Shari Belafonte
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:47:11 PM Wikipedia source
Shari Lynn Belafonte (born September 22, 1954) is an American actress, model and singer. The daughter of singer and actor Harry Belafonte, she began her career as a fashion model before making her big screen debut appearing in the 1982 drama film If You Could See What I Hear. She is best known for her role as Julie Gillette in the ABC drama series Hotel from 1983 to 1988. She later went to star in the Canadian science fiction series Beyond Reality (1991–1993). Belafonte also released two studio albums in the 1980s, and acted on stage in later years.
Infobox
Born
Shari Lynn Belafonte (1954-09-22) September 22, 1954 (age 71)New York City, U.S.
Occupations
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Years active
1977–present
Spouses
mw- Robert Harper (m. 1977–1988) Sam Behrens (m. 1989)
Father
Harry Belafonte
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1982
Role(s)
Heather Johnson
Notes
Biography/drama movie about blind musician Tom Sullivan.
Directed by Eric Till.
Role(s)
Linda Flores
Notes
Also known as Being from Another Planet
B-movie directed by Tom Kennedy.
1984
Overnight Sensation
Role(s)
Daphne
Notes
Short film
1989
Role(s)
Margaret
Notes
Also known as Cannonball Fever
A comedy film set around an illegal cross-country race (inspired by the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash).
1990
Murder by Numbers
Role(s)
Lisa
Notes
Directed and written by Paul Leder.
Role(s)
Serena
Notes
German original title Feuer, Eis und Dynamit
German feature length sports film directed by Willy Bogner.
Sequel to Fire and Ice.
1997
Mars
Role(s)
Doc Halliday
Notes
Directed by Jon Hess.
2015
Primrose Lane
Role(s)
Dr. Hunt
Notes
World Music & Independent Film Festival Award for Best Actress in Supporting Role
2017
Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk
Role(s)
Flo
2018
Plastic Daydream
Role(s)
Hazel Montgomery
Notes
Directed by Kathy Kolla.
Say Yes
Role(s)
Dr. Bauman
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
| 1982 | If You Could See What I Hear | Heather Johnson | Biography/drama movie about blind musician Tom Sullivan. Directed by Eric Till. | |
| Time Walker | Linda Flores | Also known as Being from Another Planet B-movie directed by Tom Kennedy. | ||
| 1984 | Overnight Sensation | Daphne | Short film | |
| 1989 | Speed Zone | Margaret | Also known as Cannonball Fever A comedy film set around an illegal cross-country race (inspired by the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash). | |
| 1990 | Murder by Numbers | Lisa | Directed and written by Paul Leder. | |
| Fire, Ice and Dynamite | Serena | German original title Feuer, Eis und Dynamit German feature length sports film directed by Willy Bogner. Sequel to Fire and Ice. | ||
| 1992 | The Player | The Player | Cameo | |
| 1997 | Mars | Doc Halliday | Directed by Jon Hess. | |
| 2014 | Teacher of the Year | Robin Rivers | ||
| 2015 | Primrose Lane | Dr. Hunt | World Music & Independent Film Festival Award for Best Actress in Supporting Role | |
| 2017 | Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk | Flo | ||
| 2018 | Plastic Daydream | Hazel Montgomery | Directed by Kathy Kolla. | |
| Say Yes | Dr. Bauman |
· Filmography › Television
1981
Role(s)
Bank Teller
Notes
Episode: "What're Girls Like You Doing in a Bank Like This?"
1982
1983–1988
Role(s)
Hotel
Notes
Julie Gillette
1983
1984
Role(s)
Terry Cook
Notes
Episode: "Love Is Blind/Baby Makers/Lady & The Maid/Luise Rainer"
Battle of the Network Stars
Role(s)
Host
Notes
Episode: "Special #16"
1985
Role(s)
Melissa Cavender
Notes
Also known as In the Midnight Hour.
An American comedy-horror film.
A made-for-television film directed by Jack Bender.
1987
1989
Role(s)
Cameo appearance
Notes
Uncredited
American television miniseries based upon the critically acclaimed 1982 novel of the same name by Gloria Naylor.
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Also known as A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration: 50 Years of Hanna-Barbera.
A live-action and animated television special hosted by Tony Danza and Annie Potts.
Role(s)
Kathy Grant
Notes
12th made-for-television film based on Perry Mason.
1990
Role(s)
Blanche
Notes
Also known as Rick Moranis in Gravedale High
Animated series
Main cast
1991
The Jaleel White Special
Role(s)
Herself
1991–1993
Role(s)
Beyond Reality
Notes
Laura Wingate
1994
Role(s)
Martine
Notes
A romance film based on the romance novel written by Sandra Brown and published in 1992.
A made-for-television film.
Role(s)
Lupe Wolf
1995
Role(s)
April Lambert
Notes
A made-for-television film by Wendy Wasserstein adapted from her play of the same name.
1996–1997
Role(s)
Hey Arnold!
Notes
Mrs. Johanssen (voice)
1998
Role(s)
Elizabeth Trent
Notes
A made-for-television film that is part of the Babylon 5 science fiction universe.
Written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Jesús Salvador Treviño.
