Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty; April 24, 1934) is an American actress and author. With a career spanning over 70 years, she has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, two BAFTA Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, two Volpi Cups, and two Silver Bears. She has been honored with the Film Society of Lincoln Center Tribute in 1995, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1998, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2012, and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014. MacLaine is one of the last remaining stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, MacLaine made her acting debut as a teenager with minor roles in the Broadway musicals Me and Juliet and The Pajama Game. MacLaine's career began during the final years of the Golden Age of Hollywood where she made her film debut with Alfred Hitchcock's black comedy The Trouble with Harry (1955), winning the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress. She rose to prominence with starring roles in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), Some Came Running (1958), Ask Any Girl (1959), The Apartment (1960), The Children's Hour (1961), Irma la Douce (1963), and Sweet Charity (1969).
A six-time Academy Award nominee, MacLaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment (1983). Her other prominent films include The Turning Point (1977), Being There (1979), Madame Sousatzka (1988), Steel Magnolias (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), In Her Shoes (2005), Bernie (2011), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), Elsa & Fred (2014), and Noelle (2019).
MacLaine starred in the sitcom Shirley's World (1971–1972) and played the eponymous fashion designer in the biopic television film Coco Chanel (2008), receiving nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award for the latter. She also made appearances in several television series, including Downton Abbey (2012–2013), Glee (2014), and Only Murders in the Building (2022). MacLaine has written numerous books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a best-selling memoir, Out on a Limb (1983).
Named after child actress Shirley Temple, who was six years old at the time, Shirley MacLean Beaty was born on April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia. Her father, Ira Owens Beaty, was a professor of psychology, public school administrator, and a real estate agent. Her Canadian mother, Kathlyn Corinne (née MacLean), was a drama teacher from Wolfville, Nova Scotia. MacLaine's younger brother is the actor, writer, and director Warren Beatty, who changed the spelling of his surname for his career. Both were raised by their parents as Baptists. Her mother's brother-in-law was A. A. MacLeod, a Communist member of the Ontario provincial legislature in the 1940s.
Career
The summer before her senior year of high school in Arlington, Virginia, MacLaine went to New York City to try acting and had minor success in the chorus of a production of Oklahoma! that toured the subway circuit. After graduation, she returned and made her Broadway debut dancing in the ensemble of the Broadway production of Me and Juliet (1953–1954). Afterwards she became an understudy to actress Carol Haney in The Pajama Game; in May 1954 Haney injured her ankle during a Wednesday matinee, and MacLaine performed in her place. A few months later, with Haney still injured, Jerry Lewis saw a matinee and urged film producer Hal B. Wallis to attend the evening performance with him, hoping to cast her in Artists and Models. Wallis signed her to work for Paramount Pictures.
MacLaine appeared with Frank Sinatra in 1960's Can-Can, then made a cameo appearance in the Rat Pack movie Ocean's 11 (1960). MacLaine would become an honorary member of the Rat Pack.
In 1960, MacLaine starred in Billy Wilder's romantic comedy The Apartment (1960). The film is set in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and follows an insurance clerk, C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon), who allows his co-workers to use his apartment for their extramarital affairs. He is attracted to the insurance company's elevator operator (MacLaine), who is already having an affair with Baxter's boss (Fred MacMurray). The film received widespread critical acclaim and emerged as a major commercial success at the box-office. It received ten Academy Award nominations, winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction (Black and White) and Best Film Editing. MacLaine's performance in the film earned her a second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. However, despite being highly favored to win, she lost the award to Elizabeth Taylor for BUtterfield 8. She, however, won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. The Apartment was included by Roger Ebert in his 2001 Great Movies list. Charlize Theron, speaking at the 89th Academy Awards, praised MacLaine's performance as "raw, real, and funny", and as making "this black and white movie feel like it's in color".
1977–1984: Career comeback and Academy Award win
MacLaine started a career comeback with the drama The Turning Point (1977), portraying a retired ballerina. Her performance in the film received critical acclaim, earning her a fourth nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
She was awarded the Women in Film Crystal Award in 1978 for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.
In 1979, she starred alongside Peter Sellers in Hal Ashby's satirical film Being There. The film received widespread acclaim with Roger Ebert writing that he admired the film "for having the guts to take this totally weird concept and push it to its ultimate comic conclusion". MacLaine received a British Academy Film Award, and Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance.
Personal life
MacLaine was married to businessman Steve Parker from 1954 until their divorce in 1982; they have a daughter, Sachi. Their daughter said that when she was in her late twenties, her mother revealed her belief that an astronaut named Paul was Sachi's real father, not Steve Parker.
In April 2011, while promoting her new book, I'm Over All That, she revealed to Oprah Winfrey that she had had an open relationship with her husband. MacLaine also told Winfrey that she often fell for the leading men she worked with, the exceptions being Jack Lemmon (The Apartment, Irma la Douce) and Jack Nicholson (Terms of Endearment). MacLaine also had long-running affairs with Lord Mountbatten, whom she met in the 1960s, and Australian politician and two-time Liberal leader Andrew Peacock.
MacLaine has also gotten into feuds with such co-stars as Anthony Hopkins (A Change of Seasons), who said that "she was the most obnoxious actress I have ever worked with", and Debra Winger (Terms of Endearment).
If you want to read a lot more, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_MacLaine
- SERVES
- 15
- COOK TIME
- 30 Min
When you're in a hurry to make something garden-fresh, these are perfect! Just mix 'em and bake 'em to feed to your hungry crowd!
- 1 cup biscuit baking mix
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 cup shredded zucchini (See Tip)
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- Place the biscuit baking mix in a large bowl, then mix in the remaining ingredients except the zucchini.
- Fold in the zucchini, then distribute the mixture evenly in a 9" x 13" baking pan that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until set in center.
- Let sit 5 minutes, then cut into squares and serve, or chill and rewarm just before serving.
On September 27th, National Corned Beef Hash Day adds flavor to every meal while cleaning out the fridge, too.
Making corned beef hash is a great way to use up leftovers. Corned beef hash became popular during and after World War II. Since rationing limited the availability of fresh meat, corned beef filled the gap. Cooks became creative with herbs, spices, and leftovers. Nothing was wasted. In lean times, stretching a meal became a priority.
The Hormel Company claims it introduced corned beef hash and roast beef hash to the United States as early as 1950. However, World War II reporter, Betty Wason, lists a corned beef hash recipe in her Cooking Without Cans cookbook printed in 1943. Other forms of hash existed as part of the American diet since at least the 19th century. The numerous recipes available before that time also attest to the country’s love of the dish as does the existence of many “hash houses” named after the dish.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Serve up some corned beef hash for breakfast or supper. Either way, you’ll be adding flavor to your meal. So, make a lot and invite a crowd. It’s the best way to Celebrate Every Day!
Try our very own Easy Corned Beef Hash Recipe this weekend!
