Shelley Duvall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shelley Duvall
Duvall in 1977
Born	Shelley Alexis Duvall (1949-07-07)July 7, 1949 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Died	July 11, 2024(2024-07-11) (aged 75) Blanco, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress producer
Years active	1970–2001; 2022–2023
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Bernard Sampson ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1974)​
Partner(s)	Paul Simon (1976–1978) Dan Gilroy (1989–2024; her death)

Shelley Alexis Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) was a talented American actress. She was famous for working with director Robert Altman and for playing unique characters. Shelley won awards like the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and was nominated for others, including a British Academy Film Award and two Emmys.

Born in Texas, Shelley Duvall started acting after being discovered by Robert Altman. He was impressed by her cheerful personality. He cast her in the film Brewster McCloud (1970). Even though she wasn't sure about acting at first, she kept working with Altman.

She appeared in many of his movies, like McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974). She became well-known after Altman's movie Nashville (1975). Her performance in 3 Women (1977), also directed by Altman, earned her great praise. For this role, she won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She also appeared in Woody Allen's comedy Annie Hall and hosted Saturday Night Live in 1977.

Shelley Duvall became very famous for her main roles in the 1980s. She played Olive Oyl in Altman's live-action movie Popeye. She also played Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining (both 1980). She appeared in the fantasy film Time Bandits (1981) and the comedy Roxanne (1987).

Later in the 1980s, she started producing TV shows for children and young people. She created and hosted Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987) and Nightmare Classics (1989). She also received Emmy nominations for creating and hosting Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987) and Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992–1994).

In the 1990s, Duvall acted less often. She had supporting roles in The Underneath (1995) and The Portrait of a Lady (1996). Her last role for many years was in Manna from Heaven (2002). After this, she stopped acting. She returned to acting after 21 years in the horror film The Forest Hills (2023). This was her final role.

Shelley Duvall kept her personal life private. However, her health struggles received a lot of media attention. She passed away on July 11, 2024, at the age of 75.

Early Life and Beginnings

Shelley Alexis Duvall was born on July 7, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was the first child of Bobbie Ruth Crawford and Robert Richardson "Bobby" Duvall. She had three younger brothers: Scott, Shane, and Stewart.

Shelley lived in different parts of Texas when she was young. Her family settled in Houston when she was five years old. Shelley was a very artistic and energetic child. Her mother even nicknamed her "Manic Mouse." She was interested in science and wanted to be a scientist when she grew up.

After graduating from Waltrip High School in 1967, Shelley sold makeup at Foley's. She also attended South Texas Junior College. There, she studied nutrition and diet therapy.

Shelley Duvall's Acting Career

Starting in the 1970s

Around 1970, Shelley met director Robert Altman at a party. He was filming Brewster McCloud (1970) in Texas. The film crew was very impressed by Shelley's lively personality. They asked her to be in the movie.

Shelley wasn't sure at first, but she decided to try acting. She said, "I got tired of arguing, and thought maybe I am an actress." She had never left Texas before Altman offered her the role. She flew to Hollywood and played a free-spirited character in the film.

Duvall with Keith Carradine in Nashville (1975)

Altman then chose Shelley for more roles. She played an unhappy mail-order bride in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971). She was also the daughter of a convict in Thieves Like Us (1974). Shelley appeared as a groupie in Altman's comedy Nashville (1975). This movie was very successful.

In 1976, Shelley starred as Bernice in a PBS show called Bernice Bobs Her Hair. She also hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live. She appeared in five comedy sketches on the show.

In 1977, Shelley starred in Robert Altman's movie 3 Women. She played Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux, a woman living in a desert town. Even though there was a script, Shelley and other actors made up many of their lines. The movie was praised by critics. Shelley's acting was called "extraordinary." She won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for this role. She also received a BAFTA nomination. After this, she had a small role in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977).

Famous Roles in the 1980s

Shelley Duvall's next big role was Wendy Torrance in The Shining (1980). This horror film was directed by Stanley Kubrick. Filming took a whole year because Kubrick was very detailed. Shelley and Kubrick often disagreed, and she found the role very challenging. She said that she had to cry for many hours a day. Making the film was "almost unbearable" at times.

