfor directing the 1999 television movieSummer's Endand in 2020 made her big screen debut with the drama filmHappy Place.In 2004, Shaver was inducted intoCanada's Walk of Fame.[4]
Early life
editShaver was born and raised with five sisters inSt. Thomas, Ontario,Canada.
Career
editAfter roles in such Canadian features asOutrageous!(1977),Starship Invasions(1977),Who Has Seen the Wind(1977) andHigh Ballin'(1978), Shaver won a Canadian Film Award as Best Lead Actress oppositeTom Berenger(for her performance as "Ann MacDonald" ) inIn Praise of Older Women(1978).
Shaver was one of the stars of directorSam Peckinpah's final film, 1983'sThe Osterman Weekend.In 1985, Shaver starred inDesert Heartsas a 1950s university professor who falls in love with another woman.[5]Her performance, with co-starPatricia Charbonneau,drew critical praise and Shaver won the Bronze Leopard Award at theLocarno International Film Festival.Another prominent film performance during that time came in 1986 as the love interest ofPaul Newmanin his Oscar-winning portrayal of "Fast" Eddie Felson inMartin Scorsese'sThe Color of Money,a sequel to 1961'sThe Hustler.
In 1980, Shaver starred withBeau Bridgesin the short-lived NBC television seriesUnited Statesdeveloped byLarry Gelbart.A year later she starred in the short-lived drama seriesJessica Novak.She was in the 1984 Canadian-madeCountdown to Looking Glass.She subsequently appeared on such television shows asHill Street BluesandT. J. Hooker.In 1990, she guest-starred as the murderer inRest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo,and later that year co-starred on the short-lived seriesWIOU,playing a television journalist (as she also did onJessica Novak). From 1996-1999, Shaver co-starred on the television seriesPoltergeist: The Legacy,playing Dr. Rachel Corrigan, a widowed psychiatrist with an eight-year-old daughter who is helped by the Legacy in the pilot episode; her performance earned aSaturn Awardnomination. In 2000, she won aGenie Awardfor her portrayal of a drug-addictedprostitutein the independent featureWe All Fall Down.
Shaver made her feature-length directorial debut in 1999 with the television filmSummer's End,which won anEmmyand earned her a directorial nomination. Shaver has also directed a number of television shows and cable movies, includingThe Outer Limits,Judging Amy,Joan of Arcadia,Medium,The OC,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,The L Word,Jericho,Journeyman,Private Practice,The Unit,Crusoe,Orphan Black,Vikings (2013 TV series),13 Reasons Why,andWestworld.In 2003 she won aGemini awardfor Best Direction in a Dramatic Series for theJust Causetelevision series episode "Death's Details".
In 2004, Shaver was inducted intoCanada's Walk of Fame.[4]
Happy Place,her first theatrical feature film after directing for television, premiered at theCinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival,and was screened at the2020 Vancouver International Film Festival.[6]
In 2021, Shaver picked up The Living Legend Tribute at the 23rdWomen's Image Network Awardswith fellow honoreeJoJo Siwaits Rising Musical Star recipient.[7][8]
In 2023, Shaver won theDGA awardfor directing episode 8 ( "Who's There?" ) ofStation Eleven.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Supreme Kid | Girl Hitch-hiker | Make-up |
| 1976 | Shoot | Paula | |
| 1977 | Outrageous! | Jo | |
| 1977 | Starship Invasions | Betty Duncan | |
| 1977 | Who Has Seen the Wind | Ruth Thompson | |
| 1978 | High-Ballin' | Pickup | |
| 1978 | In Praise of Older Women | Ann MacDonald | Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress |
| 1979 | The Amityville Horror | Carolyn | |
| 1980 | Coming Out Alive | Isobel | |
