Shirley MacLaine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shirley MacLaine
MacLaine in 1960
Born	Shirley MacLean Beaty (1934-04-24) April 24, 1934 (age 91) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Occupation	Actress author activist dancer singer
Years active	1952–present
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Steve Parker ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1982)​
Children	Sachi Parker
Relatives	Warren Beatty (brother) Ella Beatty (niece) Annette Bening (sister-in-law)
Awards	Full list

Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress and author. She has had a long career, lasting over 70 years. She has won many awards, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and six Golden Globe Awards. She has also received special honors like the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2012. MacLaine is one of the last famous stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, a time when many classic movies were made.

Shirley MacLaine was born in Richmond, Virginia. She started acting as a teenager in Broadway musicals. Her film career began in 1955 with The Trouble with Harry. She quickly became famous with roles in movies like Around the World in 80 Days (1956) and The Apartment (1960). She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Terms of Endearment (1983).

MacLaine has also starred in TV shows, including Downton Abbey (2012–2013) and Only Murders in the Building (2022). Besides acting, she has written many books. These books often explore topics like metaphysics (the study of what is real) and spirituality.

Early Life and Education

Shirley MacLean Beaty was born on April 24, 1934. She was named after the child actress Shirley Temple. Her father, Ira Owens Beaty, was a professor and real estate agent. Her mother, Kathlyn Corinne, was a drama teacher. Shirley's younger brother is the famous filmmaker Warren Beatty. Both Shirley and Warren were raised as Baptists.

When Shirley was a child, her family moved several times within Virginia. She even played baseball on a boys' team. She was so good at hitting home runs that she earned the nickname "Powerhouse."

At age three, Shirley started ballet classes because her ankles were weak. This sparked her love for performing. She was very dedicated to ballet and never missed a class. She often played boys' roles because she was the tallest girl. Once, she broke her ankle backstage but still finished the show. Shirley later decided not to pursue professional ballet. She felt she was too tall and her feet weren't ideal for it. She then explored other types of dance, acting, and musical theater.

MacLaine attended Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Virginia. There, she was a cheerleader and performed in school plays.

Career Highlights

Before her last year of high school, MacLaine went to New York City to try acting. She got a small role in the chorus of a touring production of Oklahoma!. After graduating, she made her Broadway debut in Me and Juliet (1953–1954). She later became an understudy for an actress in The Pajama Game. When the main actress was injured, MacLaine stepped in. A film producer saw her perform and signed her to work for Paramount Pictures.

Early Film Success (1955–1959)

MacLaine in her first movie, The Trouble with Harry (1955)

Shirley MacLaine quickly became famous during the last years of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her first movie was Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry (1955). For this role, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best New Star.

After her debut, she appeared in Artists and Models (1955). She then played a main role in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. She also starred in Some Came Running (1958) with Frank Sinatra. Her performance in this film earned her her first nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Becoming a Star (1960–1969)

MacLaine in the trailer for The Apartment (1960)

In 1960, MacLaine starred in The Apartment, a romantic drama directed by Billy Wilder. In the film, she plays an elevator operator who is involved with her boss. The movie was a big success and won many awards, including Best Picture at the Academy Awards. MacLaine's acting in The Apartment earned her another Academy Award nomination. She also won a Volpi Cup for Best Actress and a BAFTA Award.

Jack Lemmon and MacLaine in a scene from The Apartment's final scene

She reunited with director Billy Wilder and actor Jack Lemmon for Irma la Douce (1963). This role earned her a third Academy Award nomination and another Golden Globe Award.

In 1970, MacLaine published her first book, Don’t Fall off the Mountain. She also starred in the musical film Sweet Charity (1969), directed by Bob Fosse. Although the film wasn't a big financial success, MacLaine received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Continued Success (1970–1976)

MacLaine starred in the Western film Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970) with Clint Eastwood. The movie was popular, partly due to Eastwood's fame. She then moved to television, starring in the sitcom Shirley's World (1971–1972).

