Shelley Winters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shelley Winters
Winters in 1951
Born	Shirley Schrift (1920-08-18)August 18, 1920 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died	January 14, 2006(2006-01-14) (aged 85) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Nationality	American
Alma mater	The New School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1936–2006
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mack Paul Mayer ​ ​ (m. 1943; div. 1948)​ Vittorio Gassman ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1954)​ Anthony Franciosa ​ ​ (m. 1957; div. 1960)​ Gerry DeFord ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	1

Shelley Winters (born Shirley Schrift; August 18, 1920 – January 14, 2006) was a famous American actress. Her acting career lasted for 70 years! She starred in many movies and won two Academy Awards. These awards were for her roles in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and A Patch of Blue (1965). She was also nominated for awards for A Place in the Sun (1951) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972).

Shelley Winters also appeared in popular films like The Night of the Hunter (1955), Lolita (1962), and Pete's Dragon (1977). Besides movies, she acted on TV, including the show Roseanne. She also wrote three books about her life.

Early Life and Education

Shelley Winters was born Shirley Schrift in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother, Rose, was a singer, and her father, Jonas, designed men's clothes. Her parents were Jewish. Her father came from what is now Ukraine, and her mother's parents were from the same area.

When Shelley was nine, her family moved to Brooklyn, New York. She also grew up partly in Queens, New York. As a young woman, she worked as a model. At 16, Winters moved to Los Angeles. Later, she went back to New York to study acting at The New School.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting in Theatre

Shelley Winters began her acting career on Broadway. Her first show was The Night Before Christmas in 1941. She had a small role in Rosalinda (1942–44). She became well-known when she joined the cast of Oklahoma! playing the character Ado Annie.

Early Film Roles

With James Stewart in Winchester 73 (1950)

Winters signed a long contract with Columbia Pictures and moved to Los Angeles. Her first movie role was a very small, uncredited part in There's Something About a Soldier (1943). She slowly got bigger roles, including in the B movie Sailor's Holiday (1944). She appeared in many small parts in films like Tonight and Every Night (1945) and A Thousand and One Nights (1945).

Becoming a Star

Winters became a big star with her amazing performance in A Double Life (1947). This movie was distributed by Universal, which then signed her to a long contract. She played supporting roles in films like Larceny (1948). She also starred with James Stewart in the very successful movie Winchester 73 (1950).

Acclaim and Awards

Even after becoming famous, Winters kept studying acting. She took Shakespeare classes and worked at the Actors Studio. Her role in A Place in the Sun (1951) earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She continued to act in many films, including Meet Danny Wilson (1952) with Frank Sinatra.

Winters also performed on stage in A Streetcar Named Desire. She took some time off in 1953 when her daughter was born. She made her TV debut in 1954. She also filmed Saskatchewan (1954) in Canada with Alan Ladd.

International Films

Winters traveled to Europe to make movies like Mambo (1954). She also filmed Cash on Delivery (1954) in England. She had an important role in I Am a Camera (1955). Even more praised was Night of the Hunter (1955), where she starred with Robert Mitchum.

Return to Broadway

Winters went back to Broadway in A Hatful of Rain (1955–1956). This play ran for 398 performances. She also appeared in many TV shows during this time.

Winning Academy Awards

In 1960, Shelley Winters won her first Best Supporting Actress Oscar. This was for her role as Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959). She even gave her award statue to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

After this, she was in high demand for many different roles. She received great reviews for her performance as Charlotte Haze in Stanley Kubrick's Lolita (1962). Winters returned to Broadway in The Night of the Iguana (1962). She also appeared in the religious movie The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965).

Winters won another Best Supporting Actress Oscar for A Patch of Blue (1965). She had supporting roles in Alfie (1966) and Harper (1966). She even played the villain "Ma Parker" in the TV series Batman.

Later Career and TV Work

Winters played Ma Barker in the movie Bloody Mama (1970), which was a big hit. She also starred in two horror films, Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1971) and What's the Matter with Helen? (1971). In The Poseidon Adventure (1972), she played Belle Rosen. This role earned her another Oscar nomination.

She continued to act in many movies and TV shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She played Gladys Presley in the TV movie Elvis (1979). In 1980, Winters published her first best-selling autobiography, Shelley: Also Known As Shirley. She wrote a second book, Shelley II: The Middle of My Century, in 1989.

Final Performances

In the 1990s, Shelley Winters was known for her books and her TV work. She often played a funny version of herself. She had a recurring role as Nana Mary on the sitcom Roseanne. Her last movie roles included Heavy (1995), The Portrait of a Lady (1996), and Gideon (1998).

Winters was often in the news throughout her career. She was known for her strong opinions and for being involved in politics and women's rights.

Personal Life

Winters in publicity photo, circa 1950

Shelley Winters was married four times. Her husbands were:

• Mack Paul Mayer (married 1943, divorced 1948)
• Vittorio Gassman (married 1952, divorced 1954). They had one daughter, Vittoria, who was born in 1953. Vittoria became a doctor.
• Anthony Franciosa (married 1957, divorced 1960)
• Gerry DeFord (married 2006)

Just hours before she passed away, Winters married Gerry DeFord. They had lived together for 19 years.

Winters was a member of the Democratic Party. She attended the 1960 Democratic National Convention. In 1965, she spoke to the Selma Marchers in Alabama, who were marching for civil rights.

Death

Shelley Winters passed away at age 85 on January 14, 2006. She died from heart failure after having a heart attack a few months earlier. She is buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Selected Filmography

Uncredited in Tonight and Every Night (1945), Winters is behind Rita Hayworth.

Film

Television

Theater Performances

Summer Stock Plays

Radio Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

British Academy Film Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards

See also

In Spanish: Shelley Winters para niños