View source for Sharon Gless

{{Short description|American actress (born 1943)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Sharon Gless
| image              = Sharon Gless 1998a.jpg
| caption            = Gless in 1998
| birth_name         = Sharon Marguerite Gless
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1943|05|31}}
| birth_place        = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| known_for          = {{hlist|''[[Switch (American TV series)|Switch]]''|''[[Cagney & Lacey]]''|''[[The Trials of Rosie O'Neill]]''|''[[Queer as Folk (2000 TV series)|Queer as Folk]]''|''[[Burn Notice]]''|''[[Hannah Free (film)|Hannah Free]]''}}
| years_active       = 1970–present
| occupation         = Actress
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Barney Rosenzweig]]|1991}}
| website            = {{url|sharongless.com}}
}}
'''Sharon Marguerite Gless''' (born May 31, 1943) is an American actress known for her television roles. She  portrayed Maggie Philbin on ''[[Switch (American TV series)|Switch]]'' (1975–1978), Sgt. Christine Cagney in the [[police procedural]] drama series ''[[Cagney & Lacey]]'' (1982–1988), and played the title role in ''[[The Trials of Rosie O'Neill]]'' (1990–1992). She was [[Debbie Novotny]] in the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] [[cable television]] series ''[[Queer as Folk (2000 TV series)|Queer as Folk]]'' (2000–2005) and [[Madeline Westen]] on ''[[Burn Notice]]'' (2007–2013). 

A 10-time [[Emmy Award]] nominee<ref name="e">{{cite web|title=("Gless" search results)|url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=Sharon+Gless&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2017-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_award_category=All|website=EMMYS|publisher=Television|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170815022731/http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=Sharon+Gless&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00:00:00&field_nominations_year_1=2017-01-01+00:00:00&field_award_category=All|archive-date=August 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and seven-time [[Golden Globe Award]] nominee, she won a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Golden Globe]] in 1986<ref name="gg">{{cite web|title=("Gless" search results)|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/search?type=country%2Cfilm%2Cperson%2Csong%2Ctv_show&keywords=Gless&op=Search+Winners+%26+Nominees|website=Golden Globe Awards|publisher=The Hollywood Foreign Press Association|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170815022356/http://www.goldenglobes.com/search?type=country,film,person,song,tv_show&keywords=Gless&op=Search+Winners+%26+Nominees|archive-date=August 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Emmys]] in 1986 and 1987 for ''Cagney & Lacey'',<ref name="e" /> and a second Golden Globe in 1991 for ''The Trials of Rosie O'Neill''.<ref name="gg" /> She received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharon Gless|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/sharon-gless|website=Hollywood Walk of Fame|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815023826/http://www.walkoffame.com/sharon-gless|archive-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
A fifth-generation Californian, Gless was born in [[Los Angeles]], the daughter of Marjorie (McCarthy) and [[Sportswear (fashion)|sportswear]] manufacturing executive Dennis J. Gless. She grew up [[Catholic]].<ref name=GuardFamily>[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/08/sharon-gless-my-family-values The Guardian: "Sharon Gless: My family values - The actor, best known for her role as Cagney in Cagney & Lacey, talks about her family" Nikki Spencer] October 7, 2011</ref> She has two brothers, Michael McCarthy Gless and Aric Dennis Gless. Her parents divorced when she was in her teens.<ref name=GuardFamily /> 

