Helen Shaver

Biography for Helen Shaver

This Canadian actress started acting as a late teen in theatre, receiving critical acclaim in her homeland over the years. Hollywood has not been as generous. Although she has worked alongside some of Hollywood's biggest stars, including Dudley Moore and Eddie Murphy in Best Defense (1984), Tom Cruise and Paul Newman in The Color of Money (1986), Martin Sheen in The Believers (1987), and Peter Boyle in Born to Be Wild (1995/I), it has been her gutsy, more potent portrayals back home that have reaped the trophies and respect. So far she has won bookend Genie Awards for both "Best Actress" in In Praise of Older Women (1978)and "Supporting Actress" in We All Fall Down (2000). Helen has always courted controversy, none more so than for her sexually-charged role in the afore-mentioned film In Praise of Older Women and for her later performance in Desert Hearts (1985) which featured a torrid lesbian love scene that is still considered one of the most erotic in movie history. Helen eventually stepped behind the camera, directing television segments of "The Outer Limits," "Judging Amy" and "Joan of Arcadia" among many others. Raised in a small town just outside of Toronto, Ontario with her five sisters, Helen suffered from rheumatic fever as a child and was forced to spend six months of each year in bed. She says this triggered her imagination and desire to become an actress. In 1992 Helen received a Theatre World Award for her Broadway stage role in "Jake's Women." Her third husband is key grip Steve Smith and they have one son.

She made her American start in a TV sitcom in the 80s in the United States. It is requested in films and theater productions in the United States and Canada.

Helen Shaver is a Canadian actress born January 24, 1951 in St. Thomas, Ontario. She made her debut in theater and cinema in the 1970s and became famous thanks to her performances in films such as "The Color of Money" (1986) and "The Shaggy Dog" (2006). Shaver also won an Emmy for his performance in the television series "The Lifespan of A Fact" in 2020.

Photos

Filmography

Trivia

• Her direction of James Earl Jones in "Summer's End" led to a "Best Picture" award at the 1999 Chicago International Children's Film Festival and a Daytime Emmy for "Outstanding Children's Special."
• In Tremors II: Aftershocks (1996) (V), her character, Kate 'White' Reilly, is supposed to be a former Playboy centerfold model for October 1974. The actual Playmate for October of 1974 was Ester Cordet, a dark-skinned black-haired Panamanian whose appearance is very much different from the blonde Ms. Shaver's.
• Received a phone call from legend Greta Garbo after the release of the film Desert Hearts. Garbo praised Helen's performance.
• Met husband Steve Smith during the filming of Desert Hearts. She was the lead actress and he was the key grip.
• Provided the uncredited voice of actress Deborah Shelton's character in Body Double.
• Has a star on Canada's Walk Of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.
• Plays the piano and is a proficient downhill skier.

Quotes

[on acting] "It's a willingness to be naked, whether you have your clothes on or not, to strip away those parts of you that stand in the way of the truth of any individual - fascinating!"

Family

• Spouse : Steve Smith (9 October 1988 - present) 1 child, Steven Reuther (29 October 1979 - 1982) (divorced), Smith Rankin (? - ?) (divorced)

Author of the card

• Creation date: 24/09/2007 by doudoune