Scene from Desert Hearts (1985)

Alternate Names: Helen Jane Shaver, هلن شیور

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• The Overlanders (1974) as Mrs. O'Mara

Most Important Roles:

• Desert Hearts (1985) as Vivian Bell
• D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear (2003) as Sandy Moose
• Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996) as Kate 'White' Reilly
• Best Defense (1984) as Claire
• The Color of Money (1986) as Janelle
• The Believers (1987) as Jessica Halliday
• The Osterman Weekend (1983) as Virginia Tremayne
• The Craft (1996) as Grace
• That Night (1992) as Ann O'Connor
• Countdown to Looking Glass (1984) as Dorian Waldorf

Career Highlights:

• Desert Hearts (1985)
• D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear (2003)
• Tremors 2: Aftershocks (1996)
• Best Defense (1984)
• The Color of Money (1986)
• The Believers (1987)
• The Osterman Weekend (1983)
• The Craft (1996)
• That Night (1992)
• Countdown to Looking Glass (1984)

Awards:

• Theatre World Award (1992)
• Canada's Walk of Fame (2004)

Helen Shaver is a Canadian stage, film and television actress and director. She attended the Banff School of Fine Arts and studied Acting at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She started acting at 18, collaborating with industry giants like Scorsese and Spielberg. Her performances earned awards—Theatreworld Award for "Jake’s Woman," Genies for "In Praise of Older Women" (Best Actress) and "Who Has Seen the Wind" (Best Supporting Actress). Transitioning to directing, she helmed episodes for various series and directed Emmy-winning films like "Summer’s End." Despite childhood illness, her resilience led her to study acting and excel in her craft.

Alternate Names: Patricia Charbonneau

Physical Characteristics: N/A

First Appearances:

• Desert Hearts (1985) as Cay Rivvers

Most Important Roles:

• Desert Hearts (1985) as Cay Rivvers
• Brain Dead (1990) as Dana Martin
• 100 Feet (2008) as Frances
• Call Me (1988) as Anna
• RoboCop 2 (1990) as Lab Assistant (uncredited)
• Skipping Stones (2021) as Mrs. Travers
• One Special Night (1999) as Lori
• The Arrangement (1999) as Marion Markel
• The Loss of Nameless Things (2004) as Self
• Disaster at Silo 7 (1988) as Kathy Fitzgerald

Career Highlights:

• Desert Hearts (1985)
• Brain Dead (1990)
• 100 Feet (2008)
• Call Me (1988)
• RoboCop 2 (1990)
• Skipping Stones (2021)
• One Special Night (1999)
• The Arrangement (1999)
• The Loss of Nameless Things (2004)
• Disaster at Silo 7 (1988)

Awards:

• Nominated for 1 Independent Spirit Award - Best Female Lead (1987)

Patricia Charbonneau (born April 19, 1959) is an American actress, probably best known for playing the part of Cay Rivvers in Desert Hearts, her first film role.

Charbonneau was born in Valley Stream, New York on Long Island. She graduated in 1977 from Valley Stream Central High School, which she had attended with fellow actors Steve Buscemi and Steve Hytner, as well as writer Ed Renehan. She later attended Boston University.

Charbonneau began on the New York stage in a production of Revengers...A Tragedea, at Playwrights Horizons. She then went to Louisville, Kentucky, where she was a member of the Actors Theatre of Louisville. While there she originated the role of Lea in My Sister in this House, a part that she played off-Broadway as well. Charbonneau had not worked in films at all when Donna Deitch cast her in Desert Hearts in 1985. In the following year she appeared in Michael Mann's Manhunter (based on the novel Red Dragon) and then played Anna, the lead, in Call Me (1988), which also featured fellow Valley Streamer Steve Buscemi. Her television appearances have included Crime Story, The Equalizer, Wiseguy, Murder She Wrote, Matlock, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She then stopped acting but recently came out of retirement to film a role in the upcoming thriller 100 Feet starring Famke Janssen.

In 1995, she featured with Michael Dorn in the Legend Entertainment adventure game Mission Critical.

Since March 2007, Charbonneau has been a faculty member of the Hudson Valley Academy of Performing Arts in West Taghkanic, New York, where she teaches an acting workshop for children and teens.

Patricia is sister to novelist Eileen Charbonneau.