Though English-born, Carole Shelley has spent almost her entire award-winning career in the theatre in America, becoming one of Broadway's mainstays and a true pioneer of the American theatre. A naturalized US citizen, Shelley stays busy on all fronts in the entertainment industry in films, television and, of course, the live stage. Her Broadway ...
Able to stoop her shoulders into a credible "Widows Hump" - a trick she uses whenever she is called upon to play extreme old age
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Fact
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She was awarded the 1975 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Performance in a Play for "The Norman Conquests," at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
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Her father was a German Jewish immigrant, and her mother was of Russian Jewish descent.
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Currently appearing in the "Popular Tour" touring group version of the smash Broadway hit "Wicked." Will be at the Kennedy Center until mid-to-late January. [December 2005]
Nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for Best Performance for a Featured Actress in a Musical for "Billy Elliot - The Musical".
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She was nominated for a 1974 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in a Principal for her performance in "A Doll's House" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.
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In 1979 she originated the role of Mrs. Kendall in "The Elephant Man", winning a Tony Award for best actress. In 2002 Kate Burton played Mrs. Kendall in the first revival of the play on Broadway, garnering a Tony nomination (one of two nominations she received that year, the other being for "Hedda Gabler"). These two distinguished actresses have worked on film and in television but in New York they are revered as two of the greatest actresses working on stage today. In 1995 these two ladies shared the same dressing room at the Union Square Theater, where they played mother and daughter in Neil Simon's "London Suite".
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The only actress to play the role of Gwendolyn Pigeon in "The Odd Couple" on Broadway, in film (The Odd Couple (1968)) and on TV The Odd Couple (1970).
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Replaced Elaine Stritch in the Broadway run of "Show Boat".
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Won Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for "The Elephant Man" in a tie with Constance Cummings for "Wings." Miss Shelley was present to receive her award and dedicated it to the memory of her recently departed mother whom she called "Charlie." She was also nominated for Tony Awards on two other occasions: in 1975 as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "Absurd Person Singular," and in 1987 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "Stepping Out."
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