In the past several years, Sally Champlin has sold the screenplays Little Merchants and Family Secrets (aka The Victorian Story), which she also directed. Please see Sally's Reels page for samples. Family Secrets stars Pamela Bellwood, Angela Jones (Pulp Fiction), Tim Redwine, Lisa Amsterdam, Kaye Ballard and the late Edward Bunker (author of "Straight Time" and "Animal Factory"). Sally also produced, wrote and directed three feature shorts: Spirit Catcher, Eating Alone and Jivin' The Night, as well as an hour-long feature short called Johanna - A Memoir (a short story about a young phone stalker).
Ms. Champlin has worked in films, network television and commercials for years. Her credits as a performer include a recurring role on NBC's hit series, Heroes, appearances on Crossing Jordan, Dick Wolf's Dragnet, Disney's Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Frasier, Love and War, The Young and the Restless, Designing Women and L.A. Law, as well as a recurring role on Murphy Brown. Her films include co-starring in the cult horror classic, Ed Gein (In The Light of the Moon), with Steve Railsback and Carrie Snodgress. Ed Gein won festival awards in Europe and was released domestically in 2001.
A prolific writer, Sally has written two novels, "Dead Stop at a Green Light," and "Troub's Alley," both of which can be sampled on this site. She also co-wrote a musical comedy called Snow Business in collaboration with her brother, Bill Champlin, who is a two-time Grammy winner and long-time member of the legendary rock group, Chicago. Sally's full-length play, Don't Say Anything, had its West Coast premiere at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. Other writings include a miniseries about Gustav and Alma Mahler entitled "Alma," and over fifteen screenplays, several of which have been produced. She also conceived and co-wrote two TV pilots: "High Tea," a talk-show-film hosted by Jerry W. Marshall, which features WB star and Emmy winner, Ms. Jackee Harry; she also co-wrote the pilot and two episodes of Hollywood Square with Michelle Watkins (see Novels/Screenplays for samples). Sally adapted the J.P.S. Brown/Hank Azcona novel, "Serpentine," to the screen for Larchmont Productions; that screenplay is entitled Little Merchants. With collaborator, Maurice Carriere, Sally also wrote Little Louie - Birth Of A Legend. Little Louie is the story of Louis Armstrong's childhood in fabled old New Orleans at the birth of the 20th century. Currently being written with Jerry W. Marshall is a screenplay called dear daisy, which is an adaptation of Mr. Marshall's amazing collection of letters to his long-dead grandmother, Daisy Wilma Emerson Lowder.
A fine singer, Sally's classical CD, The Contralto - Volume I, can be sampled on this site's Music page. The Contralto was produced by legendary British musician/producer, Eddie Jobson. Her recent album is called The Big Sweet - Gospel For A New Age. The Big Sweet was produced by gifted musician and producer, Bob Henley III. It was recorded and mixed at The Playground Recording Studio in North Hills and mastered by Mr. Carmen Grillo at Big Surprise Music. Please see the Music page for samples of all these works. Also available is the title song for her webisode series, Hollywood According To Sal, which was also written with Bob Henley III, while the series itself is co-produced by and co-written with Lawrence H. Stern (see Sal's Rogue's Gallery). That CD will acquire more tracks as the series progresses.
Having studied over the years with the best teachers and directors in the industry, Sally accepts a limited number of acting and writing students for private coaching in the Los Angeles area. Her rates are competitive and her students among the best. Most every Sunday, Sally can be found singing in the wonderful choir at Understanding Principles for Better Living Church, which was founded by the legendary Rev. Della Reese Lett. A voting member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Sally calls West Hollywood her home.