Highest rated as cast or director
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.
Acted in 55
2000s
- 2005
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd
Bad Ballet Dancer (archive footage)
- 2002
Manna from Heaven
Detective Dubrinski
- 2000
Dreams in the Attic
Aunt Nellie
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
Tale of the Mummy
Edith Butros
- 1997
Alone
Estelle
Twilight of the Ice Nymphs
Amelia Glahn
Changing Habits
Sister Agatha
- 1996
- 1995
Wishbone
Renee Lassiter · 50 episodes
The Underneath
Nurse
- 1994
Aliens for Breakfast
Teacher
- 1993
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
Little Bo Peep
1980s
- 1987
- 1986
Annie Oakley
The Host
Lily
Lily Miniver
- 1985
- 1984
Booker
Laura
WonderWorks
Laura Burroughs · 1 episode
The Secret World of the Very Young
Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White's Mother / Self - Host
- 1983
The Nightingale
Nightingale (voice) / Narrator (voice) / Self - Host
Rapunzel
Rapunzel / Marie, Rapunzel's Mother / Self - Host
- 1982
Rumpelstiltskin
The Miller's Daughter / Self - Host
Twilight Theatre
Movie
- 1981
- 1980
1970s
- 1977
The Paul Simon Special
Joan of Arc
- 1976
Bernice Bobs Her Hair
Bernice
- 1975
- 1974
Thieves Like Us
Keechie
- 1971
Brewster McCloud
Suzanne
Produced 44
1990s
- 1994
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories: The Christmas Witch
Executive Producer
- 1990
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
Executive Producer, Casting
1980s
- 1989
Dinner at Eight
Producer
The Eyes of the Panther
Executive Producer
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Executive Producer
Carmilla
Executive Producer
The Turn of the Screw
Executive Producer
- 1987
The Dancing Princesses
Producer, Executive Producer
The Little Mermaid
Executive Producer
Faerie Tale Theatre: Rip Van Winkle
Producer, Executive Producer
- 1986
Annie Oakley
Producer
Davy Crockett
Producer
John Henry
Producer
Ponce de Leon
Producer
Johnny Appleseed
Producer
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Producer, Executive Producer
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
Executive Producer
Popples
Executive Producer
Darlin' Clementine
Executive Producer
Casey at the Bat
Producer
Pecos Bill
Producer
- 1985
The Emperor's New Clothes
Producer, Executive Producer
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Executive Producer, Producer
Puss in Boots
Producer, Executive Producer
Cinderella
Producer, Executive Producer
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Producer, Executive Producer
- 1984
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
Producer, Executive Producer
Beauty and the Beast
Producer, Executive Producer
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Producer, Executive Producer
Thumbelina
Producer, Executive Producer
Pinocchio
Producer, Executive Producer
The Princess and the Pea
Producer, Executive Producer
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Producer, Executive Producer
- 1983
Hansel and Gretel
Producer, Executive Producer
Little Red Riding Hood
Producer, Executive Producer
Jack and the Beanstalk
Producer, Executive Producer
Sleeping Beauty
Producer, Executive Producer
The Nightingale
Executive Producer, Producer
Rapunzel
Executive Producer, Producer
- 1982
Rumpelstiltskin
Producer, Executive Producer
The Tale of the Frog Prince
Producer, Executive Producer
Created 2
1980s
- 1989
Nightmare Classics
Creator
- 1985
Other crew 1
2020s
- 2024
Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location
In Memory Of
Art department 1
1970s
- 1977
Wrote 1
1980s
- 1986
Popples
Story
Appearances46
2020s
- 2024
Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location
Self (archive footage)
- 2020
2000s
- 2001
1990s
- 1997
Guy Maddin: Waiting for Twilight
Self
- 1996
Robert Altman: Giggle And Give In
Self
- 1994
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories: The Christmas Witch
Host
- 1990
The Chipmunks Rockin' Through The Decades
Self
1980s
- 1988
Earthquake Survival
Self
- 1987
The Dancing Princesses
Self - Host
The Little Mermaid
Self - Host
Faerie Tale Theatre: Rip Van Winkle
Self - Host (uncredited)
- 1986
Davy Crockett
Self / Host
John Henry
Self / Host
Ponce de Leon
Self / Host
Johnny Appleseed
Self / Host
Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures
Self
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Self - Host
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
Self - Host
Darlin' Clementine
Self / Host / Clementine
Casey at the Bat
Host
Pecos Bill
Self / Host
- 1985
The Emperor's New Clothes
Self - Host
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Self / Host
Puss in Boots
Self - Host / Narrator
Cinderella
Self - Host
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Self - Host
The Snow Queen
Host / Narrator (voice)
- 1984
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
Self - Host (uncredited)
Beauty and the Beast
Self - Host (uncredited)
Thumbelina
Self - Host (uncredited)
Pinocchio
Self - Host (uncredited)
The Princess and the Pea
Self - Host (uncredited)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Self - Host (uncredited)
- 1983
Hansel and Gretel
Self - Host (uncredited)
Little Red Riding Hood
Self - Host (uncredited)
Jack and the Beanstalk
Self - Host (uncredited)
Sleeping Beauty
Self - Host (uncredited)
The Fairest of Them All
Self
Six Kinds of Light - John Alcott
Self
- 1982
The Tale of the Frog Prince
Self - Host (uncredited)
- 1980
Making 'The Shining'
Self
1970s
- 1975
- 1974
No release date
Hello, I'm Shelley Duvall
Self
Thanked in the credits1
2010s
- 2012
