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IMDbPro

Shelley Duvall

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000638
Shelley Duvall
Home Video Trailer from A-Pix Entertainment
Play trailer1:18
The 4th Floor (1999)
46 Videos
52 Photos
Shelley Alexis Duvall was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the first child to Bobbie Ruth (Massengale, 1929-2020), a real estate broker, and Robert Richardson Duvall (1919-1994), a lawyer. At the time of her birth, her mother was visiting her grandmother in Fort Worth, though Duvall was raised in Houston. During her childhood, Shelley's mother humorously gave Shelley the nickname "Manic Mouse", because she would often run around her house and tip over furniture. Shelley however was more than a mouse, but rather quite the little artist. Her favorite thing to do when she was very young was draw. She also has three brothers: Scott, Shane, and Stewart.

Shelley graduated from Waltrip High School in Texas and at first became a cosmetics salesperson. It was in 1970 when Shelley was discovered by talent scouts at a local party. Director Robert Altman wanted to cast Shelley in a film that he was making during the time. Shelley had experience in acting in high school plays at the time and took Altman's offer and she appeared in her first film Brewster McCloud. Altman was so fascinated by her performance that she appeared in his next films including: McCabe and Mrs. Miller in 1971, Thieves Like Us in 1974, and Nashville in 1975. Aside from these three successful films, Duvall's acting blossomed in her leading role as Mille Lammoroux in 3 Women in 1977. Duvall's acting was so superb that she won Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. Shelley also starred as Bernice in Joan Micklin Silver's Bernice Bobs Her Hair in 1976, and had a cameo in Woody Allen's Annie Hall in 1977. In the same year, Shelley also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.

When the 1980s hit, Duvall's career was just beginning. She is famously known for playing the role of "Wendy Torrance" in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining with Jack Nicholson. During the making of this film, Kubrick psychologically tormented Duvall, causing her immense stress and affecting her mental state. He would often ignore her entirely during filming or would put in her situations which caused her immense fear and distress. The most obvious example is when Kubrick shot the famous "baseball bat scene" with Duvall and Nicholson 127 times, which is the world record for most number of takes in any film set.

In January of 1979, Robert Altman would offer Duvall yet another role in one of his films. Only the role was a certain role that Altman believed she was born to play. That certain role was "Olive Oyl" in the real life version of Popeye. Shelley was skeptical at first on accepting the role, due to bad memories as a child of negatively being called "Olive Oyl" in grade school. She fortunately decided to take the role and performed admirably. Shelley also sings several songs in this film. The most famous ones would be "He's Large" and "He Needs Me" which also appeared in the film Punch Drunk Love.

As the 1980s rolled on, Shelley's career never slowed down. She appeared as a supporting actress in Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits in 1981; she played "Susan Frankenstein" in Tim Burton's Frankenweenie (1984) , and co-starred in the hit comedy film Roxanne in 1987 starring Steve Martin. From 1982 to 1986, Shelley continued her filming career but from a different aspect. Since Shelley was 17, she had a collection of a variety of illustrated classic fairy tale books. During the making of Popeye, she showed her collection to Robin Williams. One particular fairy tale she showed Robin was "The Frog Prince". Picturing Robin as the real life Frog Prince, Shelley created Platypus Productions, her own production company. Shelley went to Showtime with the idea for airing a television program that was based on fairy tales. She produced Fairy Tale Theater which Showtime aired that was a hit television series that was based on several classic fairy tales. Fairy Tale Theatre was on television from 1982-1987. Each episode was a one-hour series and there were a total of twenty six episodes, all hosted by Shelley Duvall. Shelley also starred in four out of the twenty six episodes. In 1985, Ms. Duvall created Tall Tales and Legends that was aired for three years until it ended in 1988. Similar to Fairy Tale Theatre, Tall Tales and Legends was also a one-hour series hosted, produced, and guest starred by Duvall. Although it only consisted of nine episodes, Shelley was nominated for an Emmy from the series. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shelley discovered Think Entertainment; another production company which helped Shelley create more programs and movies that were made for television that aired on common cable channels. Shelley produced three more programs from these production companies that aired on Showtime: Nightmare Classics, Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Her Bedtime Stories program earned her a 2nd Emmy Nomination. Shelley sold Think Entertainment in 1993 and retired as a producer.

