Adrienne Shelly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adrienne Shelly
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Shelly in 1992
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| Born |
Adrienne Levine
June 24, 1966 Queens, New York City, U.S.
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| Died | November 1, 2006 (aged 40) West Village, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Other names | Adrienne Shelley |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1989–2006 |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
| Spouse(s) |
Andy Ostroy
(m. 2002) |
| Children | 1 |
Adrienne Shelly (born Adrienne Levine; June 24, 1966 – November 1, 2006) was a talented American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She became well-known for her roles in independent movies like The Unbelievable Truth (1989) and Trust (1990).
Adrienne Shelly also wrote, acted in, and directed the movie Waitress. This film was released in 2007, after her death, and later became a popular show on Broadway.
Sadly, Adrienne Shelly was found dead on November 1, 2006. Her husband, Andy Ostroy, felt something was wrong and asked for a closer look. Police later arrested a person named Diego Pillco, who admitted to causing her death.
After her passing, Adrienne's husband created the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. This foundation helps new artists by giving them scholarships and money for their film projects. To honor her, the Women Film Critics Circle gives an annual award named after Adrienne Shelly. It goes to a film that strongly speaks out against violence towards women.
Andy Ostroy remembered Adrienne as a very kind, loving, and smart person. He said she had a bright spirit, a joyful laugh, and a big smile.
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Early Life and Education
Adrienne Shelly was born Adrienne Levine in Queens, a part of New York City. Her parents were Sheldon Levine and Elaine Langbaum. She grew up on Long Island with her two brothers, Jeff and Mark.
Adrienne started performing when she was about 10 years old at the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center. She made her first professional appearance in a summer play called Annie while she was a student at Jericho High School. She later went to Boston University to study film production, but she left before finishing her degree to move to Manhattan and pursue her career.
Adrienne Shelly's Film Career
Adrienne Shelly's acting career took off when she was chosen by independent film director Hal Hartley. She starred in his movies The Unbelievable Truth (1989) and Trust (1990). Trust was even nominated for a big award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Besides movies, Adrienne also appeared in several TV shows. These included Law & Order, Oz, and Homicide: Life on the Street. She also performed in many off-Broadway plays in New York City. In 2005, she acted in the movie Factotum with Matt Dillon.
Becoming a Director and Screenwriter
In the 1990s, Adrienne Shelly started working more behind the camera. She wrote and directed a film called I'll Take You There in 1999, where she also acted alongside Ally Sheedy. She won an award for directing this film at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in 2000.
Her last major project was writing, directing, and acting in the movie Waitress. This film starred Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion. Adrienne's own daughter, Sophie, even had a small appearance at the end of the movie. Waitress was shown for the first time at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
Family Life
Adrienne Shelly chose her professional last name, Shelly, from her father's first name. She married Andy Ostroy in 2002, after they met online in 2001.
They had a daughter named Sophie in 2003. Sophie was only two years old when her mother passed away. Adrienne wrote the script for her movie Waitress while she was pregnant with Sophie.
Adrienne Shelly's Lasting Legacy
After Adrienne's death, her husband, Andy Ostroy, created the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit group that helps new filmmakers. It gives out scholarships, money for film projects, and even helps with living costs. They work with well-known schools and film organizations like NYU, Columbia University, and the Sundance Institute.
One filmmaker who received help from the foundation, Cynthia Wade, won an Academy Award in 2008 for her documentary Freeheld. The foundation also supported Chloé Zhao early in her career. Eight years later, Chloé Zhao became one of the few women to win the Academy Award for Best Director. The Women Film Critics Circle also gives an annual Adrienne Shelly Award to films that speak out against violence towards women.
Waitress Film and Musical
Adrienne Shelly's film Waitress was a big success. It was shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was bought by Fox Searchlight Pictures. The movie earned over $19 million at the box office and is still highly rated by critics.
Waitress and its cast won several awards, including an Audience award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. It also received nominations for other honors, like a Humanitas Prize for its screenplay.
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The movie Waitress was later turned into a musical. The musical Waitress opened in 2015 and then moved to Broadway in 2016. It was very popular and ran for many years, closing in 2020 after over 1,500 performances. The music and lyrics for the musical were written by Sara Bareilles.
Other Tributes
Andy Ostroy also produced Serious Moonlight, a film that Adrienne Shelly had written. It premiered in 2009.
To remember Adrienne, a special place called the Adrienne Shelly Garden was created. It was dedicated on August 3, 2009, in Abingdon Square Park in New York City. This garden faces the building where Adrienne passed away.
In 2021, Andy Ostroy directed a documentary about Adrienne's life called Adrienne. It was shown on HBO.
See also
In Spanish: Adrienne Shelly para niños