Loving Evangeline
Role(s)
Ellen Beecham
Notes
A made-for-television film
2000
The Octopus Show
Role(s)
Narrator
2003
It's Christopher Lowell
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Episode: "Do-Gooders"
2010
2016–2017
Role(s)
General Hospital
Notes
Mayor Janice Lomax
2019
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
| 1979 | The Big Hex of Little Lulu | Janie | A made-for-television film | |
| 1981 | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | Bank Teller | Episode: "What're Girls Like You Doing in a Bank Like This?" | |
| Hart to Hart | Cleo | Episode: "The Latest In High Fashion Murder" | ||
| 1982 | Trapper John, M.D. | Maggie | Episode: "Three on a Mismatch" | |
| Diff'rent Strokes | Monique | Episode: "The Older Woman" | ||
| 1983–1988 | Hotel | Julie Gillette | Series regular, 115 episodesBambi Award (1985) | |
| 1983 | Battle of the Network Stars | ABC Team | Episode: "Special " | |
| Family Feud | Herself | Episode: "Battle of the Perfect 10s" | ||
| 1984 | The Love Boat | Terry Cook | Episode: "Love Is Blind/Baby Makers/Lady & The Maid/Luise Rainer" | |
| Velvet | Julie Rhodes | A made-for-television film directed by Richard Lang. | ||
| Battle of the Network Stars | Host | Episode: "Special " | ||
| 1985 | Matt Houston | Joanna | Episode: "New Orleans Nightmare" | |
| The Midnight Hour | Melissa Cavender | Also known as In the Midnight Hour. An American comedy-horror film. A made-for-television film directed by Jack Bender. | ||
| 1986 | Kate's Secret | Gail | A made-for-television film directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman | |
| 1987 | Square One TV | Herself | Episode: "Episode 107" | |
| The Late Show | Herself | Original Host was Joan Rivers. Episode: "October 13, 1986" | ||
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Cameo appearance | Uncredited American television miniseries based upon the critically acclaimed 1982 novel of the same name by Gloria Naylor. | |
| Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration | Herself | Also known as A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration: 50 Years of Hanna-Barbera. A live-action and animated television special hosted by Tony Danza and Annie Potts. | ||
| Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin | Kathy Grant | 12th made-for-television film based on Perry Mason. | ||
| 1990 | Gravedale High | Blanche | Also known as Rick Moranis in Gravedale High Animated series Main cast | |
| 1991 | The Jaleel White Special | Herself | ||
| 1991–1993 | Beyond Reality | Laura Wingate | Main cast | |
| 1994 | French Silk | Martine | A romance film based on the romance novel written by Sandra Brown and published in 1992. A made-for-television film. | |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Lupe Wolf | |||
| 1995 | The Heidi Chronicles | April Lambert | A made-for-television film by Wendy Wasserstein adapted from her play of the same name. | |
| 1996–1997 | Hey Arnold! | Mrs. Johanssen (voice) | Recurring seasons 1 and 2. | |
| 1997 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Diana Cruz (voice) | Episode: "Other Space" | |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: Thirdspace | Elizabeth Trent | A made-for-television film that is part of the Babylon 5 science fiction universe. Written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Jesús Salvador Treviño. | |
| Loving Evangeline | Ellen Beecham | A made-for-television film | ||
| 2000 | The Octopus Show | Narrator | ||
| 2001 | The District | Esther Henderson | Episode: "The Project" | |
| 2003 | It's Christopher Lowell | Herself | Episode: "Do-Gooders" | |
| 2004 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Herself | ||
| 2008 | Nip/Tuck | Catherine Wicke | Episode: "Lulu Grandiron" | |
| 2010 | Miami Medical | Kimberly Davis | Episode: "Golden Hour" | |
| 2016–2017 | General Hospital | Mayor Janice Lomax | Unknown episodes | |
| 2019 | gen:LOCK | Roberta Chase | Episode: "The Pilot" | |
| 2019–present | The Morning Show | Julia | Recurring roleNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2021 & 2024) | |
| Sistas | Lisa Mott | Recurring role | ||
| 2020 | 9-1-1 | Shirley | Episode: "Seize the Day" | |
| 2023 | Station 19 | Gertrude Rose | Episode: "We Build Then We Break" |
References
- Bob McCann: Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television, 2009, p.39 [1]https://books.google.com/books?id=X7ZYsnTPIhwC&dq=shari+belafonte+1954+september+22&pg=PA39
- Genia Fogelson: Harry Belafonte, 1991, p. 66https://books.google.com/books?id=Oadlz5gMG9UC&dq=shari+lynn+belafonte&pg=PA66
- Harry Belafonte, Michael Schnayerson: My Song: A Memoir of Art, Race & Defiance, 2012, p. 151 [2]https://books.google.com/books?id=3VYrsG8ea0AC&dq=shari+belafonte+1954+september+22&pg=PT151
- Harry Belafonte He Married Politics and Pop Culture People Magazine February 21, 2022 Page 39 From intro by magazine st
- Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1989/11/19/shari-belafonte/369888f7-6686-428a-8bc6-43143c486b5d/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/books/review/my-song-by-harry-belafonte-with-michael-shnayerson-book-review.html
- AllMoviehttps://www.allmovie.com/artist/shari-belafonte-p5055
- news.google.comhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19850824&id=W3syAAAAIBAJ&pg=6831,5984763&hl=ru
- Palm Springs Lifehttps://www.palmspringslife.com/shari-belafonte-lends-her-charitable-passion-to-oscar-viewing-party/
- Soap Opera Digesthttps://web.archive.org/web/20151218001443/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/shari-belafonte-ghs-new-mayor
- General Hospitalhttps://web.archive.org/web/20151219012125/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/general-hospital-recasts-the-role-of-mayor-lomax-with-shari-belafonte/2015/12/15
- ScreenRanthttps://screenrant.com/morning-show-apple-cast-character-guide/
- Fictiondb.comhttp://www.fictiondb.com/author/sandra-brown~french-silk~6148~b.htm
- USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/happyeverafter/2013/10/27/sandra-brown-interview-deadline/3185751/