In 1989, Shelley met Dan Gilroy while filming the Disney Channel movie Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990), the two fell in love and they have been together ever since.

Shelley Duvall's later career found her a number of different roles. She appeared in the family comedy Home Fries in 1998 playing "Mrs. Jackson", Drew Barrymore's character's mother. Other comedic films Shelley appeared in were Suburban Commando in 1991, and Changing Habits in 1997. She also had cameos in several TV series' such as: Frasier, L.A. Law, The Ray Bradbury Theater, Wishbone, and several others. Shelley returned to the horror genre when she played "Martha Stewart" in The 4th Floor in 1999 and played the role of "Mrs. Stein" in Big Monster On Campus in 2000; which consisted of both the comedy and horror genre.

Since 2002, Shelley Duvall has not acted in any films, but lives a quiet and peaceful life in Blanco, Texas. She has lived in Blanco since 1994, after her home in Los Angeles got damaged by an earthquake. For the last couple years, there have been several rumors about Duvall being a "recluse" and not being in touch with reality. However, a recent interview in 2010 was conducted by MondoFilm VideoGuide that had heavy proof that Shelley is as normal and aware of reality as ever. She has also noted in this interview that she takes care of several animals at her home in Texas and writes a lot of poetry, and that returning to acting is always a possibility.
BornJuly 7, 1949
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJuly 7, 1949
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000638
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
    • 13 wins & 15 nominations total

Photos52

Shelley Duvall in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd in The Shining (1980)
Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd in The Shining (1980)
Shelley Duvall in The Shining (1980)
Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall in The Shining (1980)
Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall in The Shining (1980)
Sissy Spacek and Shelley Duvall in 3 Women (1977)
Shelley Duvall in The Shining (1980)
Shelley Duvall in 3 Women (1977)
Shelley Duvall in 3 Women (1977)
Woody Allen and Shelley Duvall in Annie Hall (1977)
Shelley Duvall in Popeye (1980)

Known for

The Shining (1980)
The Shining
8.4
  • Wendy Torrance
  • 1980
Sissy Spacek and Shelley Duvall in 3 Women (1977)
3 Women
7.7
  • Millie Lammoreaux
  • 1977
Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall in Popeye (1980)
Popeye
5.3
  • Olive Oyl
  • 1980
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in Annie Hall (1977)
Annie Hall
8.0
  • Pam
  • 1977

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • The Forest Hills (2023)
    The Forest Hills
    • Mama
    • 2023
  • Seymour Cassel, Shelley Duvall, Louise Fletcher, Cloris Leachman, Wendie Malick, Jill Eikenberry, Frank Gorshin, and Shirley Jones in Manna from Heaven (2002)
    Manna from Heaven
    • Detective Dubrinski
    • 2002
  • Shelley Duvall in Dreams in the Attic (2000)
    Dreams in the Attic
    • Nellie
    • TV Movie
    • 2000
  • Ryan Reynolds in Boltneck (2000)
    Boltneck
    • Mrs. Stein
    • 2000
  • The 4th Floor (1999)
    The 4th Floor
    • Martha Stewart
    • 1999
  • Elise Neal, Ashley Monique Clark, Dee Jay Daniels, Marietta DePrima, John Henton, D.L. Hughley, and Eric Allan Kramer in The Hughleys (1998)
    The Hughleys
    • Mrs. Crump
    • TV Series
    • 1999
  • Maggie Winters (1998)
    Maggie Winters
    • Muriel
    • TV Series
    • 1998
  • Drew Barrymore and Luke Wilson in Home Fries (1998)
    Home Fries
    • Mrs. Jackson
    • 1998
  • Teri Garr, Shelley Duvall, George Hamilton, Cathy Moriarty, Hilary Duff, and Jeremy Foley in Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
    Casper Meets Wendy
    • Gabby
    • Video
    • 1998
  • Tale of the Mummy (1998)
    Tale of the Mummy
    • Edith Butrose
    • 1998
  • Meredith Henderson in The Adventures of Shirley Holmes (1997)
    The Adventures of Shirley Holmes
    • Alice Flitt
    • TV Series
    • 1997
  • The Player (1997)
    The Player
    • TV Movie
    • 1997
  • Larry Brantley and Soccer the Dog in Wishbone (1995)
    Wishbone
    • Renee Lassiter
    • TV Series
    • 1997
  • Harland Williams in RocketMan (1997)
    RocketMan
    • Mrs. Randall (uncredited)
    • 1997
  • Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework (1997)
    Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework
    • Mrs. Fink
    • 1997

