Skip to content
MovieCove
Sheila Kelley

Sheila Kelley

Actor, also producer · Born October 9, 1961 (65) · Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Sheila Kelley is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Gwen Taylor on L.A. Law, Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett Hayes on Sisters, and Debbie Wexler on The Good Doctor.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 9, 1961 (65)
From
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

What are Sheila Kelley's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 10th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Morality
25%
Self
20%
Survival
13%
Society
9%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 13 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 4 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 4
Trickster
1 of 4
Herald
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
7
Bittersweet
6
Hopeful
6
Other
14

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Sheila Kelley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sheila Kelley's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

50 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Turner & Hooch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dr. Emily Turner

  • The Good Doctor(2017)

    Show 14 episodes · as Debbie Wexler

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Guest(2014)

    as Laura Peterson

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Last Weekend(2014)

    as Vivian

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Hawaii Five-0(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy Harris

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Bloodworth(2010)

    as Louise Halfacre

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Gossip Girl(2007)

    Show 9 episodes · as Carol Rhodes

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Mozart and the Whale(2005)

    as Janice

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Blind Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Allison Crider

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · as Zoe

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Victoria Dearing

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Matchstick Men(2003)

    as Kathy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • MDs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Pam Kellerman

  • Dancing at the Blue Iguana(2000)

    Producer · as Stormy

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Jennie Project(2001)

    as Leah Archibald

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Tess Stanton

  • Nurse Betty(2000)

    as Joyce

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Jennifer Palmer

  • Mind Prey(1999)

    as Andi Manette

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Santa Fe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Leah Thomas

  • One Fine Day(1996)

    as Kristen, Jack's ex-wife

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Secretary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Deidre Bosnell

  • Deconstructing Sarah(1994)

    as Sarah Vincent / Ruth

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • A Passion to Kill(1994)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Carrie Carver

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Coco Robbins

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Mona Must Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Rachel McSternberg

  • Passion Fish(1992)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Touch of Frost(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Doreen Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Singles(1992)

    as Debbie Hunt

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Pure Luck(1991)

    as Valerie Highsmith

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Hidden Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Susan

  • Wild Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Ginger

  • Soapdish(1991)

    as Fran

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 28 episodes · as Charley Bennett

  • The Chase(1991)

    as Roxanne

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Wings(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Where the Heart Is(1990)

    as Sheryl

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Staying Together(1989)

    as Beth Harper

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Breaking In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Carrie aka Fontaine

  • Mortal Passions(1989)

    as Adele

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Fulfillment of Mary Gray(1989)

    as Kate

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami(1988)

    as Trish

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Some Girls(1988)

    as Irenka

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Betty Ford Story(1987)

    as Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Tonight's the Night(1987)

    as Tanya

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 49 episodes · as Gwen Taylor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 50 titles from 1977 to 2021; peak year 1991.

Biggest box office

Matchstick Men (2003)

$66M worldwide

Highest rated

Passion Fish (1992)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Matchstick Men (2003)

Film career

19772021

Peak 1991 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 50: 48 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdWriting1 of 50: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleProducing1 of 50: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s10 · acting1990s22 · acting2000s11 · 11 acting · 1 crew2010s5 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
8893

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Sheila Kelley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 35th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

The Jennie Project (2001)

84th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Good Doctor (2017)

Midcredits 93rd · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Sheila Kelley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles36–63 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 59 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Sheila Kelley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sheila Kelley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Barry Corbin shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers