Shelley Duvall

Where to watch Shelley Duvall

• The ShiningMovie · 1980

Biography

Shelley Alexis Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) was an American actress known for her portrayal of distinctive, often eccentric characters. She was the recipient of several accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Peabody Award and nominations for a British Academy Film Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Born in Texas, Duvall began acting after being discovered by director Robert Altman, who was impressed with her upbeat presence and cast her in the black comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). Despite her hesitance towards becoming an actress, she continued to work with Altman, appearing in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974). Her breakthrough came with Altman's cult film Nashville (1975), and she earned widespread acclaim with the drama 3 Women (1977), also directed by Altman, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and earned a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. That same year, she appeared in a supporting role (as a writer for Rolling Stone) in Woody Allen's satirical romantic comedy Annie Hall (1977) and hosted Saturday Night Live. In the 1980s, Duvall became famous for her leading roles, which include Olive Oyl in Altman's live-action feature version of Popeye (1980) and Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining (1980). She appeared in Terry Gilliam's fantasy film Time Bandits (1981), the short comedy horror film Frankenweenie (1984), and the comedy Roxanne (1987). She ventured into producing television programming aimed at children and youth in the latter half of the 1980s, notably creating and hosting the programs Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987), Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987) (which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1988), and Nightmare Classics (1989). Duvall sporadically worked in acting throughout the 1990s, notably playing supporting roles in Steven Soderbergh's thriller The Underneath (1995) and the Henry James adaptation The Portrait of a Lady (1996), directed by Jane Campion. Her last performance was in Manna from Heaven (2002), after which she retired from acting. Duvall for many years kept out of the public media, keeping her personal life generally private; however, her health issues earned significant media coverage. After a 21-year hiatus from acting, Duvall returned to acting in the horror film The Forest Hills. She died due to complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, southwest of Austin, Texas.

Filmography

1. 2020Kubrick by Kubrickas Self (archive footage)
2. 2005Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroydas Bad Ballet Dancer (archive footage)
3. 2001Stanley Kubrick - Ein Leben für den Filmas Self
4. 1999The 4th Flooras Martha Stewart
5. 1998Home Friesas Mrs. Jackson
6. 1998The Hughleysas Mrs. Crump · 1 episode
7. 1998Casper Meets Wendyas Gabby
8. 1998Russell Mulcahy’s Tale of the Mummyas Edith Butros
9. 1998Big Monster on Campusas Mrs. Stein
10. 1997Aloneas Estelle
11. 1997RocketManas Mrs. Randall (uncredited)
12. 1997Twilight of the Ice Nymphsas Amelia Glahn
13. 1997Guy Maddin: Waiting for Twilightas Self
14. 1997Changing Habitsas Sister Agatha
15. 1997The Adventures of Shirley Holmesas Alice Flitt · 52 episodes
16. 1997Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homeworkas Mrs. Fink
17. 1996The Portrait of a Ladyas Countess Gemini
18. 1995Wishboneas Renee Lassiter · 50 episodes
19. 1995The Underneathas Nurse
20. 1994Aaahh!!! Real Monstersas Ocka (voice) · 102 episodes
21. 1993Frasieras Caroline (voice) · 1 episode
22. 1991Suburban Commandoas Jenny Wilcox
23. 1991Frogs!as Annie
24. 1990Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhymeas Little Bo Peep · Executive producer
25. 1987Roxanneas Dixie
26. 1987Faerie Tale Theatre: Rip Van Winkleas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
27. 1987Frogas Mrs. Anderson · Executive producer
28. 1986L.A. Lawas Margo Stanton · 1 episode
29. 1986Aladdin and His Wonderful Lampas Self - Host · Executive producer
30. 1985The Emperor's New Clothesas Self - Host · Producer · Executive producer
31. 1985The Twilight Zoneas Margaret (segment "A Saucer of Loneliness") · 1 episode
32. 1985Tall Tales & Legendsas Self - Host · 9 episodes · Executive producer · Creator
33. 1985Cinderellaas Self - Host · Producer · Executive producer
34. 1985The Ray Bradbury Theateras Leota Bean · 1 episode
35. 1984Frankenweenieas Susan Frankenstein
36. 1984Beauty and the Beastas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
37. 1984Snow White and the Seven Dwarfsas Snow White's Mother / Self - Host · Producer · Executive producer
38. 1984Pinocchioas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
39. 1983Hansel and Gretelas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
40. 1983Little Red Riding Hoodas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
41. 1983Sleeping Beautyas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
42. 1983Rapunzelas Rapunzel / Marie, Rapunzel's Mother / Self - Host · Executive producer · Producer
43. 1982Rumpelstiltskinas The Miller's Daughter / Self - Host · Producer · Executive producer
44. 1982The Tale of the Frog Princeas Self - Host (uncredited) · Producer · Executive producer
45. 1982Faerie Tale Theatreas The Miller's Daughter · 27 episodes · Executive producer
46. 1981Time Banditsas Dame Pansy / Pansy
47. 1980Popeyeas Olive Oyl
48. 1980Making 'The Shining'as Self
49. 1980The Shiningas Wendy Torrance
50. 1980Fridaysas Self · 1 episode
51. 19773 Womenas Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux
52. 1977Annie Hallas Pam
53. 1976Bernice Bobs Her Hairas Bernice
54. 1976Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lessonas The First Lady (Mrs. Cleveland)
55. 1975Nashvilleas L.A. Joan
56. 1974Thieves Like Usas Keechie
57. 1971Film '72as Self · 1 episode
58. 1971Cannonas Liz Christie · 1 episode
59. 1971Brewster McCloudas Suzanne
60. 1971McCabe & Mrs. Milleras Ida Coyle