Four days after leaving rehab, he won the role of Sonny Steelgrave in the series "Wiseguy". The character proved to be popular with audiences and boosted Sharkey's career. The character was written out of the series in 1989. Sharkey then co-starred in the biographical film "Wired". Based on the life of John Belushi, Sharkey portrayed a Puerto Rican angel who meets Belushi after his death in the morgue and "show him the error of his ways." Sharkey's next role was in the 1989 black comedy film "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills".