Childhood & Early Life
Sheree J. Wilson was born Sheree Julienne Wilson, on December 12, 1958, in Rochester, Minnesota, to IBM executive parents. She spent the early few years of her life in her birth-town and at the age of 9, she moved to Colorado with her family.
Sheree had become interested in many aspects of show business ever since she was a kid. She had very strict parents who worked in the IT industry, so she remained silent in regards to sharing her dreams with her parents.
She graduated from the Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado. Apart from acting, she had developed a keen interest in fashion and hence, she pursued a degree in fashion merchandising and business from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Wilson ventured into modelling accidentally. One of the photographers doing a photo shoot in Denver mistook her for a model. When Sheree said she was not a model, the photographer introduced her to a modelling agent in New York and Sheree was signed on the spot. Thus began her modelling career that went smoothly over the next few years.
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Career
Following her contract with the modelling agency, she appeared in more than 30 commercial advertisements within the next year and a half. She appeared in advertisements for products such as Clairol, Sea Breeze and Maybelline. In addition, she also did print modelling for magazines such as Glamour, Redbook and Mademoiselle.
However, after three years of making a great name in modelling, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue another one of her goals, acting. She began auditioning for roles in films and television and made her acting debut in 1984 with the television film titled ‘Velvet.’
In ‘Velvet,’ she essayed a small role as Ellen Stockwell. Later that year, she also made her television debut appearing in the episode titled ‘Death in Vogue’ of the series titled ‘Cover Up.’
In 1985, she bagged one of the key roles in the comedy film titled ‘Crimewave’ and essayed Nancy. The film received a very bad reception both critically and commercially. Despite big names such as Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi attached with the project, the film was a flop. It was later revealed that Sam did not have full creative control over his directorial venture.
In the same year, she appeared in the first leading role of her career, in the sex comedy film titled ‘Fraternity Vacation.’ However, the film failed to impress critics or the audiences and turned out to be a box office and critical failure.
In 1985, she appeared playing a regular role in the drama series ‘Our Family Honor.’ She played Rita Danzig in 13 episodes of the series, which was cancelled after the first season was aired.
In the same year, she appeared in the mini-series titled ‘Kane & Abel,’ based on the novel of the same name. She essayed one of the key roles as Melanie LeRoy. The following year, she earned the television role that became her biggest claim to fame thus far.
She began playing one of the regular roles as April Stevens Ewing from October 1986 in the soap opera titled ‘Dallas.’ She appeared on the soap opera for the next 5 years until 1991. As the show was hugely popular among the American audience, Sheree gained massive exposure from the role and became a household name in the US.
Not only public appreciation, she also received immense critical reception for her role. She was nominated for Soap Opera Digest Award four times in a row from 1988 to 1991. Her character was eliminated from the show through a death scene, which further received nomination for a Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Death Scene.
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She won the ‘Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Death Scene,’ in 1991.
After taking a huge break from films, she made a comeback in 1994, playing a major role in the film titled ‘Hellbound.’ She further went on a long hiatus from films.
However, her television career kept thriving in the 1990s. After making guest appearances in series’ such as ‘Matlock’ and ‘Renegade,’ she appeared playing one of the lead roles as Alex Cahill in the action crime series titled ‘Walker, Texas Ranger,’ in which she was paired opposite Chuck Norris.
Although the series was criticized for its cliché ridden storylines, it remained commercially successful throughout its runtime. It also turned to be Sheree’s last major television project. In 2005, however, she appeared reprising her role as Alex Cahill in the television film titled ‘Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire,’ which was based on the series ‘Walker, Texas Ranger.’
As for her film career, after appearing in films such as ‘Birdie and Bogey’ and ‘Killing Down,’ she turned to film production in the 2010s with films such as ‘The Gundown’ and ‘Dug Up.’
Family & Personal Life
Sheree J. Wilson married Paul DeRobbio in 1991 and the couple had two children- Luke and Nicolas. The couple eventually parted ways and divorced in 2004.
Sheree then married film producer Vince Morella in 2018.
Sheree has also been a businesswoman and started her line of beauty therapy skin care products.
She has been associated to many charities, such as – White Bridle Humane Society and Wings for Life. She also works for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
