Shelley Ackerman facts for kids
Shelley Ackerman (born October 14, 1953 – died February 27, 2020) was an American astrologer, writer, actress, and singer. She often appeared on radio and TV shows to share her thoughts and talents.
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About Shelley Ackerman
Growing Up
Shelley Ackerman was born and grew up in Manhattan, New York. Her father was a rabbi. She went to the East Side Hebrew Institute on the Lower East Side. At age 16, in 1970, she graduated with high honors from the High School of Music and Art.
Her Acting Career
Shelley started her career at 17 as a singer who told jokes. She performed at places like The Improvisation and Catch a Rising Star in New York.
In the early 1980s, she studied acting with Stella Adler. In 1985, she performed in a special program called "Lyrics and Lyricists" at the 92nd Street Y in New York. There, a singer named Elly Stone noticed her amazing voice.
Later, in 1987, Elly Stone and her husband Eric Blau were looking for actors. They were planning a 20th-anniversary show of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Elly remembered Shelley's voice and cast her in the show.
In 1988, Shelley starred in Jacques Brel with Karen Akers. They performed at Town Hall in New York and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. Shelley also had small roles in several movies. These included Taking Off (1971), Garbo Talks (1984), The Flamingo Kid (1984), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), and Crossing Delancey (1988). She also appeared on TV shows like Kate & Allie and Guiding Light. In 1990, she won an award called the Backstage Bistro Award for Best Vocalist in New York City.
Her Work as an Astrologer
Shelley Ackerman said she was born with a special ability to remember people's birthdays. She became interested in astrology when she was a young teenager. Astrology is the study of how the positions of stars and planets might affect people and events.
In 1974, she and her boyfriend, Richard Belzer, got their first computer-made astrology charts. They got them from a small booth called Astroflash at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Her interest grew, and she started collecting birth dates, times, and places of her fellow performers.
Her first job as an astrologer was at Gurney's Inn in Montauk, New York, in 1992. That summer, she made an important contribution to the astrology world. She found out the exact birth time of Bill Clinton from his mother, Virginia Clinton Kelley.
In 1996, she became the head of the New York branch of the American Federation of Astrologers. She was also active in the New York chapter of the National Council for Geocosmic Research. She taught at the New York Theosophical Society from 1996 to 2006. Shelley gave talks, taught classes, and met with clients across the USA, Europe, and Canada. She also wrote many articles for Beliefnet.
TV and Radio Appearances
Shelley Ackerman appeared on many television shows, including:
- The O'Reilly Factor (2000–01)
- World News Now (January 2005)
- Court TV (2005)
- Access Hollywood (2005-06, 2008-09)
- "Is 07/07/07 a Good Day to Tie the Knot?", WABC-TV Eyewitness News (January 17, 2007)
- MSNBC (February 9, 2007)
- The Today Show (February 10, 2007)
- WTTG FOX5 DC (March 12, 2007)
- CBS Evening News
- Extra
- The Caroline Rhea Show
- The Ricki Lake Show
- The Camilla Scott Show
- Fox & Friends
She was also a regular guest on the Doug Stephan talk radio show from 1997 to 1999. She appeared on other radio programs like:
- Satellite Sisters
- National Public Radio
- WOR Morning Show
- SIRIUS Stars
Shelley's work was also featured in many newspapers and magazines. These included The New York Times, The New York Daily News, New York Post, Time Out New York, Courier-Post, The Washington Post, USA Today, AOL News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Time Out.
Her Later Life
Shelley Ackerman passed away in Manhattan on February 27, 2020. She was 66 years old.
