Sharon Lawrence's early life and education took place in North Carolina, specifically in Charlotte and Raleigh. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a degree in Journalism. During her college summers, Lawrence honed her acting skills by participating in summer stock musicals.
After graduating, she became a member of Actors Equity in 1984 and SAG-AFTRA in 1987. Her most notable role to date is the multiple Emmy Award-nominated and SAG Award-winning portrayal of ADA Sylvia Costas Sipowicz in the hit TV series NYPD Blue.
