Sharon Lawrence Movies
Actress Sharon Lawrence began acting professionally in the early '90s and quickly began amassing an impressive résumé, largely built from numerous TV guest appearances on shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and Star Trek: Voyager. In 1993, Lawrence was cast as ADA Sylvia Costas on the hit police drama NYPD Blue. She stuck with the show until 1999, and subsequently moved to another series, with a supporting role on Ladies Man. When that series ended its run in 2001, the actress costarred on the series Wolf Lake and acted in a number of other projects, like 2004's Little Black Book, before landing another string of starring TV roles, on Hidden Palms, Line, Monk, and Privileged. Lawrence has also explored a career on Broadway, with roles in Cabaret and Chicago. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
In this drama about love and how it can go wrong, Reese McHenry (Sam Shepard) is the owner of a clothing store who, in 1966, hires Carol Fitzsimmons (Diane Keaton) to work for him as a seamstress. Carol is a widow, and Reese's wife is in a coma; both are lonely, and they begin a habit of going to the movies every Wednesday afternoon, and sometimes also meeting for furtive sexual assignations. But Reese is unable to commit to a more permanent relationship as long as his wife is alive, despite his feelings for Carol, and their love remains in a state of limbo for the next 30 years. Meanwhile, Reese's son Tom (Robert Patrick) and Carol's daughter Katherine (Diane Lane) become romantically involved with no knowledge of their parent's relationship, but Tom's unwillingness to commit mirrors his father's own failings. The Only Thrill was based on the play The Trading Post by Larry Ketron, who also wrote the screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diane Keaton, Sam Shepard, (more)
To assuage the pain endured by his wife Pattie (Sharon Lawrence) after she bears a stillborn child, truck driver Charles Johnson (Beau Bridges) pools his savings and moves himself and Pattie into a new house in an attractive neighborhood. Before long, however, strange and inexplicable things begin occurring in the house--and then there's the matter of those eeries nocturnal noises. Pattie is convinced that the joint is haunted, but Charles concludes that she is merely suffering a nervous breakdown. Made for television, The Uninvited was purportedly inspired by actual events which occurred in Indiana. But once the plot's BIG SECRET is revealed (that ugly tree on the Johnsons' property didn't become gnarled all by herself) we are deeply into Poltergeist territory, replete with a "stacking" scene (with eggs rather than furniture) and an eccentric old psychic (Shirley Knight). Originally telecast by CBS on October 29, 1996, The Uninvited has since been seen on cable TV under the less ambiguous title Victim of the Haunt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Old feelings of hurt and betrayal resurface and renew a bitter rift between two long-time girlfriends when one learns that the other seduced her 18-year-old son. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Lawrence, Harley Jane Kozak, (more)
Popular mystery writer Richard North Patterson found two of his potboilers, Eyes of a Child and Degree of Guilt, turned into a four-part miniseries for NBC with this star-studded opus. Degree of Guilt stars Daphne Zuniga as Terri, a young wife and mother trapped in an abusive marriage to Ritchie (Vincent Ventresca) in the San Francisco Bay area. With Ritchie sleeping around on her and burning through the family's savings, Terri turns to the sheltering arms of Patterson's recurring attorney-hero Christopher Paget (David James Elliott), much to her mother Rosa's (Tricia O'Neil) dismay. Torn between two men, Terri moves back in, child in tow, with the scolding Rosa. But when Ritchie turns up dead, it's up to Christopher to get his love off the hook. Degree of Guilt also stars Sharon Lawrence as an icy femme fatale whom Christopher is called upon to represent. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daphne Zuniga, Vincent Ventresca, (more)
- 1995
Director Waris Hussein delivers another made-for-television drama, this one based on the popular young-adult book by Caroline B. Cooney. The movie stars Kellie Martin as Janie, a teen who one day sees her own face on the back of a milk carton in an ad for missing children. The movie follows Janie as she unravels the mystery of her true family. When she finds out that she has been separated from her birth parents for many years, Janie struggles with questions about the family she thought was her own, and the identity of her long-lost biological parents. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kellie Martin, Jill Clayburgh, (more)
- 1995
Justine Miceli (Det. Adrianne Lesniak) and Kim Delaney (Det. Diane Russell) graduate from recurring to regular status as NYPD Blue begins its third season. Things get off to a potentially lethal start as James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) is shot down and left paralyzed -- possibly for life -- by a government witness who may be completely immune from prosecution. Diane tells her AA sponsor, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), that she's recovering from her drinking problem, potentially good news for her boyfriend, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits). And Andy's significant other, Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence), has some good news -- at least, she hopes it's good news. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) pose as Hassidic Jews in hopes of nabbing a gang specializing in stealing Torahs. Though Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) doesn't like the way Det. Morrissey (Conor O'Farrell) is handling a case involving several seemingly random stabbings, Fancy can't help but notice that Morrissey is getting positive results. And speaking of "positive," that's the same verdict reached in Sylvia's (Sharon Lawrence) pregnancy test. Meanwhile, Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) continues to recover from his gunshot wounds. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