| 1981 | Gas | Rhonda | |
| 1982 | Harry Tracy, Desperado | Catherine Tuttle | |
| 1983 | The Osterman Weekend | Virginia Tremayne | |
| 1984 | Best Defense | Clair Lewis | |
| 1984 | Body Double | Voice of Gloria Revelle (uncredited) | |
| 1985 | Desert Hearts | Vivian Bell | Locarno International Film Festival Bronze Leopard |
| 1985 | The War Boy | Maria | |
| 1986 | Lost! | Linda | Nominated —Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress |
| 1986 | The Men's Club | Sarah | |
| 1986 | The Color of Money | Janelle | |
| 1987 | The Believers | Jessica Halliday | |
| 1988 | The Land Before Time | Littlefoot's mother | |
| 1989 | Tree of Hands | Benet Archdale | |
| 1990 | Bethune: The Making of a Hero | Mrs. Dowd | |
| 1991 | A Smile in the Dark | The Devil | |
| 1992 | Zebrahead | Diane | |
| 1992 | That Night | Ann O'Connor | |
| 1993 | Morning Glory | Lula Peak | |
| 1995 | Open Season | Rachel Rowen | |
| 1995 | Born to Be Wild | Margaret Heller | |
| 1996 | The Craft | Grace Downs | |
| 1996 | Rowing Through | Slim | |
| 1996 | Tremors 2: Aftershocks | Dr. Kate Reilly | |
| 1996 | Egg Salad | Gladys | Short |
| 1999 | The Wishing Tree | Wallis | |
| 2000 | Bear with Me | Sara Bradley | |
| 2000 | We All Fall Down | Sherry | Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2004 | The Keeper | Ruthie | |
| 2007 | Numb | Audrey Milbank | |
| 2013 | Birthday Cake | Judith Ferguson | |
| 2013 | Down River | Pearl | Nominated —Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Motion Picture Nominated —ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance - Female |
| 2018 | Souls of Totality | Shepherd One | Short |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Beachcombers | "Affairs of the Heart" | |
| 1974 | Police Surgeon | Gloria | "The Killer" |
| 1975 | Police Surgeon | Bonnie | "Web of Guilt" |
| 1977 | Search and Rescue: The Alpha Team | Dr. Liz Warren | TV film |
| 1978 | Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II | Patty | TV film |
| 1979 | Overlanders | Mrs. O'Mara | TV film |
| 1980 | United States | Libby Chapin | Main role |
| 1981 | Jessica Novak | Jessica Novak | Main role |
| 1982 | Between Two Brothers | Susan Frazer | TV film |
| 1982 | Off Your Rocker | Miss Beecher | TV film |
| 1982 | Hill Street Blues | Teresa Hyler | 4 episodes |
| 1983 | T. J. Hooker | Lisa Jericho | "The Shadow of Truth" |
| 1984 | Countdown to Looking Glass | Dorian Waldorf | TV film |
| 1985 | The Park Is Mine | Valery | TV film |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Karen | "Mirror, Mirror" |
| 1986 | Philip Marlowe, Private Eye | Belle Delaguerra | "Spanish Blood" |
| 1986 | The Edison Twins | Phyllis Dayton | "The Case of the Friendly Fugitive", "Gems and Jelly Beans", "The Maharajah of Weston" |
| 1986 | Many Happy Returns | Sally Robinson | TV film |
| 1987 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | herself | TV talk show, June 25, 1987[10] |
| 1988 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Miss Haight | "The Emissary" |
| 1988 | No Blame | Amy Donaldson | TV film Nominated —Gemini Award for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series |
| 1989 | B.L. Stryker | Diane Decker | "The Dancer's Touch" |
| 1989 | Mothers, Daughters and Lovers | Claire Nichols | TV film |
| 1990 | Pair of Aces | Rose | TV film |
| 1990 | Columbo | Vivian Dimitri | "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo" |
| 1990-91 | WIOU | Kelby Robinson | Main role |
| 1992 | E.N.G. | Sandra Brady | "Child's Play" |
| 1992 | Fatal Memories | Elaine Tipton | TV film |
| 1993 | Survive the Night | Stacy | TV film |
| 1993 | Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders | Edie Ballew | TV film |
