Sheila Kelley

Sheila Kelley (born October 9,[1] 1963)[2] is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Gwen Taylor on L.A. Law as Dr. Charlotte “Charley” Bennett Hayes on Sisters and as Debbie Wexler on The Good Doctor.

Kelley was raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania,[3] the youngest child in a household of six daughters and three sons. The two eldest were children of Leonard and Kate Thom; following Thom’s 1950 death in a train accident, Kate married mining engineer and inventor Jay Kelley, with whom she had seven children including Sheila.[2]

Kelley studied ballet, anatomy and movement physiology at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.[4] One day during the months immediately following her freshman year, Kelley began suffering from the effects of congenital hip dysplasia, which ended her hopes of a dance career. Kelley switched to taking acting classes, and graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. After working in public relations, she acquired a talent agent, began performing in plays, and with friends formed an Off-Off-Broadway theater troupe, The Elephant Company.