Lorraine Gary facts for kids

Lorraine Gottfried (born August 16, 1937), known as Lorraine Gary, is a retired American actress. She is most famous for playing Ellen Brody in the exciting Jaws movie series. She also appeared in other films like 1941 and Car Wash.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Los Angeles

Lorraine Gary was born Lorraine Gottfried in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. Her parents were Belle and George Gottfried. Her father managed businesses in the entertainment world.

When she was young, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. This is where she grew up.

Early Acting Talent

At just 16 years old, Lorraine won an award for best actress. This was at a competition held at the famous Pasadena Playhouse. She was offered a special scholarship to study there. However, she decided to go to Columbia University instead. At Columbia, she studied political science.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting on Television

Lorraine Gary is a lifelong member of the Actors Studio, a place where actors train. She began her acting career in the late 1960s. She made guest appearances on many popular TV shows.

Some of these shows included Night Gallery, Dragnet 1968, and McCloud. She also appeared in The Marcus-Nelson Murders, which was the pilot episode for the TV show Kojak. She was also seen on The F.B.I..

Major TV Roles

Lorraine Gary had a big role as a guest star on the TV series Ironside. She appeared in seven episodes. In one episode, "Tom Dayton Is Loose Among Us," she played Miss Kirk, a substitute librarian. In another, "In Search of an Artist," she played a woman who might have been involved in a murder.

Beyond Acting

Besides acting, Lorraine Gary also owned a company called New Hope Productions. This company created television programs.

Community Involvement

Supporting Human Rights

Lorraine Gary is a member of the Human Rights Watch Women's Rights Advisory Committee. For this group, she produced and directed 14 educational videos. She is also on the Advisory Board for Ms. Magazine and Girls Learn International.

Humanitarian Award

In 1995, Lorraine Gary and her husband received the Humanitarian Award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center. This award recognized their efforts to help others.

Personal Life and Retirement

Family Life

Lorraine Gary married Sidney Sheinberg on August 19, 1956. She was 19 years old at the time. Sidney was an important executive in the entertainment industry. They had two sons, Jonathan J. and William David. Sidney Sheinberg passed away in 2019.

Stepping Away from Acting

Lorraine Gary stopped acting after her role in the film 1941 in 1979. She only returned briefly in 1987. This was to play Ellen Brody again in Jaws: The Revenge. Her sons, Bill Sheinberg and Jonathan Sheinberg, both became film producers.

Film and Television Roles

Movies

Television Shows

See also

In Spanish: Lorraine Gary para niños