Helen Shaver

Biography

Helen Shaver, born Helen Jane Shaver on February 24, 1951, in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, is a Canadian actress and director. She began her acting career in theatre as a teenager, gaining critical acclaim in Canada. Shaver has appeared in notable films alongside prominent actors, including Dudley Moore and Eddie Murphy in Best Defense (1984), Tom Cruise and Paul Newman in The Color of Money (1986), and Martin Sheen in The Believers (1987). She is recognized for her powerful performances, winning Genie Awards for Best Actress in In Praise of Older Women (1978) and Supporting Actress in We All Fall Down (2000). Shaver also directed episodes of television series such as The Outer Limits and Judging Amy. Her early struggle with rheumatic fever influenced her creative aspirations. Shaver has been married three times and has one son with her third husband, key grip Steve Smith.