Sheila Wills (born August 11, 1947) 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 ''B.J. and the Bear'' is an American action comedy television series which aired on NBC from February 10, 1979, to May 9, 1981. Created by Glen A. Larson and Christopher Crowe, the series stars Greg Evigan. The series was produced when the CB ...

'', and recurring roles on series including '' Days of Our Lives'', '' Battlestar Galactica'', and '' Generations''.

Early life and education

Wills was born in Louisiana and raised in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, California. 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". Wills graduated from Occidental College, where she later became an assistant dean of admissions. 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.

Career

Before landing the role of Angie on ''B.J. and the Bear'', Wills made guest appearances on a number of television series, including ''

Baretta ''Baretta'' is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a revised and milder version of a 1973–1974 ABC series, '' Toma'', starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey pol ...

'', ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theodopolis "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular ''Cannon'' series, ...

'', '' Quincy'', and ''

The Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin is re ...

''. Later television appearances included ''

McClain's Law ''McClain's Law'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on NBC during the 1981–1982 season. New episodes ended on March 20, and rebroadcasts continued until August 24, 1982. Summary The series starred former ''Gunsmoke'' le ...

'', ''

The Jeffersons ''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history, ...

'', and ''

The A-Team ''The A-Team'' is an American action-adventure television series that ran on NBC from January 1983 to March 1987 about former members of a fictitious United States Army Special Forces unit. The four members of the team were tried by court ma ...

''. Wills has also modeled and appeared in commercials and films, including ''

Goldengirl ''Goldengirl'' is a 1979 American drama sci-fi sports film directed by Joseph Sargent, based on the 1977 science fiction novel of the same title by Peter Lear, a pseudonym of Peter Lovesey. The screenplay was by John Kohn, with music by Bill Con ...

'', '' Youngblood'', and '' Airport '79''.

Personal life

The actor's workshop Wills attended in 1975 was run by producer/director/actor Hal DeWindt. Wills and DeWindt married two years later. The couple divorced in 1981, and the actress returned to using the name Wills some years later. Following her divorce, Wills had a relationship with actor

Philip Michael Thomas Philip Michael Thomas (born May 26, 1949) is an American actor and musician, best known for his role as detective Ricardo Tubbs on the hit 1980s TV series ''Miami Vice''. His first notable roles were in '' Coonskin'' (1975) and opposite Irene C ...

. Wills and Thomas had two children together, Melody and India.

Filmography (selected)

Film

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wills, Sheila American television actresses African-American actresses People from Los Angeles Occidental College alumni 1947 births Living people Actresses from Los Angeles 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women