Carole Shelley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carole Shelley
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Shelley as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple, 1965
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Carole Augusta Shelley
16 August 1939 London, England
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| Died | 31 August 2018 (aged 79) New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1949–2018 |
| Spouse(s) | Albert G. Woods (1967–1971; his death) |
Carole Augusta Shelley (born August 16, 1939 – died August 31, 2018) was a talented English actress. She became famous for her work on stage, in movies, and on TV. Many people remember her as Gwendolyn Pigeon in the play The Odd Couple. She also played Madame Morrible in the original Broadway show Wicked. Carole Shelley won a special award called the Tony Award for her acting in a play called The Elephant Man in 1979.
Early Life
Carole Shelley was born in London, England. Her mother, Deborah, was an opera singer. Her father, Curtis Shelley, was a composer. Her father moved to London before World War II.
Career
Acting on Stage
Carole Shelley first appeared on Broadway in 1965. She played Gwendolyn Pigeon in the play The Odd Couple. She acted alongside famous stars like Art Carney and Walter Matthau. She played this same role in the 1968 movie version. She was also in the first season of The Odd Couple TV show. She and Monica Evans, who played her sister Cecily Pigeon, were the only actors to be in the original play, the movie, and the TV show. They played the same characters in all three!
In the 1970s, Carole wanted to try different kinds of acting roles. She felt she could do more. She was nominated for her first Tony Award in 1975 for her role in Absurd Person Singular. In 1979, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for playing Mrs. Kendal in The Elephant Man. She also won an Obie Award in 1982 for her acting in Twelve Dreams. Later, in the 1990s, Carole started acting in musicals.
In 2003, Carole Shelley created the role of Madame Morrible in the first Broadway cast of the musical Wicked. She later played this role again in touring shows and in the Chicago production.
Carole also played Grandma in the Broadway show Billy Elliot starting in 2008. She was nominated for another Tony Award in 2009 for this role. In 2014, she joined the cast of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.
Movies and TV Shows
Carole Shelley started her career in British films. Some of her early movies include It's Great to Be Young (1956) and Carry On Regardless (1961). In 1968, she starred as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple movie.
After that, she appeared in many TV shows and films. These included Some Kind of a Nut (1969) and The Road to Wellville (1994). She also played Helen Moskowitz in an episode of the TV show Frasier in 1998.
In 2005, she played Aunt Clara in the movie Bewitched. She also used her voice for several characters in Disney animated movies. She was Amelia Gabble (the Goose) in The Aristocats (1970). She was Lady Kluck, Maid Marian's friend, in Robin Hood (1973). And she was Lachesis the Fate in Hercules (1997). Interestingly, Monica Evans, who played Carole's sister in The Odd Couple, also voiced Amelia's sister Abigail in The Aristocats and Maid Marian in Robin Hood.
Her very last role was a small appearance in John Mulaney’s comedy show Kid Gorgeous in 2018.
Personal Life
In 1967, Carole Shelley married Albert G. Woods. He passed away in 1971.
Death
Carole Shelley died from cancer on August 31, 2018. She was 79 years old and passed away in New York City.