MacLaine also became involved in politics. She paused her acting career to campaign for George McGovern during the 1972 presidential election. She even helped produce a benefit concert for his campaign.

In 1975, her documentary film The Other Half of the Sky: A China Memoir was released. She co-directed and produced this film, which was about the first group of women to visit China in 1973. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film.

Academy Award Win (1977–1984)

MacLaine made a strong return to acting with the drama The Turning Point (1977). She played a retired ballerina, and her performance was highly praised. This role earned her a fourth Academy Award nomination.

In 1979, she starred with Peter Sellers in the movie Being There. Her performance in this film earned her a British Academy Film Award nomination.

In 1983, MacLaine starred in the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment. She played the mother of Debra Winger's character. The film was a huge success, earning over $108 million and becoming the second-highest-grossing film of the year. It received 11 Academy Award nominations and won five, including Best Picture. Both MacLaine and Winger were nominated for Best Actress, and MacLaine won her first and only Academy Award in that category. She also won a Golden Globe Award for her role.

After the Oscar (1984–Present)

MacLaine on the set of Guarding Tess

After winning her Oscar, MacLaine continued to star in many films. These include Madame Sousatzka (1988), for which she won another Golden Globe, and the family drama Steel Magnolias (1989). Steel Magnolias was a big box office success. She also appeared in Postcards from the Edge (1990) with Meryl Streep.

MacLaine with Christopher Plummer at the premiere of the film Elsa & Fred in 2014

Other notable films include Guarding Tess (1994) with Nicolas Cage, In Her Shoes (2005) with Cameron Diaz, and Bernie (2011) with Jack Black. In 2000, she directed her first and only feature film, The Dress Code, in which she also starred. She later reunited with Christopher Plummer in the 2014 film Elsa & Fred.

MacLaine has also been in many television projects. In 2009, she starred in Coco Chanel, a TV movie about the famous fashion designer. She also appeared in the popular British drama Downton Abbey (2012–2013) and the musical series Glee (2014). In 2022, she joined the cast of the hit Hulu series Only Murders in the Building. Her film American Dreamer was released in theaters in 2024.

Personal Life

Family

Shirley MacLaine was married to businessman Steve Parker from 1954 until their divorce in 1982. Their daughter, Sachi Parker, was born in 1956. In her 2024 book, The Wall of Life, MacLaine shared that she and her daughter are very close.

Beliefs and Interests

MacLaine has a strong interest in spirituality and metaphysics. These topics are central to some of her best-selling books, like Out on a Limb. Her spiritual journeys include walking the Way of St. James and practicing Transcendental Meditation.

MacLaine helped produce the show Star-Spangled Women for McGovern–Shriver

She also has an interest in UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects). She has given interviews about seeing UFOs at her New Mexico ranch. In her book Sage-ing While Age-ing (2007), she wrote about having experiences with aliens.

Activism and Politics

Shirley MacLaine has used her fame to support political causes. Along with her brother Warren Beatty, she helped raise money and organize events for George McGovern's presidential campaign in 1972. She even wrote a book that year called McGovern: The Man and His Beliefs. She spent a lot of her own money on political activism during that time.

MacLaine is the godmother to journalist Jackie Kucinich.

Legal Matters

In 1959, MacLaine sued film producer Hal Wallis over a contract disagreement. This lawsuit is seen as a key event that helped change the old "star system" in Hollywood, where studios had a lot of control over actors. In 1966, she also sued Twentieth Century-Fox when they broke an agreement to cast her in a film. The court decided in MacLaine's favor. This case is often studied in law schools as an example of employment contract law.

Acting Credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Honors

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Teresa Heinz with 2013 Kennedy Center honorees: Shirley MacLaine, Martina Arroyo, Billy Joel, Carlos Santana, and Herbie Hancock in 2013.

Shirley MacLaine has received many awards and special honors throughout her career. In 2017, she was featured in a segment at the 89th Academy Awards, where actress Charlize Theron praised her work in The Apartment. MacLaine then presented the Academy Award for Best International Film with Theron.

See also

In Spanish: Shirley MacLaine para niños