An extremely nervous Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) prepares for his marriage to Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence). Andy's best man, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits), becomes increasingly aware that Diane Russell's (Kim Delaney) drinking is wreaking havoc on her job performance. Bobby and his fellow officers also try to clear up the racially charged crisis involving the brother (Michael Jai White) of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel). Lesniak (Justine Miceli) finally agrees to date Martinez (Nicholas Turturro). And on the day of the wedding, several surprise guests show up. This was the final episode of NYPD Blue's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Simone (Jimmy Smits) confronts Russell (Kim Delaney) over her drinking, then tries to protect John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) and his lover from gay-bashing fellow cops. An unexpected "witness" surfaces in a serial-killing case. And in off-duty matters, altar-bound Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) asks Simone to be his best man, while Medavoy's wife (Deborah Taylor) wants a reconciliation for their children's sake -- much to the dismay of Donna (Gail O'Grady). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The precinct investigates the killing of a bookie. Donna (Gail O'Grady) returns to work, and her temporary replacement John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) moves upstairs to the anti-crime unit. Simone (Jimmy Smits) has no further use for unreliable murder witness Joyce (Susanna Thompson), but she continues to obsess over him. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) suspects that undercover cop Russell (Kim Delaney) is a drinker. And Sipowicz and Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence) have a soul-baring session with her priest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The IAB wants Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) to keep an eye on a possibly "dirty" cop, Detective Drucker (Michael MacRae). This causes some discomfort for Bobby as he and Drucker investigate the case of an alleged flasher. In another development, a young woman claims to have witnessed the murder of a pimp in a laundromat. And while cutting Sipowicz's (Dennis Franz) hair, gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) asks for advice as to how to approach the equally "uncloseted" Adrianne Lesniak (Justine Miceli). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Fancy (James McDaniel) overenthusiastically "helps" Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) train for the upcoming boxing tournament. A woman whom Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) urged to testify against the man who assaulted her ends up dead. And while working on an arson sting, Simone (Jimmy Smits) is somewhat taken aback by the behavior of his temporary partner, undercover detective Diane Russell (Kim Delaney, in her first series appearance). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
As Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) and Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) try to determine the motive for an Indian matron's murder, Andy has problems with the new temporary PAA. Now back on the force, Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) teams with Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) to connect a bizarre robbery with a widespread credit-card scam. And, in her efforts to nail an illegal-weapons dealer, Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) insists on going it virtually alone -- and reacts violently when Bobby offers to provide backup. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Simone (Jimmy Smits) manages to catch a suspected serial rapist, but his triumph is short-lived. After a violent confrontation with her battling parents, Diane (Kim Delaney) has trouble remaining sober. The victim of a shooting has been attacked several times and doesn't know why; investigating this mystery, Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) is teamed with Lesniak (Justine Miceli) -- who makes a show-stopping revelation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Simone (Jimmy Smits) investigates a gunman's shooting spree, while the media focuses on the bystander who was killed by a rookie cop's stray bullet. Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) learns that his brother Reginald (Michael Jai White), a uniform cop in the eighth precinct, is at the center of a tense racial crisis. Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) receives disturbing news from his doctor. And when the spree-shooter strikes again, one of the cops saves his partner's life -- a turning point in their somewhat prickly relationship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) has problems on several fronts. First off, he and Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) are investigating the disturbing murders of two children; second, his pregnant wife, Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence), is going through big-time bouts of morning sickness; and third, he doesn't like the fact that Diane (Kim Delaney) has gone off the wagon -- and has turned to Bobby instead of Andy for support. Elsewhere, Lesniak's (Justine Miceli) "private" revelation of her homosexuality is the talk of the precinct. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Simone (Jimmy Smits) wonders if he can trust a breathless young woman (Susanna Thompson) who claims to have witnessed a double homicide. Sipowicz returns to his old Brooklyn neighborhood when a family-owned candy store where he used to work is robbed and the owner's wife is killed. Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) decides to enter a departmental boxing tournament. And while Donna is out, she is replaced by an openly gay cop named John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup, in his first series appearance). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
