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Sharon Acker

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Sharon Acker
Born
Sharon Eileen Acker[1]

(1935-04-02)April 2, 1935
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 16, 2023(2023-03-16) (aged 87)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Years active1956–1992
SpousesAustin Ronald MacDonald
(m. 1956; div. 19??)
Peter John Elkington
​
​
(m. 1973; died 2001)​
Children2

Sharon Eileen Acker (April 2, 1935 – March 16, 2023) was a Canadian film, stage, and television actress and model. She appeared mostly on television in Canada and the United States from 1956 to 1992. She played Della Street, Perry Mason's loyal secretary, in The New Perry Mason opposite Monte Markham. Her film roles include Lucky Jim, Point Blank and Don't Let the Angels Fall.

Biography

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Acker was born in Toronto, Ontario.[2] She began her professional acting career with a television appearance in a made-for-television movie of Anne of Green Gables in 1956.[3] She joined the Stratford Theatre cast, and travelled with the troupe to England, where she stayed to seek acting work.[3] She made her film debut there in Lucky Jim (1957).[2][4] Turning down a long-term contract with the producers of Lucky Jim, Acker returned to Canada in 1957 with her husband to raise a family.[5]

Acker returned to acting in Canadian television productions. She appeared in a 1961 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) production of Macbeth with Sean Connery, directed by Paul Almond.[6] During the 1960s, she also modeled, appearing in print advertisements. She and Angie Dickinson were featured modeling "moll style" clothing in the August 25, 1967, issue of Life.[7]

Her first American film appearance was in the John Boorman cult action film Point Blank (1967) starring Lee Marvin and John Vernon.[8][9] From that point, Acker appeared in film and television roles in Canada and the United States. In 1969 she guest-starred in the Star Trek episode "The Mark of Gideon" as Odona, a young woman who chooses to sacrifice herself by introducing disease to her overpopulated planet.[10] In 1976–77 she portrayed Helen Walling in the prime-time drama Executive Suite.[11] During this period, Acker also made a guest appearance on episode five of the second season of The Love Boat, which initially aired on October 20, 1978. She appeared too in two episodes of The Rockford Files in 1978 and 1979. She made her last feature film appearance in 1981 and her last television appearance in 1992.

Personal life and death

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Acker married twice.[12] In 1956, in London, she wed fellow Canadian Austin Ronald MacDonald.[13][14] They later divorced, although the year of their separation is unverified. Acker then married Peter John Elkington, a filmmaker, in 1973 in Los Angeles, California.[15] The couple remained together for 28 years, until Elkington's death in 2001.[16] She had two daughters from her first marriage and two stepdaughters from Elkington's previous marriage.[17]

Acker died at a retirement home in Toronto, Canada, on March 16, 2023, at the age of 87.[1][18]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 Lucky Jim Christine Callaghan
1967 Point Blank Lynne Walker
1969 Waiting for Caroline Emily
1969 The First Time Pamela Williams
1969 Don't Let the Angels Fall Barbara
1970 The Act of the Heart Adele
1981 Happy Birthday to Me Estelle Wainwright
1981 Threshold Tilla Vrain

