Sharon Gless

Biography

Sharon Gless (born May 31, 1943) is an American actress known for her iconic TV roles, including Sgt. Christine Cagney in Cagney & Lacey, Debbie Novotny in Queer as Folk, and Madeline Westen in Burn Notice. She has won two Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards for her performances. Gless began her career as a secretary before transitioning to acting and has also appeared in stage productions like Misery and The Vagina Monologues.

Career Overview

Sharon Gless has 59 screen credits in a career dating back to 1954. Their work spans 4 cinematic universes — most prominently Cagney & Lacey Collection with 4 titles. Signature works include Burn Notice, Queer as Folk, Marcus Welby, M.D.. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

female

Known Credits

59

Birth Date

1943-05-31 00:00:00

Birth Place

Los Angeles, California, USA

Known For

• 

  Burn Notice
• 

  Queer as Folk
• 

  Marcus Welby, M.D.
• 

  Cagney & Lacey: True Convictions
• 

  Revenge of the Stepford Wives
• 

  Inside the Oasis: The Story of South Florida's Gay Mecca

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 4 universes

• Cagney & Lacey Collection (4 titles)
• My Darling Daughters Collection (2 titles)
• Stepford Collection (1 titles)
• Airport (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Jeffrey Donovan (1 collaborations)
• Gabrielle Anwar (1 collaborations)
• Bruce Campbell (1 collaborations)
• Coby Bell (1 collaborations)
• Gale Harold (1 collaborations)
• Randy Harrison (1 collaborations)
• Hal Sparks (1 collaborations)
• Peter Paige (1 collaborations)
• Scott Lowell (1 collaborations)
• Alec McClure (1 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (59 credits)

  • Inside the Oasis: The Story of South Florida's Gay Mecca

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Fast Charlie

    Mavis

    actor

    actors
    2023
  • Show Her the Money

    Herself

    actor

    actors
    2023
  • Betty White: First Lady of Television

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • United We Fan

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Station 19

    - We Build Then We Break (2023) ... Dottie actor actors
    2018
  • The Gifted

    - eXtraction (2018) ... Ellen Strucker actor actors

    - rX (2017) ... Ellen Strucker actor actors
    2017
  • Inequality for All

    Christine Cagney (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2013
  • Once Fallen

    Sue

    actor

    actors
    2010
  • Rizzoli & Isles

    - 2M7258-100 (2016) ... Inmate actor actors
    2010
  • Hannah Free

    Older Hannah

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Burn Notice

    Madeline Westen

    actor

    actors

    - Reckoning (2013) ... Madeline Westen actor actors

    - Sea Change (2013) ... Madeline Westen actor actors

    - Tipping Point (2013) ... Madeline Westen actor actors

    - Things Unseen (2013) ... Madeline Westen actor actors

    - Bitter Pill (2013) ... Madeline Westen actor actors
    2007
  • The Graham Norton Show

    - Episode 19 (2007) ... Self actor actors
    2007
  • The Best of So Graham Norton

    Self (archive footage)

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Nip/Tuck

    - Ronnie Chase (2009) ... Colleen Rose actor actors

    - Candy Richards (2008) ... Colleen Rose actor actors

    - Lulu Grandiron (2008) ... Colleen Rose actor actors

    - Kyle Ainge (2008) ... Colleen Rose actor actors

    - Magda and Jeff (2008) ... Colleen Rose actor actors
    2003
  • From Russia to Hollywood: The 100-Year Odyssey of Chekhov and Shdanoff

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Queer as Folk

    Debbie Novotny

    actor

    actors

    - We Will Survive! (2005) ... Debbie Novotny actor actors

    - Mr. Right (Never Broke a Promise) (2005) ... Debbie Novotny actor actors

    - Fuckin' Revenge (2005) ... Debbie Novotny actor actors

    - I Love You (2005) ... Debbie Novotny actor actors

    - Anything in Common (2005) ... Debbie Novotny actor actors
    2000
  • Bring Him Home

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Smoke and Mirrors: A History of Denial