When serial killer George Putnam (Tim de Zarn) is shot down and killed at the precinct station, the suspects range from the father of Putnam's last victim to the members of a support group. Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) arrest a surly Romanian immigrant (Richard Schiff) as a suspected carjacker -- unaware (at least at first) that their prisoner may be a terrorist. And on the romantic front, Dana (Debra Messing) again tries to woo Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) away from her sister Donna (Gail O'Grady), while the once-burned Lesniak (Justine Miceli) is reluctant to pursue her relationship with her partner Martinez (Nicholas Turturro). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
A young Puerto Rican graffiti artist signs his own death warrant when he tags a building in Little Italy. Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) and Donna (Gail O'Grady) come to a roadblock in their relationship when he meets her former boyfriend, who has shown up at the precinct to report a crime. And after being mugged, a traumatized Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence) reveals a disturbing secret to her fiancé Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Ray DiSalvo (Jay Acovone), a friend of Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) who is currently in prison, offers Bobby new information on an unsolved cop-killing -- a case previously handled by the contentious Det. Roberts (Michael Harney). While investigating a multiple shooting within a black family, Fancy (James McDaniel) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) suspect that the self-confessed gunman isn't telling the whole truth. And Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) looks into an assault charge surrounding the "accidental" injury of an actor in a staged fight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
No sooner has Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) launched his investigation of a millionaire's kidnapping than the Feds take the case out of his hands. A two-bit criminal (Paul Ben-Victor) who is no stranger to the precinct may hold a vital clue to the abduction. And, on his own, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) extends a helping hand to the ailing ex-prizefighter (Brad Sullivan) who first got Bobby interested in raising pigeons as a hobby. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Like all good Steven Bochco projects, NYPD Blue continued to grow, evolve, and push the envelope throughout its third season. The year was a mixed one for the 15th precinct's most mercurial detective, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Though he had found a measure of domestic tranquility with his new significant other, Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence, one of three series actors promoted this season from recurring to regular-character status), Andy suffered a professional setback of his own making by sparking a racial crisis which required every diplomatic resource that his superior Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) could conjure up to keep from getting completely out of hand. More tragically, Andy suffered the loss of his 18-year-old son from a previous marriage, rookie cop Andy Sipowicz Jr. (Michael DeLuise), who was mowed down in a street shooting. But after almost relapsing into alcoholism and losing his capacity to continue functioning on his job, Andy found renewed hope and strength in the love of Theo, his new son by Sylvia. As for the other main characters, Det. James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) was, like Andy Jr., shot down in a street ambush, but despite a brief period of paralysis, he managed to return to active duty. Martinez also continued in his efforts to woo and win Det. Adrianne Lesniak (Justine Miceli, the second of three NYPD Blue actors promoted this season from recurring to regular status), but she remained hesitant to start up another romance with a fellow officer, and by the end of the third season, Lesniak would be gone -- but not before a curious relationship developed between her and gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup). And unhappily married Det. Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) couldn't quite make a full commitment to his interdepartmental sweetheart, PAA Donna Abandando (Gail O'Grady), who like Adrianne would exit the 15th precinct this year, moving to California for a better-paying job with a computer firm. Kim Delaney, who as undercover detective Diane Russell also graduated to regular status after serving her recurring-character apprencticeship during the previous season, emerged as the most fascinating of the NYPD Blue regulars during season three. Struggling to overcome her alcoholism with the help of AA sponsor Andy Sipowicz, Diane experienced some rough sledding when her abusive father was shot to death and her long-suffering mother stood trial for murder. On a more positive note, it was obvious that Diane and Detective Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) were strongly and passionately attracted to one another -- a plot development that would carry far more weight in the seasons to come. Series star Dennis Franz won his second Emmy award for his continuing performance as Andy Sipowicz during NYPD Blue's 1995-1996 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Wendy Wasserstein wrote the script for this movie based on her Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Jamie Lee Curtis is effectively cast as Heidi Holland, a woman on the long and often bumpy road of self-discovery from the 1960s to 1990s. The movie follows her path from high-school egghead, to feminist supporter, to intellectual art dealer/mother, and chronicles her ups and downs and revelations. This made-for-television drama was nominated for several Emmy Awards, and earned Tom Hulce a "Best Supporting Actor" Emmy for his co-starring role. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The true story of a mother's search for her daughter's killer is the subject of this intense made-for-TV movie. Markie Post stars as Laurie Philips, a waitress living in a trailer park whose daughter is murdered. The movie follows her as she tirelessly tries on her own to track down the killer and get justice for the crime. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Markie Post, Gerald McRaney, (more)
