Local couple’s daughter is actress on hit CBS sitcom
An Ellijay couple won’t be missing any episodes of “Ghosts,” a popular CBS sitcom still in its first season.
That’s because their daughter, Sheila Carrasco, is part of the ensemble cast that helped make “Ghosts” the fall 2021 TV season’s most-watched new comedy, according to CBS.
“She was cast in November of 2019. The series was green-lighted, and then everything got put on hold because of COVID. They actually shoot in Montreal, Canada,” said proud mom, Joyce Carrasco, who lives here with husband, Oscar.
Joyce said their daughter already had the acting bug as a small child growing up in Chicago.
“Her first appearance on TV was when she was very young. She was on the TV version of “The Untouchables” at 7 or 8 years old,” Joyce said. “That was her earliest role, and she’s been in a number of roles (since then). She’s had quite a number of credits in commercials and on TV. She’s theatrically trained, but loves comedy.”
A Harvard graduate, Sheila acted onstage in a critically-acclaimed one-woman show called “Anyone But Me” before appearing on “Ghosts.” She’s also appeared on such TV shows as “The Good Place,” “The Odd Couple,” “Life in Pieces” and “American Housewife.”
An Americanized version of the same-name British comedy series, “Ghosts” revolves around a young New York couple who inherit a country estate. Their new life becomes a lot more peculiar because the home is also inhabited by numerous ghosts.
“Each of the ghosts represents a different historical time period. The oldest ghost is a Viking named Thorfinn,” Joyce said.
In the sitcom, Sheila plays Flower, a hippie who died in the ‘60s after being attacked by a bear on the haunted house property.
“There was an episode about her character, specifically, called ‘Flower’s Article,’ and it was quite good,” Joyce said.
Joyce and Oscar both enjoy the program, even though keeping up with TV isn’t always one of their priorities.
“We probably would’ve never watched it if she was not on the show, to be honest, because we don’t watch a lot of TV. It is very funny,” she added.
The Carrascos also tuned in to CBS daytime show “The Talk” recently when Sheila and other “Ghosts” cast members were featured. Joyce said her daughter gave a shout out to her parents in north Georgia during that interview.
“They used a picture of my husband and I because I had gone to Ingles and bought all the copies of TV Digest because they did a two-page spread on “Ghosts”,” she added. “We sent a picture to Sheila of her dad and I looking at the article, and they used it (on “The Talk”).”
The Carrascos moved to Gilmer County about five years ago and lived here part-time several years before that. Oscar, a retired United Methodist minister, is a pulpit supply (or fill-in pastor) for several local Methodist churches including Oak Hill, Cartecay, Gates Chapel and Nine Mile, Joyce noted.
“When they invite him, he’s happy to be a part of their community,” she added.
Joyce said she’s originally from the Atlanta area. While living in Chicago, she taught third grade for 22 years at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, a private college prep school.
“It’s where all four of our children went to school. Sheila is the youngest,” she said.
The Carrascos got to visit Sheila in Montreal right after “Ghosts” first premiered, but they weren’t able to go on the actual set due to COVID restrictions.
“We were very excited to fly up there and see her. We saw where the CBS lot is at. It’s quite a huge operation,” Joyce said.
“Ghosts” airs on CBS Thursdays at 9 p.m. Episodes are also available for streaming on the Paramount Plus app. The show was recently picked up for a second season, Joyce said.
“We’re very proud of her. It’s something that’s good to share with our neighbors and friends,” she added.