Helen Shaver's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Poltergeist: The Legacy Rachel Corr… The Education of Max Bickford Erica Bettis Jessica Novak Jessica Novak United States Libby Chapin

Main Movie Roles 1996 - The Craft 1988 - The Land Before Time 1987 - The Believers 1986 - The Color of Money 1985 - Desert Hearts 1984 - Best Defense 1983 - The Osterman Weekend 1979 - The Amityville Horror 1977 - Starship Invasions 1977 - Outrageous!

BIOGRAPHY:

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 (I) in Best Defense (1984), Tom Cruise and Paul Newman (I) in The Color of Money (1986), Martin Sheen in The Believers (1987), and Peter Boyle (I) 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 city in Ontario, about 120 miles southwest 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.


TRIVIA:

• Has a star on Canada's Walk Of Fame in Toronto, Ontario.
• 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.
• In _Tremors II: Aftershocks (1996) (V)_ (qv), 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.
• Plays the piano and is a proficient downhill skier.
• 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."