Shari Belafonte

Shari Belafonte is an American actress, singer, and model, born to the famous Harry Belafonte and Julie Robinson. She is known for her work in various television shows and films, including Hotel, Beyond Reality, and The Player. Shari Belafonte has also been involved in several charity organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Her career has been influenced by her family's involvement in the entertainment industry, with her father being a renowned calypso singer and actor, and her mother being a model and dancer who worked with Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham.

● Early Life and Education

Shari Belafonte was born in New York City and spent her early years surrounded by the arts, with her father, Harry Belafonte, being a close friend of Sidney Poitier and Duke Ellington. She attended Horace Mann School and later enrolled in Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied drama and psychology. During her time at Carnegie Mellon University, she was exposed to the works of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, which influenced her interest in theater and performing arts. Shari Belafonte's education also included training with Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler, who were both renowned acting coaches.

● Career

Shari Belafonte began her career as a model, working with Ford Models and appearing on the cover of Vogue and Glamour. She later transitioned to acting, landing roles in television shows such as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island, alongside Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize. Her breakthrough role came when she played the character of Julie Gillette in the television series Hotel, which was produced by Aaron Spelling and starred James Brolin and Connie Sellecca. Shari Belafonte has also appeared in films such as The Player, directed by Robert Altman, and Murder, She Wrote, alongside Angela Lansbury and Tom Bosley.

● Personal Life

Shari Belafonte is married to Sam Behrens, an American actor known for his roles in General Hospital and Sunset Beach. The couple has been involved in various charity organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which was founded by William F. Austin. Shari Belafonte has also been a supporter of the Environmental Defense Fund and the World Wildlife Fund, and has worked with celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts to raise awareness about environmental issues. Her personal life has also been influenced by her family's involvement in the civil rights movement, with her father, Harry Belafonte, being a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

● Filmography

Shari Belafonte's filmography includes a wide range of television shows and films, such as Hotel, Beyond Reality, and The Player. She has also appeared in Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island, alongside Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize. Some of her notable film roles include Speed Zone!, directed by Jim Drake, and Fire, Ice and Dynamite, directed by Willy Bogner. Shari Belafonte has worked with directors such as Robert Altman and Willy Bogner, and has shared the screen with actors such as Timothy Hutton and Rutger Hauer.

● Awards and Nominations

Shari Belafonte has been nominated for several awards throughout her career, including a NAACP Image Award and a Soap Opera Digest Award. She has also won a People's Choice Award for her role in Hotel, alongside James Brolin and Connie Sellecca. Shari Belafonte has been recognized for her work in the entertainment industry by organizations such as the Hollywood Women's Photo and Press Club and the American Women in Radio and Television. Her awards and nominations are a testament to her talent and dedication to her craft, and she continues to be an inspiration to aspiring actors and models around the world, including Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Category:American actresses