| 1993 | Trial & Error | Katherine Woodfield | TV film |
| 1994 | The Forget-Me-Not Murders | Monique | TV film |
| 1994 | Ride with the Wind | Katherine Barnes | TV film |
| 1994 | Without Consent | Nora Fields | TV film |
| 1994 | Janek: The Silent Betrayal | Monique Dessier | TV film |
| 1995 | Falling for You | Mary | TV film |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits | Cathy Kress | "The Sandkings" Nominated —CableACE Award for Actress in a Dramatic Series |
| 1996-99 | Poltergeist: The Legacy | Dr. Rachel Corrigan | Main role Nominated —Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television |
| 1997 | Dead Man's Gun | Dianna McKinney | "Next of Kin" |
| 1998 | The Sweetest Gift | Mrs. Martin | TV film |
| 1999 | The First Gentleman | Marjorie Litchfield | TV film |
| 2000 | Common Ground | Janet | TV film |
| 2001-02 | The Education of Max Bickford | Erica Bettis | Main role |
| 2003 | The Risen | Lynn Todd | TV film |
| 2003 | D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear | Sandy Moose | TV film |
| 2004 | The L Word | Faye Buckley | "Luck, Next Time", "Liberally" |
| 2004 | The 4400 | Barbara Yates | "Becoming", "Trial by Fire" |
| 2008 | A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride | Rose | TV film |
| 2010 | Iris Expanding | Iris's Mom | TV film |
Director
edit| Year | Title | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-99 | Poltergeist: The Legacy | 2 episodes |
| 1997-2000 | The Outer Limits | 6 episodes |
| 1998 | Dead Man's Gun | Episode: "Stage Coach Marty" |
| The Net | Episode: "Bulls and Bears" | |
| 1999 | Summer's End | TV movie |
| 2000-01 | Beggars and Choosers | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | The Associates | Unknown episodes |
| Soul Food | Episode: "This Crazy Life" | |
| 2001-05 | Judging Amy | 11 episodes |
| 2002 | The District | Episode: "Shell Game" |
| Due East | TV movie | |
| 2003 | Just Cause | Episode: "Death's Details" |
| Dead Like Me | Episode: "Rest in Peace" | |
| Joan of Arcadia | Episode: "The Uncertainty Principle" | |
| 2004 | The O.C. | Episode: "The Proposal" |
| The 4400 | Episode: "The New and Improved Carl Morrissey" | |
| 2005 | Close to Home | Episode: "Divine Directions" |
| The Stranger I Married | TV movie | |
| 2006 | Medium | Episode: "Doctor's Orders" |
| 2006-07 | The Unit | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Vanished | Episode: "The Feed" |
| Standoff | Episode: "Borderline" | |
| Ultra | TV movie | |
| 2007 | Jericho | Episode: "Black Jack" |
| Journeyman | Episode: "Winterland" | |
| 2008-11 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 9 episodes |
| 2008-09 | Cursoe | 2 episodes |
| Private Practice | 2 episodes | |
| 2009 | Castle | Episode: "One Man's Treasure" |
| 2010 | Make it or Break It | Episode: "Save the Last Dance" |
| The Bridge | 2 episodes | |
| Shattered | 2 episodes | |
| 2011 | Flashpoint | Episode: "I'd Do Anything" |
| Stargate Universe | Episode: "Seizure" | |
| Law & Order: LA | Episode: "Big Rock Mesa" | |
| Combat Hospital | 2 episodes | |
| 2012 | The Firm | 5 episodes |
| 2012-15 | Person of Interest | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Republic of Doyle | Episode: "Firecracker" |
| 2013-14 | Revolution | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Reign | Episode: "For King and Country" |
| Elementary | Episode: "Dead Clade Walking" | |
| 2014-17 | Orphan Black | 3 episodes |
| 2015-19 | Vikings | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Heartbeat | Episode: "100,000 Heartbeats" |
| Travelers | 2 episodes | |
