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Shirley MacLaine
Actor

Shirley MacLaine

24 Apr 1934Born
92Age
88Credits
Richmond, Virginia, USABirthplace

Biography

Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress, singer, author, activist, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, headstrong, and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades throughout her career spanning seven decades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two British Academy Film Awards, and six Golden Globe Awards.

Born in Richmond, Virginia, MacLaine made her acting debut as a teenager with minor roles in the Broadway musicals Oklahoma! and The Pajama Game.

Read the full biography

Following minor appearances as an understudy in various other productions, MacLaine made her film debut with Alfred Hitchcock's black comedy The Trouble with Harry (1955), winning the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. She rose to prominence with starring roles in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Some Came Running (1958), Ask Any Girl (1959), The Apartment (1960), The Children's Hour (1961), Two for the Seesaw (1962), Irma la Douce (1963), and Sweet Charity (1969). A six time Academy Award nominee, MacLaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment (1983). Her other prominent films include The Turning Point (1977), Being There (1979), Madame Sousatzka (1988), Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Evening Star (1996), Bewitched (2005), In Her Shoes (2005), Valentine's Day (2010), and The Little Mermaid (2018).

MacLaine has been the recipient of many honorary awards. She was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2012, Gala Tribute from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 1995, and Kennedy Center Honor in 2013 for her contribution to American culture, through performing arts. In 1998, she was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. Apart from acting, MacLaine has written numerous books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a best-selling memoir, Out on a Limb (1983).

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 88 credits.

  1. TBAPeople Not PlacesFilm: Clare
  2. TBALucy BoomerFilm: Lucy Boomer
  3. TBAMargret and StevieFilm: Margret Rey
  4. 2024Dame Maggie Smith - A CelebrationFilm: Martha Levinson (archive footage)
  5. 2022American DreamerFilm: Astrid Fanelli
  6. 2021Only Murders in the BuildingSeries: Rose Cooper (2 episodes)
  7. 2019NoelleFilm: Elf Polly
  8. 2018The Little MermaidFilm: Eloise
  9. 2017The Last WordFilm: Harriet Lauler
  10. 2016A Heavenly ChristmasFilm: Pearl
  11. 2016Wild OatsFilm: Eva
  12. 2015Men of GraniteFilm: Sophia Prather
  13. 2014Elsa & FredFilm: Elsa
  14. 2013The Secret Life of Walter MittyFilm: Edna Mitty
  15. 2012Wide-AwakeFilm: The Pianist
  16. 2012BernieFilm: Marjorie Nugent
  17. 2010Downton AbbeySeries: Martha Levinson (2 episodes)
  18. 2010Valentine's DayFilm: Estelle
  19. 2009GleeSeries: June Dolloway (2 episodes)
  20. 2008Anne of Green Gables: A New BeginningFilm: Amelia Thomas
  21. 2008Coco ChanelFilm: Coco Chanel
  22. 2007Closing the RingFilm: Ethel Ann
  23. 2005Rumor Has It...Film: Katharine Richelieu
  24. 2005In Her ShoesFilm: Ella Hirsh
  25. 2005BewitchedFilm: Iris Smythson / Endora
  26. 2003CarolinaFilm: Grandmother Mirabeau
  27. 2003Salem Witch TrialsSeries: Rebecca Nurse (2 episodes)
  28. 2002Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary KayFilm: Mary Kay Ash
  29. 2001These Old BroadsFilm: Kate Westbourne
  30. 2000BrunoFilm: Helen, Director
  31. 1999Joan of ArcSeries: Madame de Beaurevoir (1 episode)
  32. 1998Louise Brooks: Looking for LuluFilm: Narrator (voice)
  33. 1997A Smile Like YoursFilm: Martha (uncredited)
  34. 1996The Evening StarFilm: Aurora Greenway
  35. 1996Mrs. WinterbourneFilm: Grace Winterbourne
  36. 1995The West Side WaltzFilm: Margaret Mary Elderdice
  37. 1994Guarding TessFilm: Tess Carlisle
  38. 1993Wrestling Ernest HemingwayFilm: Helen Cooney
  39. 1992Used PeopleFilm: Pearl Berman
  40. 1991Defending Your LifeFilm: Shirley MacLaine
  41. 1990Postcards from the EdgeFilm: Doris Mann
  42. 1990Waiting for the LightFilm: Aunt Zena
  43. 1989Steel MagnoliasFilm: Ouiser Boudreaux
  44. 1988Madame SousatzkaFilm: Madame Yuvline Sousatzka
  45. 1987Out on a LimbSeries: Shirley MacLaine (2 episodes)
  46. 1985The Shirley MacLaine ShowFilm: Writer
  47. 1985That's Dancing!Film
  48. 1984Cannonball Run IIFilm: Veronica
  49. 1983Terms of EndearmentFilm: Aurora Greenway
  50. 1980A Change of SeasonsFilm: Karyn Evans
  51. 1980Loving CouplesFilm: Evelyn
  52. 1979Being ThereFilm: Eve Rand
  53. 1977The Royal Variety Performance 1977Film
  54. 1977The Turning PointFilm: Deedee
  55. 1977Laugh-InSeries: Guest Performer (1 episode)
  56. 1976CircasiaFilm: Clown
  57. 1975The Other Half of the Sky: A China MemoirFilm: Director, Writer
  58. 1972The Possession of Joel DelaneyFilm: Norah Benson
  59. 1972Shirley's WorldSeries: Shirley Logan (17 episodes)
  60. 1971Desperate CharactersFilm: Sophie Bentwood
  61. 1970Two Mules for Sister SaraFilm: Sara
  62. 1969Sweet CharityFilm: Charity
  63. 1969From Stage to Screen---A Director's DilemmaFilm
  64. 1968The Bliss of Mrs. BlossomFilm: Harriet Blossom
  65. 1967OmnibusSeries (1 episode)
  66. 1967Woman Times SevenFilm: Paulette / Maria Teresa / Linda / Edith / Eve Minou / Marie / Jeanne
  67. 1966GambitFilm: Nicole
  68. 1965John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!Film: Jenny
  69. 1964The Yellow Rolls-RoyceFilm: Mae Jenkins
  70. 1964What a Way to Go!Film: Louisa May Foster
  71. 1963Irma la DouceFilm: Irma La Douce
  72. 1962Two for the SeesawFilm: Gittel 'Mosca' Moscawitz
  73. 1962My GeishaFilm: Lucy Dell / Yoko Mori
  74. 1961The Children's HourFilm: Martha Dobie
  75. 1961Two LovesFilm: Anna Vorontosov
  76. 1961All in a Night's WorkFilm: Katie Robbins
  77. 1960Ocean's ElevenFilm: Tipsy Girl (uncredited)
  78. 1960The ApartmentFilm: Fran Kubelik
  79. 1960Can-CanFilm: Simone Pistache
  80. 1959CareerFilm: Sharon Kensington

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.