Shelley Duvall is an award-winning American actress known for playing roles in films directed by Robert Altman, Woody Allen, Stanley Kubrick and others.
She was born on July 7, 1949 in Houston, Texas. She started working as a saleswoman at a local department store, when she was spotted by production scouts working for director Robert Altman. She eventually won the lead role of Suzanne, the title character’s (Bud Cort) love interest, in the 1970 film Brewster McCloud. She then appeared in several other Altman films, including 1971’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller, 1974’s Thieves Live Us, and 1975’s Nashville.
In 1977, Duvall won Best Actress honors from that year’s Cannes Film Festival, for her performance as Millie Lammoreaux, an women who’s excessively confident of her charisma, in the film 3 Women. She also appeared in the film Annie Hall, released in the same year, as Woody Allen’s one-night stand. She then appeared in the Stanley Kubrick horror film The Shining, as beleaguered wife Wendy Torrance, in 1980. The same year, she played the role of Olive Oyl in the 1980 adaptation Popeye, opposite Robin Williams.
Duvall’s next appearances were mostly centered on children’s shows. She appeared in the television series Faerie Tale Theater, from 1982 to 1987, and Tall Tales and Legends, from 1985 to 1988. She hosted Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories in 1992. She also appeared in the 1996 adaptation Portrait of a Lady, opposite Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich; and the 1997 comedy RocketMan, opposite Harland Williams. She also starred in the 1998 television movie Casper Meets Wendy, with Hilary Duff and george Hamilton.
Duvall last appeared in the 2001 independent film Manna from Heaven, playing the role of Detective Dubrinski. Afterwards, she disappeared form the public eye, and nobody can tell why she left acting, or whether she plans to resume her career.