| 2017-18 | Anne with an E | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | 13 Reasons Why | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Sneaky Pete | Episode: "The Reluctant Taxidermist" |
| Impulse | Episode: "The Eagle and the Bee" | |
| Dietland | 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Westworld | Episode: "Passed Pawn" |
| Snowpiercer | 2 episodes | |
| Lovecraft Country | Episode: "Meet Me in Daegu" | |
| Happy Place | Feature film | |
| 2021-22 | Station Eleven | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Quantum Leap | Episode: "What a Disaster!" |
| 2023 | The New Look | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | The Penguin | Episodes: "Cent'Anni"and"Homecoming" |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Leo Awards | Best Direction: Dramatic Series | The Outer Limits,episode: "Lithia" | Nominated | [11] |
| 2001 | Genie Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | We All Fall Down | Won | [12] |
| Leo Awards | Best Performance by a Female: Feature Length Drama | We All Fall Down | Nominated | [13] | |
| 2014 | Leo Awards | Best Lead Performance by a Female: Motion Picture | Down River | Nominated | [14] |
| 2017 | DGC Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series | Vikings,episode: "Promised" | Won | [15][16] |
| 2018 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Direction: Dramatic series | Anne With an E,episode: "I Am No Bird, And No Net Ensnares Me" | Nominated | [17] |
| 2019 | Leo Awards | Best Direction: Dramatic Series | Anne With an E,episode: "Youth Is The Season Of Hope" | Nominated | [18] |
| 2022 | DGC Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series | Maid,episode: "String Cheese" | Nominated | [19] |
| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series | Station Eleven,episode: "Who’s There?" | Won |
References
edit- ^"Helen Shaver".www.tcm.com.
- ^"Helen Shaver".Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^Topalovich, Maria (2000).And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards.Stoddart Publishing.ISBN0-7737-3238-1.
- ^ab"Canada's Walk of Fame".Canada's Walk of Fame.Archived fromthe originalon December 14, 2008.
- ^Canby, Vincent(April 4, 1986)."Desert Hearts (1985) FILM: 'DESERT HEARTS,' ABOUT WOMEN IN LOVE".The New York Times.
- ^Lauren Malyk,"Loretta Todd’s Monkey Beach to open Vancouver Int’l Film Festival".Playback,September 3, 2020.
- ^"Celebrating Helen Shaver & JoJo Siwa at the 23rd Women's Image Awards -- WIN Announces Its Honorees & 18 Film & Television Nominee Categories".WFMZ.com.4 October 2021.
- ^"Celebrating Helen Shaver & JoJo Siwa at the 23rd Women's Image Awards -- WIN Announces Its Honorees & 18 Film & Television Nominee Categories".StreetInsider.com.
- ^Schneider, Michael (19 February 2023)."DGA Awards: The Daniels Land Top Prize for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 'Euphoria' Wins TV Drama (Full Winners List)".Variety.Retrieved19 February2023.
- ^Shaver, Helen (1987-06-25)."Helen Shaver interview with Johnny Carson".The Tonight Show.NBC. Time: 0:35:44. Archived fromthe originalon 2020-11-16.Retrieved2020-04-03.
- ^Past Nominees & Winners 1999atwww.leoawards.com
- ^"Maelstrom wins big at Genies"by Mark Dillon atplaybackonline.ca
- ^Past Nominees & Winners 2001atwww.leoawards.com
- ^Past Nominees & Winners 2014atwww.leoawards.com
- ^"Winners & Nominees - 2017 DGC Awards"atwww.dgc.ca
- ^"Helen Shaver, Don Shebib among filmmakers celebrated at DGC Awards"by Barry Hertz atwww.theglobeandmail.com
- ^"CSA’s ’18: Anne, Kim’s Convenience, Cardinal lead TV noms"by Regan Reid atplaybackonline.ca
- ^2019 Nominees & Winners by Nameatwww.leoawards.com
- ^"2022 DGC Awards - Winners & Nominees"atwww.dgc.ca
External links
edit
