Cybill Shepherd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cybill Shepherd
Shepherd in 2007
Born	Cybill Lynne Shepherd (1950-02-18) February 18, 1950 (age 75) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer model
Years active	1968–present
Spouse(s)	David Ford ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1982)​ Bruce Oppenheim ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1990)​
Children	3, including Clementine Ford

Cybill Lynne Shepherd (born February 18, 1950) is an American actress, singer, and former model. She is famous for her roles in movies and television shows. Her first major movie was the drama The Last Picture Show (1971). She also starred in popular films like The Heartbreak Kid (1972) and Taxi Driver (1976).

On television, she became a big star playing Madelyn Hayes in the detective comedy series Moonlighting (1985–1989) with Bruce Willis. For this role, she won two Golden Globe Awards. She later starred in her own show, Cybill (1995–1998), and won a third Golden Globe. Her more recent TV roles include parts in The L Word and Psych.

Early Life and Modeling

Cybill Shepherd was born on February 18, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her name is a mix of her grandfather's name, Cy, and her father's name, Bill.

When she was 16, Shepherd won the "Miss Teenage Memphis" beauty pageant. She later competed in the 1968 "Model of the Year" contest. This led to a successful career as a fashion model while she was still in high school and after she graduated.

Cybill Shepherd in a photo from Teen magazine in 1970.

A magazine cover from 1970 caught the attention of film director Peter Bogdanovich. He thought she was perfect for a role in his new movie, The Last Picture Show. This was the start of her acting career.

Acting Career

Early Movie Success

Shepherd's first movie was The Last Picture Show (1971), where she starred with Jeff Bridges. The movie was a huge success with both critics and audiences. For her role, Shepherd was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

In 1972, she starred in The Heartbreak Kid. This movie was also a big hit. That same year, she became a "Kodak Girl," appearing in photo advertisements for the camera company.

She later worked with director Peter Bogdanovich again on the films Daisy Miller (1974) and the musical At Long Last Love (1975). In 1974, she also released a music album called Cybill Does It...To Cole Porter.

Shepherd received good reviews for her role as Betsy in Martin Scorsese's famous film Taxi Driver (1976). After a few less successful movies, she decided to focus on acting on stage. She took advice from her friend, the famous director Orson Welles, and performed in theaters away from Hollywood to gain more experience.

Return to Hollywood and TV Stardom

Shepherd in 1985

In 1983, Shepherd returned to television in the drama series The Yellow Rose. The show was well-liked by critics but only lasted for one season.

Her biggest career moment came in 1985 when she was cast as Maddie Hayes in Moonlighting. She starred opposite Bruce Willis, and their on-screen chemistry was a huge part of the show's success. The show, a mix of mystery and comedy, made her a household name and earned her two Golden Globe Awards.

After Moonlighting, she starred in the movie Chances Are (1989) with Robert Downey Jr.. In 1990, she reunited with the cast of The Last Picture Show for a sequel called Texasville.

From 1995 to 1998, she starred in her own TV sitcom called Cybill. The main character, Cybill Sheridan, was an actress, and the show was partly based on Shepherd's own life. She won her third Golden Globe Award for this role.

Later Work

In 2000, Shepherd wrote a bestselling book about her life called Cybill Disobedience. She has continued to act in many television shows and movies. She played Martha Stewart in two TV movies.

From 2007 to 2009, she had a recurring role as Phyllis Kroll on the show The L Word. She also played the mother of the main character on the show Psych from 2008 to 2013. In 2012, she performed on Broadway for the first time in a play called The Best Man.

More recently, she starred in the Christian-themed movie Do You Believe? (2015) and the Lifetime movie How to Murder Your Husband: The Nancy Brophy Story (2023).

Personal Life

While filming The Last Picture Show, Shepherd began a relationship with the director, Peter Bogdanovich. They were together for eight years.

In her autobiography, Shepherd wrote about a time in 1978 when she felt unhappy with her life. She called her mother, who told her to "come home." Shepherd returned to Memphis, where she met David M. Ford. They married and had a daughter, Clementine Ford, in 1979. The marriage ended in 1982.

In 1987, Shepherd married chiropractor Bruce Oppenheim. They had twins, Ariel and Zachariah, while she was starring in Moonlighting. They divorced in 1990.

In 2012, Shepherd announced her engagement to a psychologist named Andrei Nikolajevic, but the engagement was later called off.

Activism and Beliefs

Shepherd with President Ronald Reagan in 1988

Throughout her career, Shepherd has been an activist for social causes, such as equal rights for all people. She supports same-sex marriage and has been honored for her work by the Human Rights Campaign. She also helped fund the National Civil Rights Museum in her hometown of Memphis.

Shepherd was raised as a Christian. In a 2007 interview, she said her beliefs were a mix of different spiritual ideas. In 2014, she stated that she had reconnected with her Christian faith.

Awards and Nominations

Cybill Shepherd has been nominated for many awards for her acting.

Golden Globe Awards

She has won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a TV Series:

• 1985 - Moonlighting
• 1986 - Moonlighting
• 1995 - Cybill

She has also been nominated for three other Golden Globes.

Emmy Awards

She has been nominated for four Emmy Awards, one for Moonlighting and three for Cybill, but has not won. In her book, she wrote, "Of course I was envious. Who doesn't want to win an Emmy?"

Filmography

This is a list of some of Cybill Shepherd's most well-known movies and television shows.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Cybill Shepherd para niños