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IMDbPro

Helen Shaver

  • Actress
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Helen Shaver
Watch Bear With Me - Trailer
Play trailer1:28
Bear with Me (2000)
14 Videos
31 Photos
Helen Shaver has built a lasting legacy, both behind and in front of the camera. She has directed hundreds of hours of television ranging from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) to Castle (2009), from The Unit (2006) to The Outer Limits (1995). Her film, Summer's End (1999), a Showtime feature starring James Earl Jones, won multiple Emmy awards for Outstanding Children's Special, Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special and Helen was nominated for her direction. Her producing credits include Judging Amy (1999) for CBS, Showtime's Due East (2002) starring Cybill Shepherd and Robert Forster and the independent feature We All Fall Down (2000), for which she also received a Best Supporting Actress award.

It was Martin Scorsese who first suggested Helen direct. Working with him and other such greats as Steven Spielberg, Robert Rodriguez, Sam Peckinpah, Brian De Palma, Helen amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in the collaborative world of cinematic storytelling.

Helen first appeared on the silver screen at 22 years old, starring in a series of award-winning Canadian films; Best Supporting Actress for Who Has Seen the Wind (1977) and Best Actress for In Praise of Older Women (1978). Hollywood took note and in 1977 she co-starred in The Amityville Horror (1979) directed by Stuart Rosenberg. Larry Gelbart's United States (1980), Martin Scorsese's, The Color of Money (1986), John Schlesinger's The Believers (1987), Donna Deitch's Desert Hearts (1985), Andrew Fleming's The Craft (1996), and a trip to China with Donald Sutherland to realize Bethune: The Making of a Hero (1990) broadened her education.

MAWD (Mother Actress Wife Director), Helen's production company, has three theatrical features in development, as well as a feature-length documentary. MAWD continues to expand becoming an umbrella for young filmmakers who Helen has mentored.
BornFebruary 24, 1951
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 24, 1951
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 14 wins & 23 nominations total

    Photos31

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    Known for

    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts
    7.1
    • Vivian Bell
    • 1985
    James Brolin, Rod Steiger, and Margot Kidder in The Amityville Horror (1979)
    The Amityville Horror
    6.2
    • Carolyn
    • 1979
    Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996)
    Poltergeist: The Legacy
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Rachel Corrigan, MD
    • Dr. Rachel Corrigan
    Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, Robin Tunney, and Rachel True in The Craft (1996)
    The Craft
    6.5
    • Grace Downs
    • 1996

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Souls of Totality (2018)
      Souls of Totality
      7.0
      Short
      • Shepherd One
      • 2018
    • Down River (2013)
      Down River
      7.1
      • Pearl
      • 2013
    • Birthday Cake (2013)
      Birthday Cake
      6.0
      • Judith Ferguson
      • 2013
    • Iris Expanding (2010)
      Iris Expanding
      TV Movie
      • Iris's Mom
      • 2010
    • A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride (2008)
      A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride
      5.5
      TV Movie
      • Rose
      • 2008
    • Matthew Perry in Numb (2007)
      Numb
      6.5
      • Audrey Milbank
      • 2007
    • Peter Coyote, Joel Gretsch, Richard Kahan, Karina Lombard, Jacqueline McKenzie, Mahershala Ali, Patrick John Flueger, Chad Faust, and Conchita Campbell in The 4400 (2004)
      The 4400
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Barbara Yates
      • 2004
    • The Keeper (2004)
      The Keeper
      4.7
      • Ruthie
      • 2004
    • The L Word (2004)
      The L Word
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Faye Buckley
      • 2004
    • D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear (2003)
      D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear
      6.0
      TV Movie
      • Sandy Moose
      • 2003
    • The Risen (2003)
      The Risen
      5.6
      TV Movie
      • Lynn Todd
      • 2003
    • The Education of Max Bickford (2001)
      The Education of Max Bickford
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Erica Bettis
      • 2001–2002
    • Ryan Reynolds in We All Fall Down (2000)
      We All Fall Down
      5.1
      • Sherry
      • 2000
    • Helen Shaver, Alan Thicke, Doug Abrahams, Kristian Ayre, Koenraad Beugelink, Kaitlyn Burke, Eric Johnson, Michael Ontkean, Gordon Tootoosis, Kimberley Warnat, Paul Ziller, and Broud The Bear in Bear with Me (2000)
      Bear with Me
      5.6
      • Sara Bradley
      • 2000
    • Blair Underwood and Alfre Woodard in The Wishing Tree (2000)
      The Wishing Tree
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • Wallis
      • 2000

