NYPD Blue star Sharon Lawrence wowed fans when she stepped out at The Alliance For Women In Media Foundation's 2026 Gracie Awards Gala in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, looking dressed to kill in a chic black gown.
The 64-year-old was stunning in the black dress, which featured a ruffle on one shoulder and a sleek silhouette that perfectly showcased Sharon's lithe figure. She added a chunky necklace and delicate dangling earrings to complete the look, and wore her blonde-brunette locks in a voluminous style that fell to her shoulders.
Sharon's fans rushed to the comment section to share the love after she posted snaps from the special night, with one writing: "Smoke show, Sharon!" while another added: "Stunning! Once a queen, always a queen!"
© Getty ImagesA third chimed in: "You are stunning!" while another declared her "The most beautiful woman in that room!! Inside and out," and a fifth said: "Gorgeous Sharon! That bod!" Sharon has been a TV staple for decades now, and rose to fame thanks to her role as Assistant District Attorney Sylvia Costas in NYPD Blue from 1993 to 1999.
The star shared with The Hollywood Reporter that she almost didn't get the role at all as it was originally written for a man, until showrunner Steven Bochco stepped in.
"He saw that there needed to be more female professionals in that environment to tell the story from a more rich perspective," Sharon said.
© WireImage"The duality about that world was it was a boy's club in its way, like most all of television was, but there were higher thought processes that inspired them to break through and shift and Sylvia's character, who was an important female to be on television at that time."
"She was mature and still traditional and yet, powerful. That is something that Steven, in particular, respected. I'm so grateful that I happened to be able to help interpret that," she concluded.
© Disney General Entertainment ConSylvia was killed off at the end of season six after being shot at the courthouse, leaving her husband to care for their newborn son. "The timing worked out for me, because…I literally shot Sylvia's gunshot wound in the morning and then had the table read for [the sitcom] Ladies Man that afternoon," Sharon told AV Club.
© Disney General Entertainment Con"So there wasn't much of a time for me to feel like I was losing more than I was getting. Six seasons is a long time, as you know. Most shows don't last that long." Sharon had no shortage of work after leaving the show and went on to star in Rizzoli & Isles, Grey's Anatomy, Fired Up, Desperate Housewives, and Shameless.
© Variety via Getty ImagesShe most recently starred in A Grand Ole Opry Christmas in 2025, and has several upcoming projects in the works, including Better Than Words, Imbalance and The Innocent One.
As for her home life, Sharon married Tom Apostle in 2002 at a Greek Orthodox church in Los Angeles, which happened to be the same one where her NYPD Blue character married Detective Andy Sipowicz, played by Dennis Franz.
