Sheila Wills (born August 11, 1947[1]) is an American actress, also known as Sheila DeWindt. She is known for her regular role on the television series B. J. and the Bear, and recurring roles on series including Days of Our Lives, Battlestar Galactica, and Generations.[6][7]

Sheila Wills
Born (1947-08-11) August 11, 1947 (age 77)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Other namesSheila DeWindt[1]
Alma materOccidental College[3]
OccupationActress
Years active1975–present
Notable credit(s)Role as Angie on NBC-TV series B. J. and the Bear, numerous TV series guest or recurring appearances
SpouseHal DeWindt (1977-1981)[2][3]
PartnerPhilip Michael Thomas (1982-?)[3][4]
ChildrenMelody Thomas
India Thomas[3]
RelativesDeborah Lacey (sister)[5]

Early life and education

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Wills was born in Louisiana and raised in Los Angeles, California.[2] She started working at a young age, stating in 1982, "I've had a job since I was 11 - it might have been waiting tables or cleaning houses... but it helped me attain a goal".[8] Wills graduated from Occidental College, where she later became an assistant dean of admissions.[3] She had always wanted to be an actress, and quit her job in education shortly after attending an actor's workshop in Los Angeles in 1975.[8]

Career

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Before landing the role of Angie on B.J. and the Bear, Wills made guest appearances on a number of television series, including Baretta, Kojak, Quincy, and The Six Million Dollar Man.[2] Later television appearances included McClain's Law, The Jeffersons, and The A-Team.[8][5] Wills has also modeled and appeared in commercials and films, including Goldengirl, Youngblood, and The Concorde... Airport '79.[8][4]

Personal life

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The actor's workshop Wills attended in 1975 was run by producer/director/actor Hal DeWindt. Wills and DeWindt married two years later.[2] The couple divorced in 1981,[2] and the actress returned to using the name Wills some years later.[7] Following her divorce, Wills had a relationship with actor Philip Michael Thomas. Wills and Thomas had two children together, Melody and India.[3][9]

Filmography (selected)

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 The Concorde... Airport '79 Young Girl
1979 Goldengirl Debbie
1978 Youngblood Joan
1978 A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich Admissions Clerk

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2022 NCIS: Los Angeles[10] Thelma One episode
2022–present All American Ms. Maritta Two episodes
2003 Scrubs Wife Episode: My Friend the Doctor
1997 7th Heaven Teacher Episode: Dangerous Liaisons: Part 2
1996 Sweet Temptation Lawyer TV movie
1995 Beverly Hills, 90210 Professor Helen Kincaid Episode: Breast Side Up
1995 Tyson Ruth Roper TV movie
1994 Jack Reed: A Search for Justice Mary Alice TV movie
1994 I Spy Returns Lily Scott TV movie
1992 Swamp Thing Daphne Scott Episode: Dead and Married
1990 Shannon's Deal Liz Washington Episode: Custody
1989 Knots Landing Ticket Taker Episode: Road Trip
1989 Hunter Donna Carlisle Episode: Teen Dreams
1989 Generations Rita Barton
1988 Cagney & Lacey Stacey Episode: "Amends"
1988 The Bold and the Beautiful Beverly Murdock Three episodes
1986 The A-Team Deborah Duke Episode: The Duke of Whispering Pines
1985 Stir Crazy Angela Episode: The Ping Pong Caper
1984 Webster Ms. Oliver Episode: Dreamland
1983–1984 Days of Our Lives Joan Hopkins Two episodes
1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Kerry Episode: Brain Drain
1982 The Jeffersons Dede Sanderson Episode: Appointment in 8-B
1982 The New Odd Couple Episode: That Was No Lady
1981 McClain's Law Episode: A Time of Peril
1981 B. J. and the Bear Angie Fifteen episodes
1980 Galactica 1980 Stewardess Episode: The Night the Cylons Landed: Part 1
1980 Quincy, M.E. Katya Hester Episode: T.K.O.
1979 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Major Fields Episode: Planet of the Slave Girls
1978 Battlestar Galactica Lieutenant Deitra Two episodes
1978 Switch Cleo Johnson Episode: Photo Finish
1978 Baretta Minnie Episode: The Bundle
1977 Kojak Leilah Episode: The Summer of '69: Part 1
1976–1977 The Six Million Dollar Man Rhonda/Saleslady Two episodes
1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Clerk Episode: The Medea Factor

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Birth reference results for: Sheila Wills DeWindt". Familysearch.org. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Sheila De Windt: BJ And Bear Star Says Beauty Can Be A Handicap". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. August 6, 1981. pp. 54–56. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Sylvia P. Flanagan (October 21, 1985). "Sheila DeWindt Combines Successful Career With Motherhood". Jet. pp. 55–57. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Celebrity Beat. Jet. May 9, 1983. p. 54. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Celebrity Beat. Jet. March 3, 1986. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  6. ^ Kathleen Fearn-Banks (August 4, 2009). The A to Z of African-American Television. Scarecrow Press. p. 106. ISBN 9780810863484.
  7. ^ a b "People Are Talking About..." Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. May 21, 1990. p. 55. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d "Sheila De Windt Plays Tough Cop On TV". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. May 3, 1982. pp. 58–59. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  9. ^ Carol Wallace (December 9, 1985). "The Ego Has Landed". People. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  10. ^ "Sheila Wills | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
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