Sheila Kelley (born October 9, 1963) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Gwen Taylor on L.A. Law, Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett Hayes on Sisters, and Debbie Wexler on The Good Doctor.
Early life Kelley was raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the youngest child in a household of six girls and three boys. The two eldest were children of Leonard and Kate Thom; following Thom's 1950 death in a train accident, Kate married mining engineer and inventor Jay Kelley, with whom she had seven children including Sheila.
Kelley studied ballet, anatomy and movement physiology at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. One day during the months immediately following her freshman year, Kelley began suffering from the effects of congenital hip dysplasia, which ended her hopes of a dance career. Kelley switched to taking acting classes, and graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After working in public relations, she acquired a talent agent, began performing in plays, and with friends formed an Off-Off-Broadway theater troupe, The Elephant Company.
Career Kelley began her acting career in the 1980s in television, with her first credited TV role in 1987. Her first film was Some Girls in 1988. She played the character Gwen Taylor in the legal drama L.A. Law from 1990 to 1993. Most of her work has been in guest roles on American TV series, although she notably played a stripper and performed a seductive dance routine onscreen in the 2000 feature film Dancing at the Blue Iguana.
Kelley was cast in a recurring role in the final season of Lost in 2010, playing Zoe. From 2011 to 2012, she played Carol Rhodes on Gossip Girl.
Personal life Kelley and actor Richard Schiff married in 1996. Kelley was cast to play his love interest, and later his wife, on The Good Doctor. They have a son born in 1994, and a daughter born in August 2000.
Following her role as a stripper in the film Dancing at the Blue Iguana (2000), Kelley became a fan of pole dancing, and built a national chain of exercise studios around her "S Factor" exercise method, including her book, S Factor: Strip Workouts for Every Woman, DVDs, and inspirational monthly editorials at the "S Factor" website. Her fitness program incorporates Pilates, yoga, stretching and pole dance routines.
Filmography +Film Year Title Role Notes 1988 Some Girls Irenka 1989 Breaking In Carrie aka Fontaine 1989 Staying Together Beth Harper 1989 Mortal Passions Adele 1989 Private Debts Jessie Burdette Short film 1990 Where the Heart Is Sheryl 1991 Soapdish Fran 1991 Pure Luck Valerie Highsmith 1991 Wild Blade Ginger 1992 Passion Fish Kim 1992 Singles Debbie Hunt 1993 So I Married an Axe Murderer Sherry (photos of ex-girlfriend) Uncredited 1993 Mona Must Die Rachel McSternberg 1994 A Passion to Kill Beth 1996 One Fine Day Kristen 1997 Santa Fe Leah Thomas 2000 Nurse Betty Joyce 2000 Dancing at the Blue Iguana Stormy Also producer 2003 Matchstick Men Kathy 2005 Mozart and the Whale Janice 2010 Bloodworth Louise Halfacre 2013 Last Weekend Vivian 2014 Laura Peterson
+Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Tonight's the Night Tanya Television film 1987 Charlotte Television film 1988 Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami Trish Television film 1989 Kate Television film 1989 thirtysomething Cheryl Eastman Episode: "First Day/Last Day" 1990–1993 L.A. Law Gwen Taylor Recurring (seasons 4–5); main cast (seasons 6–7); 42 episodes 1991 The Chase Roxanne Television film 1993 Full Stretch Pam Pearson Episode: "Ivory Tower" 1993 Susan Episode: "Best Intentions" 1994 Deconstructing Sarah Sarah Vincent/Ruth Television film 1995 Wings Sarah Recurring 2 episodes 1995 Deidre Bosnell Television film 1995–1996 Sisters Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett Main cast (season 6); 23 episodes 1998 Touched by an Angel Carrie Nichols Carver Episode: "What Are Friends For?" 1998–1999 ER Coco Robbins Recurring 3 episodes 1999 Mind Prey Andi Manette Television film 2001 Family Law Jennifer Palmer Episode: "Intentions" 2001 Leah Archibald Television film 2002 MDs Pam Kellerman Recurring 4 episodes 2003 Tess Stanton Episode: "Strangers" 2006 Allison Crider Episode: "Join the Club" 2010 Lost Zoe Recurring 5 episodes 2010 Hawaii Five-0 Nancy Harris Episode: "Palekaiko" 2011–2012 Gossip Girl Carol Rhodes Recurring 8 episodes 2012 NCIS Victoria Dearing Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part"2013Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Pole instructor Season 3, Episode 11 2018–2021 The Good Doctor Debbie Wexler Recurring 13 episodes2021Turner & HoochEmily Turner Recurring 2 episodes
References
External links
Sheila Kelley's S Factor Sheila Kelley – Let’s Get Naked: A Talk About Men, Women and the Erotic Creature Sheila Kelley Official Website