    Director



    • Frankie's Baby
      • Director
      • Pre-production



    • Colin Farrell in The Penguin (2024)
      The Penguin
      8.6
      TV Mini Series
      • Director
      • 2024
    • The New Look (2024)
      The New Look
      7.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2024
    • Raymond Lee in Quantum Leap (2022)
      Quantum Leap
      6.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2022
    • Mackenzie Davis in Station Eleven (2021)
      Station Eleven
      7.6
      TV Mini Series
      • Director
      • 2021–2022
    • Rylea Nevaeh Whittet and Margaret Qualley in Maid (2021)
      Maid
      8.3
      TV Mini Series
      • Director
      • 2021
    • Travis Fimmel in Vikings (2013)
      Vikings
      8.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2015–2020
    • Happy Place (2020)
      Happy Place
      5.9
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors in Lovecraft Country (2020)
      Lovecraft Country
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Jennifer Connelly, Sean Bean, Michael Aronov, Clark Gregg, and Daveed Diggs in Snowpiercer (2020)
      Snowpiercer
      6.9
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Westworld (2016)
      Westworld
      8.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2020
    • Dietland (2018)
      Dietland
      6.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Amybeth McNulty in Anne with an E (2017)
      Anne with an E
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2017–2018
    • Maddie Hasson in Impulse (2018)
      Impulse
      7.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Giovanni Ribisi in Sneaky Pete (2015)
      Sneaky Pete
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2018
    • Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black (2013)
      Orphan Black
      8.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2014–2017

    Producer



    • The New Look (2024)
      The New Look
      7.4
      TV Series
      • producer
      • 2024
    • Raymond Lee in Quantum Leap (2022)
      Quantum Leap
      6.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Birthday Cake (2013)
      Birthday Cake
      6.0
      • co-executive producer
      • 2013
    • The Firm (2012)
      The Firm
      7.0
      TV Series
      • co-executive producer
      • 2012
    • Judging Amy (1999)
      Judging Amy
      7.1
      TV Series
      • producer
      • 2004–2005
    • Kate Capshaw, Robert Forster, and Cybill Shepherd in Due East (2002)
      Due East
      5.8
      TV Movie
      • producer
      • 2002
    • Ryan Reynolds in We All Fall Down (2000)
      We All Fall Down
      5.1
      • executive producer
      • 2000

    Videos14

    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:36
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:53
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:53
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:07
    The Color of Money: 25th Anniversary Edition
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 0:31
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer
    Trailer 2:36
    Trailer
    Trailer
    Trailer 1:56
    Trailer

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
    • Born
      • February 24, 1951
      • St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
    • Spouses
        Steve SmithOctober 9, 1988 - present (1 child)
    • Parents
        Murray Shaver
    • Relatives
      • Michael McManus(Niece or Nephew)
    • Other works
      Stage Play: Jake's Women. Comedy. Written by Neil Simon. Directed by Gene Saks. Neil Simon Theatre: 24 Mar 1992- 25 Oct 1992 (245 performances + 14 previews that began on 12 Mar 1992). Cast: Alan Alda (as "Jake"), Helen Shaver (as "Maggie"), Talia Balsam (as "Sheila"), Kate Burton (as "Julie"), Genia Michaela (as "Molly (at 12)"), Tracy Pollan (as "Molly (at 21)"), Brenda Vaccaro (as "Karen "), Joyce Van Patten (as "Edith"). Standbys: Linda Atkinson (as "Edith/Karen"), Beau Dakota Berdahl (as "Molly (at 12)"), Munson Hicks (as "Jake"), Ilana Levine (as "Julie/Sheila"), Maura Russo (as "Molly (at 21)"), Marsha Waterbury (as "Maggie"). Replacement actor during run: Maura Russo (as "Molly (at 21"). Produced by Emanuel Azenberg.
    • Publicity listings
      • 4 Interviews
      • 1 Article
      • 7 Pictorials

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Received a phone call from legend Greta Garbo after the release of the film Desert Hearts (1985). Garbo praised Helen's performance.
    • 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!"

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