Biography for
Carole Shelley More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

16 August 1939, London, England, UK

Mini Biography

Though English-born, Carole Shelley has spent almost her entire award-winning career in the theatre in America, becoming one of Broadway's mainstays and a true pioneer of the American theatre. A naturalized US citizen, Shelley stays busy on all fronts in the entertainment industry in films, television and, of course, the live stage. Her Broadway credits include "The Odd Couple" (her Broadway debut) playing the hilarious Gwendolyn Pigeon, the intended blind date for the hapless Felix, a role she reprised for the film The Odd Couple (1968) and in the later television series ("The Odd Couple" (1970). Her other Broadway credits include "The Miser", "Stepping Out" (Tony nomination), "The Elephant Man" (Tony Award, Best Actress), "Hay Fever", "The Norman Conquests" (LADCC Award), "Absurd Person Singular" (Tony nomination) and "Loot".

Her national tours include "Broadway Bound", "The Royal Family" and "Noises Off". She has also worked off-Broadway, in plays including "The Film Society", "London Suite", "The Destiny of Me", "Richard II" (New York Shakespeare Festival), "Later Life" (Drama Desk nomination), "Cabaret Verboten", "What the Butler Saw", "Little Murders", "Twelve Dreams" (Obie award), "Tartuffe".

Returning to London, she replaced Maggie Smith in "Lettuce and Lovage" (she had gone to America to star in the Broadway run of the play) in the West End. Always interested in remaining busy, she has never turned down a good opportunity for work and has acquitted herself admirably by stepping into such long running hits as "Cabaret", "Show Boat", "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" and "Noises Off".

She has kept busy in films, too, appearing in Quiz Show (1994), The Road to Wellville (1994), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), The Super (1991) and she has provided some delightful vocal characterizations for many Disney animated features: Hercules (1997), The AristoCats (1970), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Robin Hood (1973).

IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Nonymous

Spouse

Albert G. Woods

(26 July 1967 - 1971) (his death)

Trade Mark

Able to stoop her shoulders into a credible "Widows Hump" - a trick she uses whenever she is called upon to play extreme old age

Trivia

Naturalized U.S. citizen.

Won Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for "The Elephant Man" in a tie with Constance Cummings for "Wings." Miss Shelley was present to receive her award and dedicated it to the memory of her recently departed mother whom she called "Charlie." She was also nominated for Tony Awards on two other occasions: in 1975 as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "Absurd Person Singular," and in 1987 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "Stepping Out."

Replaced Elaine Stritch in the Broadway run of "Show Boat".

Replaced Dana Ivey in "The Last Night of Ballyhoo".

The only actress to play the role of Gwendolyn Pigeon in "The Odd Couple" on Broadway, in film (The Odd Couple (1968)) and on TV "The Odd Couple" (1970).

In 1979 she originated the role of Mrs. Kendall in "The Elephant Man", winning a Tony Award for best actress. In 2002 Kate Burton played Mrs. Kendall in the first revival of the play on Broadway, garnering a Tony nomination (one of two nominations she received that year, the other being for "Hedda Gabler"). These two distinguished actresses have worked on film and in television but in New York they are revered as two of the greatest actresses working on stage today. In 1995 these two ladies shared the same dressing room at the Union Square Theater, where they played mother and daughter in Neil Simon's "London Suite".

She was nominated for a 1974 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in a Principal for her performance in "A Doll's House" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for Best Performance for a Featured Actress in a Musical for "Billy Elliot - The Musical".

Along with John Fiedler and Monica Evans, she is one of only 3 actors to appear in both The Odd Couple (1968) and the subsequent television adaptation "The Odd Couple" (1970).

Where Are They Now

Shelley joined the Broadway production of "Cabaret" in May 1999. She co-starred as Fraulein Schneider.

(October 2003) Appearing on Broadway in the smash hit Wicked as Madame Morrible, instructor to Glinda and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West).

(December 2004) Still appearing on Broadway in the smash hit Wicked, which began its Broadway run on 11/08/2003, as Madame Morrible, instructor to Glinda and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West).

(May 2005) Leaving "Wicked" on May 29, 2005. She will be replaced by Rue McClanahan.

(December 2005) Returning to "Wicked" as Madame Morrible, this time in the touring company rather than Broadway.

(December 2005) Currently appearing in the "Popular Tour" touring group version of the smash Broadway hit "Wicked." Will be at the Kennedy Center until mid-to-late January.