Biography for
Glenn Close

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Was the fourth choice to play the role of Alex in Fatal Attraction (1987). The first choices were Debra Winger, Barbara Hershey, and Miranda Richardson. (Sharon Stone also auditioned for this role, but was passed over)

Lived with Len Cariou from 1979-83.

When Glenn was 13, her father opened a clinic in the Belgian Congo (now Zaire) and ran it for 16 years. During most of that time, the Close children lived alternately in Africa and at boarding schools in Switzerland.

Born at 2:12pm-EST

Keeps all her costumes after filming finishes.

Mother to Annie Maude Starke (b. 1987) by her relationship with John Starke.

Has a cousin who prepares and sells herbal products on Long Island, New York. The two resemble one another.

She became engaged to Steve Beers in 1995.

Graduated from the College of William & Mary with a BA in drama and anthropology.

Made her Broadway debut in The Phoenix Theatre's production of Congrieve's "Love for Love." She was the understudy to the star Mary Ure, and went on for a Saturday evening performance after Miss Ure was let go after that Saturday matinée.

Winner of three Tony Awards for her work on Broadway.

Close's grandfather, Edward Bennett Close, was once married to Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress to the Post cereal fortune and mother to actress Dina Merrill.

Was hired to dub all of Andie MacDowell's dialogue in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984), because the former model had such a heavy southern accent.

Is 2nd cousin of Brooke Shields and was a distant relative of the late Princess Diana and President Ulysses S. Grant.

Taught actress Sara Rue to juggle backstage while on the set of "Barnum".

Her chilling performance as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987) was ranked #7 on the American Film Institute's villains list of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.

Made her professional debut, as one fourth of the Green Glen Singers, in the original production of "Up With People" in 1964.

She and her costar in Fatal Attraction (1987), Michael Douglas, both attended prep schools in Connecticut. Close graduated from Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, and Douglas graduated from the Choate School in Wallingford. Later, the two schools merged, making them two of the most famous alumni of Choate Rosemary Hall.

Chosen by Andrew Lloyd Webber to replace Patti LuPone in 'Sunset Boulevard' before its arrival on Broadway in 1994.

Has won three Tony Awards: twice as Best Actress (Play), in 1984 for Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" and in 2002 for "Death and the Maiden", and once as Best Actress (Musical), for "Sunset Boulevard", playing Norma Desmond, a role originally created by Gloria Swanson in Billy Wilder's film, Sunset Blvd. (1950). She was also nominated in 1980 as Best Featured Actress (Musical) for "Barnum".

Her husband, David Shaw, is a biotechnology entrepreneur, heading a company that makes medical devices and diagnostic tools for veterinarians.

Her performance as Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987) is ranked #36 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

In 1984, became the third actor to receive an Oscar, Emmy and Tony nomination in the same calendar year (for The Big Chill, Something About Amelia, and The Real Thing respectively).

Her father is still practicing medicine in Big Piney, Wyoming.

Says she is often mistaken for her good friend Meryl Streep.

Is a New York Mets fan, and in 2006, sang the national anthem at the Mets game that coincided with the Mets' 20th anniversary of their 1986 World Series win.

Months after the film Mary Reilly's production team had disbanded, the producers called back the stars to shoot three alternative endings. For one of them, she was flown back to London on the Concorde for only one day of work.

Personal Quotes

"I've often been mistaken for Meryl Streep, although never on Oscar night."

"I never wanted to be a man. I feel sorry for them."

"It's gotten out of control. It's taking bigger and bigger names to make smaller and smaller films. I worry that important films without a big name attached won't get made at all."

"It was the cherry on the cake for one of the great experiences of my career." - On her 1984 Tony win for playing Annie in "The Real Thing".

I love the chemistry that can be created onstage between the actors and the audience. It's molecular even, the energies that can go back and forth. I started in theater. and when I first went into movies I felt that my energy was going to blow out the camera.

Where Are They Now

(November 2002) Appearing in London at the Royal National Theatre in 'Streetcar Named Desire'

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