Sharon Lawrence
A four-time Emmy-nominated actress who brought sharp intelligence and emotional depth to every role from NYPD Blue to stage dramas.
Born 1961 (age 65)·American actress·Birthday: June 29·Baby Boomers
Biography
Sharon Lawrence possesses a commanding versatility that has made her a quietly essential presence on screen for over three decades. She first captured widespread attention as Assistant District Attorney Sylvia Costas on 'NYPD Blue', a role that earned her three Emmy nominations for its blend of professional rigor and poignant humanity. Lawrence never allowed herself to be typecast, moving seamlessly from the dramatic weight of 'Grey's Anatomy' to the comedic flair of 'Desperate Housewives' and the musical theater world. Her Broadway performances, including in 'Chicago' and 'The Dinner Party', showcase a different facet of her talent. Whether playing authority figures, vulnerable mothers, or eccentric neighbors, Lawrence invests each character with a specific, lived-in truth that elevates every project she touches.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Sharon was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sharon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Sharon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Sylvia Costas on 'NYPD Blue'.
- Won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1996 as part of the 'NYPD Blue' ensemble.
- Played a starring role as Dylan's mother, Iris, in the final seasons of the hit series 'Desperate Housewives'.
- Performed on Broadway, taking over the role of Roxie Hart in the long-running revival of 'Chicago'.
Did You Know?
She is a classically trained singer and performed in national tours of musicals like 'Sweet Charity' before her TV fame.
She is a dedicated advocate for Alzheimer's disease awareness, a cause close to her after her mother's diagnosis.
She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism.
“Sylvia Costas could hold a courtroom and a squad room with equal conviction.”
