Sherry Hursey - Bio
Sherry Hursey is an award-winnning actress, writer, producer, voice artist and vocalist whose face and voice are very familiar to television and film audiences worldwide.
Sherry has an extensive list of credits spanning from stage to screen, but may be most recognized for her role as Al’s fiancée, Ilene, on the long running ABC series Home Improvement, or Kirsten Dunst’s mom in the Universal box office hit, Bring It On. Diehard fans still remember her as Paula Carson on Days of Our Lives or Murray’s daughter, on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Sherry has been featured in over a hundred radio and television commercials and guest-starred in over fifty popular television shows, ranging from Happy Days to The Waltons to Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman to Touched By an Angel to NYPD Blue to Nip/Tuck and CSI.
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Ms. Hursey has starred in numerous television pilots, four television series and over a dozen made-for-television movies. Her favorites include, working with James Garner in The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A. (1994), the award-winning Friendly Fire with Carol Burnett (1979) , Hit and Run (1999), Lyin’ Eyes (1996) , Prince of Bel Air (1986), working with the beloved Walter Matthau in Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love (1991) and By the Sword (1991) with F. Murray Abraham.
Sherry has also enjoyed working as a voice artist, allowing her to utilize her diverse voice talents. She is proud to be a member of and still “barking” with the renowned L.A. MadDogs ADR group and can be heard in many of Hollywood’s biggest block buster movies including: Shrek, Madagascar, Freaky Friday, Polar Express, The Game Plan, Monsters vs Aliens, Penguins of Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda 3 to name a few.
Sherry’s stage credits have honored her with New York’s Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Logue awards. Creating the original role of the sweetheart, Sherry made her New York debut in William Finn’s In Trousers and joined the original cast of the hit, Beehive, a 60’s rock & roll musical. Sherry’s been fortunate to work with some of the greatest composers of our time, such as, the award winning team of Steve Dorff and John Bettis, starring in Lunch, her fondest musical theatre experience to date. Barry Mann and Music Hall of Fame's Cynthia Weil and Randy Newman all worked very closely with Sherry to develop their projects, Lovin’ Feelin and The Education of Randy Newman. Sherry was also proud to be heard on the award winning Gershwin Tribute Album singing with Sean Cassidy.
Several years ago, Ms. Hursey spread her wings and created a one-hour family musical special, that she also stars in, Lilly’s Light, www.lillyslight.com for Public Television. Lilly’s Light is the recipient of a KIDSFIRST BEST AWARD! By the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media. Inspired by Lilly’s Light, Sherry founded Lilly’s Fostering Hearts, www.lillysfosteringhearts.org a 501 (c)(3) non-profit org advocating for displaced and foster youth. Enjoying the role of producer inspired Sherry to form TOtL Entertainment (Turning On the Light). She and her talented team share the mission of creating TOtLE positive and uplifting content which can already be seen on PBS, YOUTUBE and various other outlets.