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Shari Belafonte
  • Biography

Shari Belafonte

Shari Belafonte has been named one of the top ten celebrity endorsers by The Wall Street Journal. From the moment she appeared on the scene in the infamous Calvin Klein ads and in the very popular series, Hotel, she has been working non-stop both in the U.S. and internationally as an actress, model, writer and singer. Her multifaceted career also includes moderating and voiceovers. She has producing credits for theatre, public and network television, and feature films. In addition to her affiliation with numerous children's, animal and environmental causes, she has also become the international spokesperson for the Starlight Children's Foundation.

Shari attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts before transferring to Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama. She started as a production assistant and assistant director in public television on the East Coast before moving to Los Angeles, where she became an assistant to the publicist at Hanna-Barbera Productions. While getting her hands wet behind the scenes, she has also received a number of modeling and commercial assignments, and has graced the cover of over 300 magazines.

Early in her career, she landed a role opposite The Beastmaster's Marc Singer in the feature film, If You Could Hear What I Hear. Other feature films include: The Time Walker, Speed Zone with John Candy, Murder By Numbers, Fire, Ice and Dynamite starring opposite Roger Moore, and Mars.

Well-known producer Aaron Spelling cast her as 'Julie Gillette' in the successful ABC television series, Hotel, which ran for five years in the 1980s. It was during that time that Shari began her music career on Metrone Records, releasing several albums in Europe.

Shari has been the spokesperson for Bally's International Heath and Fitness, Slim- Fast, The Popular Club Plan (the parent company of J.Crew) and is currently the spokesperson for Diet System 6. She made her theatrical debut playing the title role of 'Tamara' in 1990's longrunning Los Angeles production. Shortly thereafter, she starred as 'Dr. Laura Wingate' in the USA Network's dramatic series, Beyond Reality, which ran for two years. Her telefilms include: The Night the City Screamed, Velvet, Murder in Mississippi, The Midnight Hour, Kate's Secret, French Silk, and The Heidi Chronicles. Most recently, Shari completed co-starring roles in two telefilms: opposite Bruce Boxleitner in the TNT original film, Thirdspace: A Babylon 5 Adventure, and a starring role in the Harlequin romance, Loving Evangeline, for Showtime, both of which aired in late 1998.

Shari's successful video, Massage for Health, which was released in 1988, continues to sell today. Last year, in partnership with Zyloware Corporation (who also manufacture and distribute the Sophia Lauren, Nautica and Stetson eyewear lines), Shari launched her own lines of corrective eyewear and sunglasses, the 'Enerjae Collection' by Shari and the 'Amara Collection' by Shari.

She co-hosted the syndicated series Lifestyles with Robin Leach and Shari Belafonte, an updated version of the successful 11-year-old Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and can currently be seen as the host of the BET/Starz 3 Premium Movie Channel, and on the Internet hosting Costa Rican Adventures for Microsoft's Mungo Park adventure series. An avid photographer, she is completing her first book of photos, some of which were shot at exotic locations around the world.

In addition, Shari hosted "Travels in the Caribbean and Mexico with Shari Belafonte" for Small World Productions. This 13-episode series which she also coproduced, has run on PBS around the country. She has also recently partnered with Greystone Communications to produce feature and television films, the first being, The Legends of Mary Fields for Showtime, based on a true story about the first black stagecoach driver.

Shari is currently in the music studio recording her next album which will be released on Niger Records.

Shari lives with her husband, actor Sam Behrens, in the San Fernando Valley, along with their four dogs. When they're not busy working, they golf, ski and travel.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.

Shari Belafonte Facts

OccupationActress
BirthdaySeptember 22, 1954 (69)
SignVirgo
BirthplaceNew York, New York, USA
Height5' 5" (1m65)  How tall is Shari Belafonte compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Not available.