Helen Shaver studied at the Banff School of Fine Arts and began her career on stage. She made her television debut in a situation comedy and would later play the lead character in another series, Jessica Novak. But she has been much more successful in film and on stage. Some of her best work includes In Praise of Older Women where she played a 40-something although she was only 25, and opposite Paul Newman in the 1986 film, The Color of Money. Helen Shaver picked up a Best Supporting Actress Genie for her role in We All Fall Down. Beginning in the late 1990s, Shaver began to direct and has flourished behind the camera becoming a highly successful television director with a seemingly ever-growing list of credits working on some of the top shows on television.
Features & TV Movies:
VR indicates Direct-to-Video Release
The Supreme Kid (1976)
Shoot (1976)
Starship Invasions (1977)
Outrageous! (1977)
Who Has Seen the Wind (1977)
In Praise of Older Woman (1978)
High-Ballin’ (1978)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Off Your Rocker (TV-1980)
The Dogs of War (1980)
Between two Brothers (TV-1981)
Gas (1981)
Harry Tracy (1982)
The Osterman Weekend (1983)
Countdown to Looking Glass (TV-1984)
Coming Out Alive (1984)
Best Defense (1984)
The War Boy (1985)
Desert Hearts (1985)
Many Happy Returns (TV-1986)
Lost! (1986)
The Color of Money (1986)
The Park is Mine (TV-1986)
The Believers (1987)
Walking After Midnight (1988)
No Blame (TV-1988)
The Land Before Time (voice,1988)
B.L.Stryker: The Dancer`s Touch (TV-1989)
Mothers, Daughters and Lovers (TV-1989)
Bethune: The Making of a Hero (1989)
Innocent Victim (1990)
Pair of Aces (TV-1990)
Columbo: Rest in Peace Mrs. Columbo (TV-1990)
A Smile in the Dark (1991)
Zebrahead (1992)
That Night (1992)
Fatal Memories (TV-1992)
Trial & Error (TV-1993)
Morning Glory (TV-1993)
Survive the Night (TV-1993)
Poisoned By Love: The Kern County Murders (TV-1993)
The Forget-Me-Not Murders (TV-1994)
Ride With The Wind (TV-1994)
Without Consent (TV-1994)
Janek: The Silent Betrayal (TV-1994)
Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1995)
Falling For You (TV-1995)
Born to be Wild (1995)
Rowing Through (1996)
Open Season (1996)
The Craft (1996)
The Sweetest Gift (TV-1998)
The Wishing Tree (1999)
Common Ground (TV-2000)
We All Fall Down (2000)
Bear With Me (2000)
The Risen (TV-2002)
D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear (TV-2003)
The Keeper (2003)
Numb (2007)
Daughter of the Bride (TV-2008)
Iris Expanding (2010)
Down River (2013)
Birthday Cake (2013)
Souls of Totality (2018, short)
TV Series – Cast:
United States (1980)
Jessica Novak (1981)
WIOU (1990)
Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996)
The Education of Max Bickford (2001-2002)
TV Series – Guest Appearances:
Dr. Simon Locke (1972)
King of Kensington (1976)
Search and Rescue (1977)
Hill Street Blues (1982)
Philip Marlowe, Private Eye (1984)
Amazing Stories (1986)
The Ray Bradbury Theatre (1988)
B.L. Striker (1989)
The L Word (2004)
The 4400 (2004)
Credits as a Director:
Summer’s End (TV-1999)
Due East (TV-2002)
The Man Who Lost Himself (TV-2005)
Ultra (TV-2006)
Frankie’s Baby (2019)
Happy Place (2020)
TV Series:
The Net (1998)
Poltergeist: the Legacy (1999)
The Outer Limits (1998, 1999, 2000)
The Associates (2001)
Beggars and Choosers (2000, 2001)
Soul Food (2001)
The District (2002)
Just Cause (2003)
Dead Like Me (2003)
Joan of Arcadia (2003)
The O.C. (2004)
The 4400 (2004)
Judging Amy (2004, 2005)
Close to Home (2005)
Medium (2006)
Vanished (2006)
The Unit (2006, 2007)
Standoff (2006)
Jericho (2007)
Journeyman (2007)
Law & Order SVU (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Crusoe (2008, 2009)
Private Practice (2008, 2009)
Castle (2009)
Make It or Break It (2010)
The Bridge (2010)
Shattered (2010)
Flashpoint (2011)
SGU Stargate Universe (2011)
Law & Order: Los Angeles (2011)
Combat Hospital (2011)
The Firm (2012)
Person of Interest (2012, 2015)
Revolution (2013, 2014)
Elementary (2014)
Orphan Black (2014, 2015, 2017)
Vikings (2015, 2016, 2019, 2020)
Heartbeat (2016)
Travelers (2016)
Anne with an E (2017, 2018)
Sneaky Pete (2018)
Impulse (2018)
Dietland (2018)
Westworld (2020)
Snowpiercer (2020)
Lovecraft Country (2020)
Maid (2021, mini-series)
Station Eleven (2021, 2022)
Quantum Leap (2022)
The New Look (2024)
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and Digital Media Association – A nonprofit corporation.
Toronto, Ontario, M4X 1X7
First published as Northernstars.net February 1, 1998
ISSN 2563 4895