Her maternal grandfather was [[Neil S. McCarthy|Neil McCarthy]],<ref name="g" /> a prominent Los Angeles attorney for [[Howard Hughes]] who  had a large clientele of major film-studio executives and actors. Wanting to become an actress, she asked her grandfather's opinion. He told her, "Stay out of it, it's a filthy business!"<ref name="g">{{cite news|last1=Spencer|first1=Nikki|title=Sharon Gless: My family values|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/08/sharon-gless-my-family-values|access-date=August 15, 2017|work=theguardian.com|date=October 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815015617/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/08/sharon-gless-my-family-values|archive-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> A few years later, though, when she spoke to him again about acting, he encouraged her and gave her money for acting classes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/659424811.html?dids=659424811%3A659424811&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Jul+07%2C+2004&author=JACQUELINE+CUTLER.+ZAP2IT&pub=Newsday+%28Combined+editions%29&desc=%27FOLK%27+TALE%2C+Shy+Gless+a+brass+act%2C+Admittedly+timid%2C+she%27s+made+a+career+of+playing+tough%2C+outspoken+characters&pqatl=google |title=''Newsday'', July 7, 2004 |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210024852/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/doc/279790712.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Jul%2007%2C%202004&author=JACQUELINE%20CUTLER.%20ZAP2IT&pub=Newsday%20%28Combined%20editions%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=%27FOLK%27%20TALE%2C%20Shy%20Gless%20a%20brass%20act%2C%20Admittedly%20timid%2C%20she%27s%20made%20a%20career%20of%20playing%20tough%2C%20outspoken%20characters |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/2/Sharon-Gless.html Sharon Gless Biography (1943-)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Gless worked as a secretary for advertising agencies [[Grey Global Group|Grey Advertising]],<ref name=Gless2021>{{cite book | last=Gless | first=Sharon | title=Apparently There Were Complaints |publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]] | publication-place=New York |date=2021-12-07 |isbn=978-1-5011-2595-9}}</ref>{{rp|75}} and then for the independent movie production company General Film Corporation.<ref name=Gless2021/>{{rp|84}} While she worked as a production assistant, Gless studied drama with acting coach [[Estelle Harman]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Witbeck|first1=Charles|title=Sharon Gless Hoping for Larger Role|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13103922/sharon_gless/|work=News-Journal|agency=King Features Syndicate, Inc.|date=July 12, 1976|location=Ohio, Mansfield|page=12|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = August 14, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref> In 1972, talent agent [[Monique James]] asked Gless to prepare a short scene and perform it for her.<ref name=Gless2021/>{{rp|85–86}} Soon after James offered her a 7-year contract with [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]],<ref name=Gless2021/>{{rp|88}} and she remained under contract until Universal ended all contracts in 1981;<ref>{{cite web |title=Bio |url=https://www.sharongless.com/bio |website=sharongless.com |publisher=Sharon Gless |access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> James continued as her agent and mentor for another eleven years.<ref name=Gless2021/>{{rp|242–243}} Near the end of her contract, she was identified in the media as the last of the [[Studio system|contract players]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zB1EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2369,3090474&dq=sharon-gless+contract-player&hl=en |title=Sharon Gless of 'House Calls' |last=Buck |first=Jerry |date=January 31, 1982 |work=Sunday Times-Sentinel |pages=16, § Take-One |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |access-date=November 5, 2011 |location=Gallipolis, Ohio}}</ref> Universal was the last company to use the salaried, old Hollywood apprentice system.

Actress [[Elizabeth Baur]] was Gless' cousin.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=Vernon|title=Days Long for Actress|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3179389/newsjournal/|agency=News-Journal|date=January 28, 1976|page=16|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = September 7, 2015}}</ref>

==Career==

===Film and television===
[[File:Owen Marshall 1972.JPG|thumb|From left: [[Arthur Hill (Canadian actor)|Arthur Hill]], [[Michael Witney]], Gless, [[John Davidson (entertainer)|John Davidson]] and [[Louise Sorel]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law]]'' (1972)]]At the beginning of her career, Gless appeared in numerous television series and [[TV movies]], such as ''[[Revenge of the Stepford Wives]]'', ''[[Faraday & Company]]'' with [[Dan Dailey]] and [[James Naughton]] in 1973 and 1974, ''[[Adam-12]]'' season six, episode 24, ''[[Emergency!]]'' as a sculptor in 1975, and ''[[The Rockford Files]]''.  She played small parts in ''[[Marcus Welby, M.D.]]'' (1969–1976), until being offered the role of Kathleen Faverty, which she played from 1974 to 1976. That was in addition to a variety of guest-starring roles on television, including the part of the classy young secretary, Maggie Philbin, alongside [[Eddie Albert]] and [[Robert Wagner]] on the CBS [[private detective]]/[[con artist]] series ''[[Switch (American TV series)|Switch]]'' (1975–1978). Although she was a newcomer on the show, she got along very well with both Albert and Wagner, both on and off screen. When the show was canceled after the third season, she thanked both Albert and Wagner for giving her career a jump start and remained close friends with them.