While Shelley was filming The Shining, Robert Altman asked her to play Olive Oyl in his movie Popeye. She starred alongside Robin Williams. The movie was a success, and Shelley was highly praised for her performance. Film critic Roger Ebert said she was "born to play" Olive Oyl. He also said Shelley Duvall was unique and played many different characters.

Shelley then played Pansy in Terry Gilliam's movie Time Bandits (1981). In 1982, Shelley started a children's TV show called Faerie Tale Theatre. She was the narrator, host, and executive producer. She also starred in seven episodes, playing characters like Rapunzel and Snow White. The show featured many famous Hollywood actors. Shelley produced 27 episodes of this popular show.

Duvall in 1985

In 1985, she created another show for Showtime called Tall Tales & Legends. This show adapted American folk tales. Like Faerie Tale Theatre, it featured famous actors and Shelley as host and producer. This series ran for nine episodes and earned Shelley an Emmy nomination.

Shelley also appeared in other films and TV shows. She was in Tim Burton's short film Frankenweenie (1984). She also played a lonely woman in The Twilight Zone episode "A Saucer of Loneliness." In 1987, she was a friend of Steve Martin's character in the comedy Roxanne.

In 1988, Shelley started a new company called Think Entertainment. She wanted to create shows and movies for cable TV. She created Nightmare Classics (1989), which adapted famous horror stories. This show was for teenagers and adults.

In 1991, Shelley played Jenny Wilcox in the film Suburban Commando. In October of that year, she released two music CDs: Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall... Sweet Dreams (lullabies) and Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall... Merry Christmas (Christmas songs).

Later Career: 1990s and 2000s

Duvall at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1990

In 1990, she played Little Bo Peep in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. In 1992, her company, Think Entertainment, partnered with Universal Family Entertainment. They created Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories. This show featured animated versions of children's books with celebrity narrators. It earned Shelley another Emmy nomination.

Shelley produced a fifth series for Showtime called Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. She then sold Think Entertainment in 1993 and stopped being a producer. She continued acting, playing Countess Gemini in The Portrait of a Lady (1996). In 1997, she played a nun in Changing Habits and an ostrich-farm owner in Twilight of the Ice Nymphs. She also appeared in the TV film Alone.

Shelley continued to appear in films and TV shows in the late 1990s. She was in the comedy Home Fries (1998) and the children's film Casper Meets Wendy (1998). She also returned to horror with small roles in Tale of the Mummy (1998) and The 4th Floor (1999).

In the 2000s, Shelley took on smaller roles. She was in the horror-comedy Boltneck (2000) and the family film Dreams in the Attic. After a small role in the 2002 film Manna from Heaven, Shelley took a long break from acting.

Return to Acting in the 2020s

After 20 years away, it was announced in October 2022 that Shelley Duvall would return to acting. She appeared in The Forest Hills, an independent horror-thriller film. This film was her final acting role.

Personal Life and Passing

Duvall in 1975

Shelley Duvall married artist Bernard Sampson in 1970. They divorced in 1974 as her acting career grew. In 1976, she met singer-songwriter Paul Simon and they lived together for two years. From 1989 until her death, Shelley was in a relationship with musician Dan Gilroy. They met while working on the Disney Channel show Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. Shelley Duvall did not have any children.

After an earthquake in 1994, Shelley moved from Los Angeles back to Blanco, Texas. She decided to move back to her home state after filming a movie there. In 2002, she retired from acting after 32 years.

In 2016, Shelley Duvall was interviewed on the TV show Dr. Phil. Many people felt that the interview was unfair to Shelley, who appeared to be struggling. Vivian Kubrick, the daughter of director Stanley Kubrick, and actress Mia Farrow spoke out against the show.

In 2021, a writer from The Hollywood Reporter interviewed Shelley. The article noted that her memory was "sharp and full of engrossing stories." She spoke about how challenging her role in The Shining was. However, she also said that Stanley Kubrick was "very warm and friendly" to her.

Shelley Duvall passed away in her sleep at her home in Blanco, Texas, on July 11, 2024. She was 75 years old and died due to complications from diabetes.

Filmography

Discography

• Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall...Sweet Dreams (1991)
• Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall...Merry Christmas (1991)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Shelley Duvall para niños