    Narrator

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Judging Amy

    - Maxine, Interrupted (2003) ... Dr. Sally Godwin actor actors
    1999
  • The Girl Next Door

    Dr. Gayle Bennett

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • The View

    - Ricky Gervais, Sharon Gless (2022) ... Self - Guest actor actors

    - Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, Ali Larter, guest co-host Lee Woodruff (2007) ... Self - Guest actor actors
    1997
  • Cagney & Lacey: True Convictions

    Christine Cagney

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling

    Christine Cagney

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Cagney & Lacey: Together Again

    Christine Cagney

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Cagney & Lacey: The Return

    Christine Cagney

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Separated by Murder

    Betty Gay Wilson / Holly Faye Walker / Peggy Joy Lowe / Lily Mae Stokely

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Touched by an Angel

    - A Perfect Game (2000) ... Ziggy actor actors
    1994
  • Intimate Portrait

    - Sharon Gless (2001) ... Self actor actors
    1993
  • Honor Thy Mother

    Bonnie Von Stein

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • The Outside Woman

    Joyce Mattox

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Letting Go

    Kate

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • Hobson's Choice

    Maggie Hobson

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • The Star Chamber

    Emily Hardin

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • The Magic Statue

    Penny Alston

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • The Miracle of Kathy Miller

    Barbara Miller

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Revenge of the Stepford Wives

    Kaye Foster

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • The Scarlett O'Hara War

    Carole Lombard

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • The Kids Who Knew Too Much

    Karen Goldner

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Hardhat & Legs

    Patricia Botsford

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Tales of the Unexpected

    - Youth from Vienna (1983) ... Caroline Coates actor actors
    1979
  • The Immigrants

    Jean Seldon Lavetta

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • The Crash of Flight 401

    Lesley Fuller

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • The Islander

    Shauna Cooke

    actor

    actors
    1978
  • The Flying Misfits

    Nurse 1st Lt.

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • Baa Baa Black Sheep

    - Flying Misfits (1976) ... Nurse 1st Lt. actor actors
    1976
  • Switch

    Maggie Philbin

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • Airport 1975

    Sharon

    actor

    actors
    1974
  • The Rockford Files

    - The Fourth Man (1976) ... Lori Jenivan actor actors

    - This Case Is Closed (1974) ... Susan Jameson actor actors
    1974
  • My Darling Daughters' Anniversary

    Jennifer

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • Bonnie's Kids

    Sharon - Waitress

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • Kojak

    - Law Dance (1976) ... Nancy Parks actor actors
    1973
  • All My Darling Daughters

    Jennifer

    actor

    actors
    1972
  • Emergency!

    - Election (1975) ... Sculptor actor actors

    - Fuzz Lady (1972) ... Sheila actor actors
    1972
  • Marcus Welby, M.D.

    Kathleen Faverty

    actor

    actors

    - Vanity Case (2) (1976) ... Kathleen Faverty actor actors

    - Vanity Case (1) (1976) ... Kathleen Faverty actor actors

    - All Passions Spent (1976) ... Kathleen Faverty actor actors

    - To Trump An Ace (1976) ... Kathleen Faverty actor actors

    - The Highest Mountain (1976) ... Kathleen Faverty actor actors
    1969
  • Adam-12

    - Clinic on 18th Street (1974) ... Lynn Carmichael actor actors
    1968
  • Ironside

    - House of Terror (1973) ... actor actors
    1967
  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    - The Kids Who Knew Too Much (1980) ... Karen Goldner actor actors
    1954
  • Golden Globe Awards

    - The 49th Golden Globe Awards (1992) ... Self - Nominee actor actors

    - The 48th Golden Globe Awards (1991) ... Self - Nominee actor actors

    - The 45th Golden Globe Awards (1988) ... Self - Nominee actor actors

    - The 44th Golden Globe Awards (1987) ... Self - Nominee actor actors

    - The 43rd Golden Globe Awards (1986) ... Self - Nominee actor actors
    1944