While under contract with Universal, she co-starred in a number of properties, including the 1979 [[Steven Bochco]] television sitcom, ''Turnabout'' (based on the [[Thorne Smith]] 1931 novel about a husband and wife who temporarily switch bodies), which failed to be a ratings blockbuster, and briefly in the sitcom ''[[House Calls (TV series)|House Calls]]'' (in which she replaced [[Lynn Redgrave]], who had left due to a contract dispute).

Beginning with the series' seventh episode / first full season, Gless replaced actress [[Meg Foster]] in the role of [[NYPD]] police detective [[Christine Cagney]] on ''Cagney & Lacey.'' (The role was originated in the pilot installment, by [[Loretta Swit]]. Swit, like Foster, was chosen as Cagney because although the character of Cagney had been created with Gless herself in mind, she was unavailable for the pilot or the first seven installments of the first season.)  In 1991, she married the series' executive producer, [[Barney Rosenzweig]], who speaks in his book ''Cagney & Lacey...and Me'' about wanting Sharon Gless from the beginning and Gless being unavailable due to her contract with Universal. Rosenzweig created the 1990–1992 CBS drama series ''[[The Trials of Rosie O'Neill]]'' for Gless, and uncredited he played a [[psychiatrist]], who was only partially seen. She has received six Emmy nominations—including two wins and a [[Golden Globe]] win for her role as Cagney—earned two additional Emmy nominations and a second Golden Globe win for the series.[[File:Sharon Gless 1991.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Gless at the [[Emmy Awards]] 1991]]
In 1993 and 1995, Gless and her television partner, [[Tyne Daly]], recreated their title roles in four critically acclaimed as well as popular ''[[Cagney & Lacey]]'' television movies. Gless and Daly jokingly called these "The Menopause Years". In 1998, Gless narrated the [[Documentary film|documentary]] ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]'', which received an [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Documentary Feature|Best Documentary Feature]].

Between 2000 and 2005, Gless appeared as [[Hal Sparks]]' mother, [[Debbie Novotny]], in her biggest and most critically acclaimed role since ''Cagney & Lacey'' in the acclaimed Showtime cable television series ''Queer as Folk.'' In 2000, she appeared on an episode of ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'' entitled "The Perfect Game". On May 26, 2005, she was one of the mourners at Eddie Albert's funeral, along with ex-''Switch'' co-stars Robert Wagner and [[Charlie Callas]].

In 2006, Gless starred in the [[BBC]] television series ''[[The State Within]]''. The next year she co-starred in the [[USA Network]] cable television series ''[[Burn Notice]]'', playing [[Michael Westen]]'s ([[Jeffrey Donovan]]) mother, [[Madeline Westen]].<ref name="tbt">{{cite news|last1=Deggans|first1=Eric|title=Sharon Gless is smokin' in 'Burn Notice'|url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/sharon-gless-is-smokin-in-burn-notice/1109459|access-date=August 15, 2017|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=July 17, 2010|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815020846/http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/sharon-gless-is-smokin-in-burn-notice/1109459|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, Gless was a guest star on several episodes of the [[FX Network]] cable television series ''[[Nip/Tuck]]'' as an unstable agent, [[Colleen Rose]], a role that netted her an [[Emmy Award]] nomination. In 2009, Gless starred in her first leading role as a lesbian character in the independent film ''[[Hannah Free (film)|Hannah Free]]'' (Ripe Fruit Films), described as a film about a lifelong love affair between an independent spirit and the woman she calls home. The film is based on a screenplay by the Jeff Award–winning playwright Claudia Allen and directed by Wendy Jo Carlton.

In 2017, Gless was announced as appearing in one episode of the BBC's ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', the world's longest-running medical drama, as surgeon [[Zsa Zsa Harper-Jenkinson]]. She appears in the 13th episode of the serial's [[Casualty (series 32)|32nd series]]. Gless called Zsa Zsa a "wonderful character".<ref name="casualty">{{cite press release|title=BBC One's Casualty kicks off new series with special two-part episode|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2017/casualty-sharon-gless|publisher=BBC Media Centre|date=July 30, 2017|access-date=November 14, 2017}}</ref> Gless was invited to appear in the show by one of the producers, and expressed interest in reprising the role. Gless' appearance marked the first time the show has flown an American to the UK to film a role.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reilly |first1=Elaine |title=Sharon Gless: 'Apparently it's the first time Casualty have flown an American over to play a role!' |url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/casualty/casualty-news/sharon-gless-zsa-zsa-surgeon-502939/ |access-date=December 8, 2018 |work=What' s on TV |date=November 14, 2017}}</ref> She reprised the role<ref name="casualty2">{{cite tweet |user=BBCCasualty |number=1051194611937423360 |date= October 13, 2018 |title= Zsa Zsa to the rescue! 💪 #Casualty is on @BBCOne RIGHT NOW!}}</ref> on the October 13, 2018 episode.

