An engaging, attractive, auburn-haired player who rose to prominence in the 1980s, Sheedy was lumped in with fellow actors (and co-stars) Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald in what was dubbed by critics and journalists as 'the Brat Pack'.

The native New Yorker had already made her mark as a child performer, dancing for eight years (1968-76) with the American Ballet Theatre, and author with the children's book "She Was Nice to Mice" (McGraw-Hill, 1975). The success of the book brought requests from various publications (The New York Times, Village Voice) and while on a promotional tour,