Sharon Gless facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon Gless
Gless in 1998
Born	Sharon Marguerite Gless (1943-05-31) May 31, 1943 (age 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	Since 1970
Known for	Switch Cagney & Lacey The Trials of Rosie O'Neill Queer as Folk Burn Notice Hannah Free
Spouse(s)	Barney Rosenzweig ​ (m. 1991)​

Sharon Marguerite Gless (born May 31, 1943) is an American actress known for her many roles on television. She is famous for playing police detective Christine Cagney in the drama series Cagney & Lacey and Madeline Westen in the action show Burn Notice.

Throughout her long career, Gless has been nominated for ten Emmy Awards and seven Golden Globe Awards. She won Emmys in 1986 and 1987 for Cagney & Lacey. She also won Golden Globes for Cagney & Lacey in 1986 and for The Trials of Rosie O'Neill in 1991. In 1995, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in television.

Early Life and First Jobs

Sharon Gless was born in Los Angeles, California. She is a fifth-generation Californian, meaning her family has lived in the state for many generations. Her grandfather, Neil McCarthy, was a famous lawyer for powerful people in the movie industry, including Howard Hughes.

When Gless first wanted to be an actress, her grandfather told her to "Stay out of it, it's a filthy business!" But a few years later, he changed his mind and encouraged her. He even gave her money to take acting classes.

Before becoming a full-time actress, Gless worked as a secretary. She later got a job as a production assistant at a movie company and studied acting with coach Estelle Harman. In 1972, a talent agent named Monique James saw her perform and offered her a seven-year contract with Universal Studios.

At that time, Universal was one of the last movie studios to use the old "studio system." This meant actors were paid a salary and trained by the studio, like an apprenticeship. Gless was known as one of the last "contract players" from this system.

Acting Career

Television and Film Roles

From left: Arthur Hill, Michael Witney, Gless, John Davidson and Louise Sorel on the TV show Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1972)

At the start of her career, Gless appeared in many TV shows. She had small parts in Marcus Welby, M.D. and guest-starred on shows like Emergency! and The Rockford Files.

Her first major role was as Maggie Philbin in the detective series Switch from 1975 to 1978. She starred alongside famous actors Eddie Albert and Robert Wagner. She became good friends with them, and they helped her career get started.

Breakthrough with Cagney & Lacey

In 1982, Gless got the role that would make her a star. She began playing New York City police detective Christine Cagney in the series Cagney & Lacey. The show was a police procedural, which is a type of drama that focuses on how police solve crimes.

Gless was not the first actress to play Cagney, but she joined the show in its first full season and made the character famous. She and her co-star, Tyne Daly, who played detective Mary Beth Lacey, became one of the most famous duos on television. For her work on the show, Gless won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

After the series ended, Gless and Daly returned for four popular Cagney & Lacey TV movies in the 1990s.

Later Career Highlights

Gless at the Emmy Awards in 1991

From 1990 to 1992, Gless starred in another successful series called The Trials of Rosie O'Neill, which earned her a second Golden Globe Award.

From 2000 to 2005, she played Debbie Novotny in the TV series Queer as Folk. The show was about the lives and friendships of a group of gay men and their families, and Gless played a very supportive mother. This role was one of her most praised since Cagney & Lacey.

From 2007 to 2013, she played Madeline Westen, the mother of the main character, on the popular USA Network show Burn Notice. She also had a guest role on the show Nip/Tuck that earned her another Emmy nomination.

In 2009, Gless starred in the independent film Hannah Free, a story about a lifelong love between two women. More recently, she appeared in the long-running British medical drama Casualty in 2017 and 2018.

Stage Acting

Gless has also performed on stage. She made her debut in the play Watch on the Rhine. She has appeared twice in London's West End, which is a famous theater district like Broadway in New York.

In 1992, she starred in a stage version of Stephen King's Misery. In 1996, she appeared in Neil Simon's play Chapter Two. She has also performed in plays in Chicago.

Personal Life

In 1991, Gless married Barney Rosenzweig. He was the executive producer of Cagney & Lacey.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Sharon Gless para niños