Gless served on the advisory board of the [[Los Angeles Student Film Institute]].<ref>{{cite book|title=National Student Film Institute/L.A: The Sixteenth Annual Los Angeles Student Film Festival|date=June 10, 1994|location=The Directors Guild Theatre|pages=10–11|ref=Program}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Los Angeles Student Film Institute: 13th Annual Student Film Festival|date=June 7, 1991|location=The Directors Guild Theatre|page=3|ref=Program}}</ref>

===Theater===
Gless made her stage debut in [[Lillian Hellman]]'s ''[[Watch on the Rhine]]'' at Stage West in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]].{{when|date=December 2023}} Gless had two appearances in London's [[West End theatre|West End]], first in the fall of 1992 with [[Bill Paterson (actor)|Bill Paterson]], when she created the role of [[Annie Wilkes]] in the stage version of [[Stephen King]]'s ''[[Misery (play)|Misery]]'' at the Criterion Theatre, and then in 1996, where she appeared opposite [[Tom Conti]] in [[Neil Simon]]'s ''[[Chapter Two (play)|Chapter Two]]'', at the [[Gielgud Theatre]].

She starred at Chicago playhouse The Victory Gardens Theater in [[Claudia Allen]]'s ''Cahoots'', as well as several stints, including an evening at [[Madison Square Garden]] with the National Company of [[Eve Ensler]]'s ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]''.

Gless's most recent stage appearance was as Jane Juska in ''[[A Round-Heeled Woman: the play|A Round-Heeled Woman]]'', [[Jane Prowse]]'s stage adaptation of [[Jane Juska]]'s book ''A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-life Adventures in Sex and Romance''. The first production ran in San Francisco in early 2010. She starred in a new production in Miami, December 2010 - February 2011, directed by [[Jane Prowse]]. A production took place in London, transferring in November 2011 from Riverside Studios to the Aldwych Theatre, where the run closed on January 14, 2012.

== Publications ==
* 2021: ''Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir'', Simon & Schuster ([[Autobiography]])

==Personal life==
In 1991, Gless married [[Barney Rosenzweig]], the producer of ''Cagney & Lacey''.<ref name=GuardFamily />