Producer

  • Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (1994)
    Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1994
  • Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992)
    Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1992–1993
  • Stories from Growing Up
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1991
  • Backfield in Motion (1991)
    Backfield in Motion
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1991
  • Shelley Duvall in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990)
    Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1990
  • Nightmare Classics, a limited series of four classic horror titles in the genre of 'The Turn of the Screw' - the others being 'The Eyes of the Panther'; 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' and 'Carmilla.'
    Nightmare Classics
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 1989
  • Shelley Duvall, Elliott Gould, and Scott Grimes in Frog (1988)
    Frog
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1988
  • Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
    Faerie Tale Theatre
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • TV Series
    • 1982–1987
  • Tall Tales & Legends (1985)
    Tall Tales & Legends
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • TV Series
    • 1985–1986
  • Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures (1986)
    Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures
    • executive producer
    • Short
    • 1986
  • Popples (1986)
    Popples
    • executive producer
    • TV Movie
    • 1986

Writer

  • It's a Bird's Life (1993)
    It's a Bird's Life
    • Writer
    • Video Game
    • 1993
  • Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992)
    Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
    • writer: live action sequences
    • written by
    • TV Series
    • 1992
  • Popples (1986)
    Popples
    • story
    • TV Movie
    • 1986

Videos47

Official Trailer
Trailer 2:24
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:00
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:47
Trailer
The Shining
Trailer 0:54
The Shining
Suburban Commando
Trailer 2:02
Suburban Commando
Nashville
Trailer 2:11
Nashville
The Portrait of a Lady: Blu-Ray (Special Edition)
Trailer 2:11
The Portrait of a Lady: Blu-Ray (Special Edition)
3 Women
Trailer 1:36
3 Women
Time Bandits
Trailer 3:09
Time Bandits
Tall Tales And Legends: The Complete Series
Trailer 1:57
Tall Tales And Legends: The Complete Series
The Shining
Trailer 1:30
The Shining
Suburban Commando
Trailer 0:58
Suburban Commando

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
  • Born
    • July 7, 1949
    • Houston, Texas, USA
  • Spouse
    • Bernard SampsonJuly 7, 1970 - 1977 (divorced)
  • Parents
      Bobbie Ruth (Massengale)
  • Relatives
      Scott Duvall(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Music video for the song "Little Kids' World" from her album "Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall... Sweet Dreams," featured as part of the "Nick Jr. Rocks" program she produced for Nickelodeon.
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles
    • 5 Pictorials
    • 4 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    At Stanley Kubrick's insistence, she and Jack Nicholson performed 127 takes of the baseball bat scene in The Shining (1980), which broke a world-record for the most retakes of a single movie scene with spoken dialogue. Duvall said she learned more from working with Kubrick on that film than she did on all her previous films.
  • Quotes
    [on Stanley Kubrick's method of shooting multiple takes of every scene] Have you seen the film Groundhog Day (1993)? Well, that's what it was like.
  • Trademarks
      Playing quirky and eccentric characters
  • Nickname
    • The Texas Twiggy

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