Helen Shaver

Birthday: 24 February 1951, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

Birth Name: Helen Jane Shaver

Height: 170 cm

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 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. Hide

[on the death of former husband Steven Reuther] In the course of his last year alive, I was in L.A. Show more [on the death of former husband Steven Reuther] In the course of his last year alive, I was in L.A. a lot and saw him a fair amount. I really got to see how hard it is to die, how much energy it takes to die, how singular an experience it is - that you can only die by yourself, and no one can die with you. You stand on the porch, and the threshold is there, and that final step you do by yourself. And the distraction of others trying to keep you alive, or trying to make them feel okay about your dying, takes the energy away from the one last thing you have to do in your life. Hide

Every human being grows beneath a woman's heart. I am a woman. Literally, a human being has grown un Show more Every human being grows beneath a woman's heart. I am a woman. Literally, a human being has grown under my heart. And I am an artist. Ibsen said there is a truth shared by women, children and artists that men will never know. Hide

[on her role as the director of Down River (2013)] I invite, I seduce, I cajole. I get my actors to Show more [on her role as the director of Down River (2013)] I invite, I seduce, I cajole. I get my actors to give me everything, and they do - mostly because I'm patient. It was interesting to see if I could still do it. Hide

[on acting] "It's a willingness to be naked, whether you have your clothes on or not, to strip away Show more [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!" Hide

Helen Shaver's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (69)

The L Word - Season 6

The Outer Limits - Season 6

Desert Hearts

Hill Street Blues - Season 5

Dead Mans Gun - Season 2

The Color of Money

The Park Is Mine

Countdown to Looking Glass

The 4400 - Season 4

Columbo - Season 1