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Bonnie's Kids]]''
| Sharon
| 
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Airport 1975]]''
| Sharon
| 
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Star Chamber]]''
| Emily Hardin
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life]]''
| Narrator
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Bring Him Home''
| Mary Daley
| 
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Hannah Free]]''
| Hannah
| 
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Once Fallen]]''
| Sue
| 
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Fast Charlie]]''
| Mavis
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| rowspan="6" | 1972
| ''[[Ironside (1967 TV series)|Ironside]]''
| Jennifer
| Episode: "House of Terror"
|-
| ''[[The Longest Night (1972 film)|The Longest Night]]''
| Switchboard Operator
| Television film
|-
| ''[[The Sixth Sense (American TV series)|The Sixth Sense]]''
| Kay
| Episode: "Coffin, Coffin in the Sky"
|-
| ''[[McCloud (TV series)|McCloud]]''
| Sgt. Maggie Clinger
| Episode: "The New Mexican Connection"
|-
| ''All My Darling Daughters''
| Jennifer
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Emergency!]]''
| Undercover Police officer
| Episode: "Fuzz Lady"
|-
| 1972–1976
| ''[[Marcus Welby, M.D.]]''
| Kathleen Faverty
| 21 episodes
|-
| 1973
| ''My Darling Daughters' Anniversary''
| Jennifer
| Television film
|-
| 1973–1974
| ''[[Faraday & Company]]''
| Holly Barrett
| 4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1974
| ''[[Adam-12]]''
| Lynn Carmichael
| Episode: "Clinic on 18th St."
|-
| ''[[The Bob Newhart Show]]''
| Rosalie Shaeffer
| Episode: "The Modernization of Emily"
|-
| ''[[The Rockford Files]]''
| Susan Jameson
| Episode: "This Case Is Closed"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1975
| ''[[Lucas Tanner]]''
| Miss Reynolds
| Episode: "Those Who Cannot, Teach"
|-
| ''[[Emergency!]]''
| Sculptor
| Episode: "Election"
|-
| 1975–1978
| ''[[Switch (American TV series)|Switch]]''
| Maggie Philbin
| 71 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1976
| ''[[Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]''
| Navy Nurse
| Episode: "The Flying Misfits"
|-
| ''[[The Rockford Files]]''
| Lori Jenivan
| Episode: "The Fourth Man"
|-
| ''[[Kojak]]''
| Nancy Parks
| Episode: "Law Dance"
|-
| ''[[Richie Brockelman, Private Eye|Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours]]''
| Darcy Davenport
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1978
| ''[[Crash (1978 film)|Crash]]''
| Lesley Fuller
| Television film
|-
| ''[[The Immigrants]]''
| Jean Seldon Lavetta
|  miniseries
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1979
| ''[[Centennial (miniseries)|Centennial]]''
| Sidney Endermann
| 5 episodes
|-
| ''[[Turnabout (TV series)|Turnabout]]''
| Penny Alston/Sam Alston
| 7 episodes
|-
| ''The Last Convertible''
| Kay Haddon
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1980
| ''[[Hardhat and Legs]]''
| Patricia Botsford
| Television film
|-
| ''The Kids Who Knew Too Much''
| Karen Goldner
| Television film
|-
| ''[[The Scarlett O'Hara War]]''
| [[Carole Lombard]]
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Revenge of the Stepford Wives]]''
| Kaye Foster
| Television film
|-
| 1981
| ''[[The Miracle of Kathy Miller]]''
| Barbara Miller
| Television film
|-
| 1982
| ''[[House Calls (TV series)|House Calls]]''
| Jane Jeffries
| 15 episodes
|-
| 1982–1988
| ''[[Cagney & Lacey]]''
| Det. Sgt. Christine Cagney
| 119 episodes<br>[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama]]<br>[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] <small>(1986–1987)</small><br>[[Viewers for Quality Television|Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series]] <small>(1985–1988)</small><br>Nominated—[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama]] <small>(1985, 1987–1989)</small><br>Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] <small>(1983–1985, 1988)</small>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1983
| ''[[Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)|Tales of the Unexpected]]''
| Caroline Coates
| Episode: "Youth from Vienna"
|-
| ''[[Hobson's Choice (play)|Hobson's Choice]]''
| Maggie Hobson
| Television film
|-
| 1984
| ''The Sky's No Limit''
| Joanna Douglas
| Television film
|-
| 1985
| ''Letting Go''
| Kate
| Television film
|-
| 1989
| ''The Outside Woman''
| Joyce Mattox
| Television film
|-
| 1990–1992
| ''[[The Trials of Rosie O'Neill]]''
| Rosie O'Neill
| 26 episodes<br>[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama]]<br>Nominated—[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama]]<br>Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] <small>(1991–1992)</small>
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Honor Thy Mother (film)|Honor Thy Mother]]''
| Bonnie Von Stein
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| ''Separated by Murder''
| Various
| Television film
|-
| ''[[List of Cagney & Lacey episodes#TV-movies (1994–1996)|Cagney & Lacey: The Return]]''
| Christine Cagney-Burton
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1995
| ''[[List of Cagney & Lacey episodes#TV-movies (1994–1996)|Cagney & Lacey: Together Again]]''
| Christine Cagney-Burton
| Television film
|-
| ''[[List of Cagney & Lacey episodes#TV-movies (1994–1996)|Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling]]''
| Christine Cagney
| Television film
|-
| 1996
| ''[[List of Cagney & Lacey episodes#TV-movies (1994–1996)|Cagney & Lacey: True Convictions]]''
| Christine Cagney
| Television film
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Promised Land (1996 TV series)|Promised Land]]''
| Alex Tolan
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1998
