Shirley MacLaine
Biography
Shirley MacLaine is an American actress and author whose career has spanned more than 70 years. Born in Richmond, Virginia, she danced in the chorus of the Broadway musical Me and Juliet and later understudied in The Pajama Game before Hal B. Wallis signed her to Paramount. She made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry (1955), winning a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year, and rose to fame with The Apartment (1960) and Irma la Douce (1963). She took the Academy Award for Best Actress for Terms of Endearment (1983). Her other films include The Children's Hour (1961), Sweet Charity (1969), The Turning Point (1977), Being There (1979), Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), In Her Shoes (2005), Bernie (2011), and Noelle (2019). She also starred in the sitcom Shirley's World and the television film Coco Chanel (2008), and wrote books and a memoir, Out on a Limb.
92years old
Turns 93 on April 24in 192 days
- Born Richmond
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Shirley MacLean Beaty (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 54
- Career span
- 67 years1955 to 2022
Genres
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A role that slipped away
Shirley MacLaine was cast in Sweet Charity because her name was better known than Gwen Verdon's, who had originated the role onstage and then helped teach MacLaine the dance routines as assistant to choreographer Bob Fosse.
First role
After graduating, MacLaine went back and made her Broadway debut as a dancer in the ensemble of Me and Juliet. She then served as an understudy for actress Carol Haney in The Pajama Game.
A first
In 2000, MacLaine directed a feature film for the first and only time and also starred in it. The movie, Bruno, came out on video under the title The Dress Code.
A role that slipped away
In 1970, MacLaine took the lead in Two Mules for Sister Sara. The part had been written for Elizabeth Taylor, who decided against appearing in the movie.
Shirley MacLaine movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Billy Wilder directed two of these films, Herbert Ross two. Dean Martin appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Dean Martin's page
Frank Sinatra's page
Michael Caine's page
Kathy Bates's page
Christopher Plummer's page
Robert Mitchum's page
All films by Billy Wilder
Herbert RossDirector, 2 films, 1977 to 1989
All films by Herbert Ross
Also two films together17 more actors
- Jack NicholsonThe Evening Star (1996) and Terms of Endearment (1983)
- Marcia Gay HardenElsa & Fred (2014) and Used People (1992)
- Tom SkerrittSteel Magnolias (1989) and The Turning Point (1977)
- Julia RobertsValentine's Day (2010) and Steel Magnolias (1989)
- Jack ElamCannonball Run II (1984) and Artists and Models (1955)
- Jack LemmonIrma la Douce (1963) and The Apartment (1960)
- Michael HordernThe Possession of Joel Delaney (1972) and The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)
- Robert MorleyWoman Times Seven (1967) and Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
- Peter SellersBeing There (1979) and Woman Times Seven (1967)
- Leon AltonSweet Charity (1969) and What a Way to Go! (1964)
- Sammy Davis Jr.Cannonball Run II (1984) and Sweet Charity (1969)
- Robert CummingsWhat a Way to Go! (1964) and My Geisha (1962)
- Anita EkbergWoman Times Seven (1967) and Artists and Models (1955)
- Maurice MarsacGambit (1966) and What a Way to Go! (1964)
- Joan ShawleeIrma la Douce (1963) and The Apartment (1960)
- George CalligaGambit (1966) and Some Came Running (1958)
- Jan ArvanGambit (1966) and Some Came Running (1958)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Shirley MacLaine's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$1.3 billion
30 of the 54 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 54 films: 30 worldwide figure; 8 us gross only; 7 never in cinemas; 9 figure not found.
- 30Worldwide figure
- 8US gross only
- 7Never in cinemas
- 9Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 77% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$217M17.2% of the total
- 2$188M14.9% of the total
- 3$131M10.4% of the total
- 4$108M8.6% of the total
- 5$96M7.6% of the total
- 6$89M7.1% of the total
- 7$83M6.6% of the total
- 8$56M4.5% of the total
$290 millionfrom the other 22 films with a worldwide figure, 23% of the total
Awards
Seventeen awards and honors from 1955 to 2012, fourteen of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1984 | Best Actress | Terms of Endearment | Won |
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1989 | Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama | Madame Sousatzka | Won |
| 1988 | Cecil B. DeMille Award | Won | |
| 1984 | Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama | Terms of Endearment | Won |
| 1964 | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Irma la Douce | Won |
| 1961 | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | The Apartment | Won |
| 1955 | New Star of the Year – Actress | The Trouble with Harry | Won |
| BAFTA | |||
| 1961 | Best Actress in a Leading Role | The Apartment | Won |
| 1960 | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Ask Any Girl | Won |
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1976 | Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special | Won | |
| Berlin Film Festival | |||
| 1971 | Silver Bear for Best Actress | Desperate Characters | Won |
| 1959 | Silver Bear for Best Actress | Ask Any Girl | Won |
| Venice Film Festival | |||
| 1988 | Volpi Cup for Best Actress | Madame Sousatzka | Won |
| 1960 | Volpi Cup for Best Actress | The Apartment | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 2012 | AFI Life Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1999 | Honorary Golden Bear | Honorary | |
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.