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1956 Anne of Green Gables Mrs. Stacey TV movie
1960 The Unforeseen Ellen Thomas 1 episode
1961 Macbeth Lady Macduff TV movie
1966 Wojeck Tony Marlowe 2 episodes
1968 The Wild Wild West Lavinia Sedgewick 1 episode: "The Night of the Sedgewick Curse"
1968–1969 It Takes a Thief Dr. Edwina Hopkins 3 episodes
1969 Star Trek Odona 1 episode: S3:E16, "The Mark of Gideon"
1969 Lancer Tiffany Mumford
1970 A Clear and Present Danger Erin Stowe TV movie
1970–1971 The Bold Ones: The Senator Ellen Stowe
1970–1972 Mission: Impossible Annette, Connie Hastings 2 episodes
1971 Alias Smith and Jones Rachel Carlson
1971 Cannon Glinda Donaldson
1971 Gunsmoke Tereese Farrell
1971 The F.B.I. Kate Waller
1971 Cade's County Roseann Claybourne
1971 Love, American Style Gloria 1 episode
1971–1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. Nancy Mason, Margaret Loring 2 episodes
1972 The Mod Squad Agnes Carter 1 episode
1972 McMillan & Wife Evie Kendall
1972 Hec Ramsey Nora Muldoon 2 episodes
1973 The Stranger Dr. Bettina Cooke TV movie
1973 The Delphi Bureau Sheila
1973–1974 The New Perry Mason Della Street
1973–1975 Barnaby Jones Laura Vaner, Florence Armstrong, Gail Bloom
1974 The Hanged Man Carrie Gault
1974 Harry O Andrea Tannehill
1971–1975 Cannon Laura Venner, Jill, Mrs. Dude 3 episodes
1975–1977 The Streets of San Francisco Ethel Finn, Eleanor Jessup 2 episodes
1976 Our Man Flint: Dead on Target Sandra Carter TV movie
1976 Executive Suite Helen Walling
1977 The Hostage Heart Martha Lake TV movie
1978 The Love Boat Evelyn
1978–1979 The Rockford Files Edie Nevitt, Adrianna Danielli
1978–1981 Quincy, M.E. Barbara, Lynne Montgomery, Allison Sirella/Mary Latham 3 episodes
1979 Matt and Jenny Samantha Shelborne
1980 Stone Karen Halloran 1 episode
1980 Galactica 1980 Anne 1 episode
1980 Battles: The Murder That Wouldn't Die Jill Spencer TV movie
1980 The Incredible Hulk Dr. Louise Olson 1 episode
1981 Flamingo Road Arlene Hunter 1 episode
1981 Shannon Marion Hammond 1 episode
1981–1985 Simon & Simon Helena Christian, Sandra Jefferson-Delaporte 2 episodes
1982 Off Your Rocker Nurse Gloria TV movie
1982 Texas Judith Wheeler 62 episodes
1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Evita 1 episode
1983 Matt Houston Deena 1 episode
1983 Trapper John, M.D. Senator Miriam Taylor
1984 Whiz Kids Miriam
1985 Crazy Like a Fox 1 episode
1985 Knight Rider Sanford
1986 You Again? Loretta Winslow
1986 Murder, She Wrote Wilhelmina Fraser 1 episode: "Keep the Home Fries Burning"
1987 Days of Our Lives Pamela Fouchier
1988 Katts and Dog Alice 3 episodes
1989 Street Legal Jane Morrison
1991–1992 The Young and the Restless Dr. Grace Sundell 4 episodes

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sharon Elkington". Legacy.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Mike (2023-04-01). "Sharon Acker, Actress in 'Point Blank' and 'Perry Mason,' Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  3. ^ a b "Sharon Acker, actress who appeared in Star Trek and played Lee Marvin's wife in Point Blank – obituary". The Telegraph. 2023-04-24. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Lucky Jim (1957)". www.screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  5. ^ Murphy, J. Kim (2023-04-01). "Sharon Acker, 'Point Blank' and 'Happy Birthday to Me' Actor, Dies at 87". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  6. ^ "The Great Canadian Guide to the Movies & TV:M-Man". www.pulpanddagger.com. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  7. ^ "Well-dressed Moll Styles in Alcatraz". Life. August 25, 1967. pp. 80–81. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "'Point Blank': John Boorman's Amalgamation of American, British and French Filmmaking Styles • Cinephilia & Beyond". 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  9. ^ Johnston, Ian (2013-03-27). "Point Blank - film review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  10. ^ Cushman, M. (2014). These Are the Voyages: TOS Season Two. Los Angeles: Jacobs/Brown Press.
  11. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. VNR AG. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-918432-61-2. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  12. ^ Lucas, Ralph (April 1, 2016). "Sharon Acker - Biography". Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "Austin Ronald MACDONALD", obituary, Toronto Star (Ontario, Canada), March 9 and 10, 2013. Accessed via Legacy.com, September 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005" database, Sharon E. Acker and Austin R. MacDonald, 1956, quarter 4, vol. 5C, p. 413, Chelsea, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Record accessed via archives of FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985," online database, Peter J. Elkington and Sharon E. Acker, Los Angeles City, California, August 23, 1973; Center of Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento. Record accessed via FamilySearch, September 10, 2023.
  16. ^ Goudas, John N. (November 28, 1976). "Sharon Acker". The Tampa Tribune. King Features Syndicate, Inc. p. 177. Retrieved November 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "TV Star Sharon Acker Is a Good Cook, Artist". The News and Observer. North Carolina, Raleigh. United Press International. January 3, 1977. p. 16. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Barnes, Mike (April 1, 2023). "Sharon Acker, actress in 'Point Blank' and 'Perry Mason', Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
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