| ''The Girl Next Door''
| Dr. Gayle Bennett
| Television film
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Touched by an Angel]]''
| Ziggy
| Episode: "The Perfect Game"
|-
| 2000–2005
| ''[[Queer as Folk (2000 TV series)|Queer as Folk]]''
| [[List of Queer as Folk characters#Debbie Novotny|Debbie Novotny]]
| 79 episodes
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Judging Amy]]''
| Dr. Sally Godwin
| Episode: "Maxine Interrupted"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[The State Within]]''
| Lynne Warner
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2007–2013
| ''[[Burn Notice]]''
| Madeline Westen
| 111 episodes<br>[[Gracie Allen Awards|Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]]<br>Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]]<br>Nominated—[[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]]
|-
| 2008–2009
| ''[[Nip/Tuck]]''
| Colleen Rose
| 4 episodes<br>Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| ''[[Rizzoli & Isles]]''
| Inmate
| Episode: "2M7258-100"
|-
| ''[[The Exorcist (TV series)|The Exorcist]]''
| Chris MacNeil
| 4 episodes 
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Gifted (American TV series)|The Gifted]]''
| Ellen Strucker
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2017–2020
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| [[Zsa Zsa Harper-Jenkinson]]
| 4 episodes<ref name="casualty" />
|-
| 2019
| ''Constance''
| Raylynn
| Television film
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Station 19]]''
| Dottie
| Episode: "We Build Then We Break"
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Result
|-
| 1983
|  [[Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
| rowspan=15| ''[[Cagney & Lacey]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1984
|  Emmy Award
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3| 1985
|  Emmy Award
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{nom}}
|-
|  [[Golden Globe Award]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|  [[Viewers for Quality Television Awards]]
| Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=3| 1986
|  Emmy Award
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
|  Golden Globe Award
| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
| {{won}}
|-
|  Viewers for Quality Television Awards
| Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=3| 1987
|  Emmy Award
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
| Viewers for Quality Television Awards
| Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
|  Golden Globe Award
| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3| 1988
|  [[Emmy Award]]
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{nom}}
|-
| Viewers for Quality Television Awards
| Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
|  Golden Globe Award
| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1989
| Golden Globe Award
| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2| 1991
|  Emmy Award
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| rowspan=4| ''[[The Trials of Rosie O'Neill]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
|  Golden Globe Award
| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2| 1992
|  Emmy Award
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{nom}}
|-
|  Golden Globe Award
| Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1995
|  [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
| Star on the Walk of Fame at 7065 [[Hollywood Blvd]]
|  
| {{won}}
|-
| 2004
|  [[TV Land Awards]]
| Favorite Crimestopper Duo
| rowspan=3| ''[[Cagney & Lacey]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2006
|  TV Land Awards
| Coolest Crime Fighting Team
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2007
|  TV Land Awards
| Favorite Lady Gumshoe
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2008
| Emmy Award
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[Nip/Tuck]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2| 2009
| [[LesGaiCineMad|Madrid International Film Festival]]
| Best Actress
| rowspan=2|''[[Hannah Free]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| Film Out San Diego Audience Award
| Best Actress in a Feature Film
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=3| 2010
| [[Gracie Award]]
| Outstanding Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama Series
| rowspan=3|''[[Burn Notice]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Emmy Award
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
*
* {{emmytvlegends name|sharon-gless}}
* [http://www.aroundheeledwoman.com A Round-Heeled Woman]
* {{IMDb name|0002102}}
* [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/G/htmlG/glesssharon/glesssharon.htm Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915171947/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/G/htmlG/glesssharon/glesssharon.htm |date=September 15, 2008 }} at [[Museum of Broadcast Communications]]
* {{cite web|url=http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/issue/i05-04/f-1-Sharon_Gless.php |title=Interview |publisher=OutSmart magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107185226/http://www.outsmartmagazine.com/issue/i05-04/f-1-Sharon_Gless.php |archive-date=November 7, 2006 }}
* {{cite web |url= http://thetvaddict.com/2008/07/03/sharon-gless-talks-burn-notice/ |title= Sharon Gless Talks Burn Notice |publisher= The TV Addict |date= July 3, 2008 }}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Sharon Gless
|list =
{{EmmyAward DramaLeadActress}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actress TV Drama}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gless, Sharon}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (television) winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]