Shelley Duvall
Acting
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.
Media of
Shelley Duvall
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Shelley Duvall
Aunt Nellie
... 2025
Rico's Mother
... 2024
Bad Ballet Dancer (archive footage)
... 2005
Detective Dubrinski
... 2002
... 2001
Mrs. Stein
... 2000
Martha Stewart
... 1999
Mrs. Jackson
... 1998
Gabby
... 1998
Edith Butros
... 1998
Estelle
... 1997
Mrs. Randall (uncredited)
... 1997
Amelia Glahn
... 1997
... 1997
Sister Agatha
... 1997
Mrs. Fink
... 1997
Countess Gemini
... 1996
... 1996
Nurse
... 1995
Teacher
... 1994
Jenny Wilcox
... 1991
Annie
... 1991
... 1990
Little Bo Peep
... 1990
Self
... 1988
Self - Host
... 1987
Dixie
... 1987
Self - Host
... 1987
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1987
Mrs. Anderson
... 1987
Self / Host
... 1986
Self / Host
... 1986
Self / Host
... 1986
Self / Host
... 1986
... 1986
Self - Host
... 1986
Self - Host
... 1986
Lily Miniver
... 1986
Self / Host / Clementine
... 1986
Host
... 1986
Self / Host
... 1986
The Host
... 1985
Self - Host
... 1985
Self / Host
... 1985
Self - Host / Narrator
... 1985
Self - Host
... 1985
Self - Host
... 1985
Narrator (voice)
... 1985
Susan Frankenstein
... 1984
Laura
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1984
Snow White's Mother / Self - Host
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1984
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1983
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1983
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1983
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1983
... 1983
Nightingale (voice) / Narrator (voice) / Self - Host
... 1983
Rapunzel / Marie, Rapunzel's Mother / Self - Host
... 1983
The Miller's Daughter / Self - Host
... 1982
Self - Host (uncredited)
... 1982
... 1982
Dame Pansy / Pansy
... 1981
Olive Oyl
... 1980
Self
... 1980
Wendy Torrance
... 1980
Joan of Arc
... 1977
Pam
... 1977
Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux
... 1977
Bernice
... 1976
The First Lady (Mrs. Cleveland)
... 1976
L.A. Joan
... 1975
Keechie
... 1974
Ida Coyle
... 1971
Suzanne
... 1970
