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Born in Los Angeles, Sharon was raised in Sioux City, Iowa, as the only child of a widowed school administrator. From the moment she took her final curtsy in her first ballet recital, she was captivated by performing. As a teen, she spent time at the local community playhouse until she landed a role. She attended summer theater programs at the University of Denver and Northwestern University's Cherub Program during high school. Sharon initially majored in Speech and Theatre at Macalester College before transferring to the University of Iowa, where she graduated with honors.
Her first significant TV role was co-hosting "The Morning Show" at the CBS affiliate in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She soon realized she preferred scripted work over live interviews.
Her career took an exciting turn with her first professional acting contract at the Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. The repertory company typically rotated 3-4 plays simultaneously, with rehearsals and performances six days a week for ten months annually. This demanding schedule offered a remarkable variety of roles and an unparalleled learning experience for a young actor, for which she remains deeply grateful.
After three years, Sharon moved to New York to test her abilities. Within weeks, she began auditioning for commercials. Her wholesome Midwestern appearance led to immediate casting, and over the next decade, she became a familiar face in ads for brands like Maxwell House coffee and Duncan Hines cake mix. The income from commercials enabled her to perform in regional theaters such as Seattle Rep, San Diego's Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. She also appeared off-Broadway with the Manhattan Theatre Club and the Phoenix Company and served as an understudy on Broadway in "The Visit" and "Much Ado About Nothing." Her final acting role before transitioning to a new phase in Los Angeles was a recurring part on the daytime serial "Search for Tomorrow."
For two years, Sharon commuted between New York and Los Angeles. Skilled in both comedy and drama, she quickly found work in L.A., appearing in TV series and local professional theater productions. Two pilots she starred in were picked up as series, though neither lasted long. The sitcom "Angie" showcased her comedic talents; although it aired only 36 episodes, the friendships she made endured. Other pilots, including projects featuring Hal Linden and Jim Nabors, did not proceed. Additionally, her guest roles on "Trauma Center" and "Snoops" are unrecorded in official credits. Despite steady TV work, she continued pursuing stage roles, returning to the Asolo Repertory Company in 1996.
Sharon retired from the Asolo in 2010 with the comedy "Managing Maxine," clips of which are available on YouTube. She and her husband, actor and writer Stephen Johnson, reside in Sarasota, Florida.
