Close is the president of Trillium Productions and co-founder of the website FetchDog. She has made political donations in support ofDemocratic politicians and is vocal on issues such aswomen's rights,same-sex marriage, andmental health. Married three times, she has one daughter,Annie Starke, from her relationship with producer John Starke.
Glenn Close was born on March 19, 1947, inGreenwich, Connecticut, tosocialite Elizabeth Mary Hester "Bettine" (née Moore) andWilliam Taliaferro Close,[1] a doctor who operated a clinic in theBelgian Congo and served as a personal physician toCongolese dictatorMobutu Sese Seko.[2] She has two sisters, Tina and Jessie, and two brothers, Alexander (nicknamed Sandy) and Tambu Misoki, whom Close's parents adopted while living in Congo.[3]
During her childhood, Close lived with her parents in a stone cottage on her maternal grandfather's estate in Greenwich. She began honing her acting abilities in her early years, "I have no doubt that the days I spent running free in the evocative Connecticut countryside with an unfettered imagination, playing whatever character our games demanded, is one of the reasons that acting has always seemed so natural to me."[4] Although Close has an affluent background, she has stated that her family chose not to participate inWASP society. She would also avoid mentioning her birthplace, the wealthy town Greenwich, whenever asked because she did not want people to think she was a "dilettante who didn't have to work."[5]
When Close was seven years old, her parents joined theMoral Re-Armament (MRA), a movement in which her family was involved for 15 years. During this period, Close's family lived in communal centers. She has described MRA as a "cult" that dictated every aspect of her life, from the clothes that had to be worn to what she was allowed to say. Close also spent time inSwitzerland when studying atSt. George's School, and attendedRosemary Hall (now Choate Rosemary Hall), graduating in 1965.[6] She traveled for several years in the mid-to-late 1960s with the nonprofit encouragement singing groupUp With People. During her time in Up With People, Close organized a small singing group called the Green Glenn Singers, consisting of herself,Kathe Green, Jennie Dorn, and Vee Entwistle. The group's stated mission was "to write and sing songs which would give people a purpose and inspire them to live the way they were meant to live".[7]
When she was 22, Close broke away from MRA.[8] She once stated that her desire to become an actress allowed her to leave the group, adding, "I have long forgiven my parents for any of this. They had their reasons for doing what they did, and I understand them. It had terrible effects on their kids, but that's the way it is. We all try to survive, right? And I think what actually saved me more than anything was my desire to be an actress."[9] She attendedThe College of William & Mary, double majoring intheater andanthropology.[10] During her senior year of college, Close became inspired to pursue a career in acting after watching an interview ofKatharine Hepburn onThe Dick Cavett Show.[11] It was in the college's theater department that Close began to train as a serious actor under Howard Scammon,William and Mary's long-time professor of theater. During her years at school inWilliamsburg, she also starred in the summer-time outdoor drama,The Common Glory, written by Pulitzer Prize authorPaul Green.[12] She was elected to membership in the honor society ofPhi Beta Kappa.[13] Through the years, Close has returned to William & Mary to lecture and to visit the theater department.[14]
Through her appearance on the first episode of the seventh season ofFinding Your Roots, she came to find out that she is related toPrincess Diana through her seven times great-grandparents, is also distantly related to fellow actorClint Eastwood, and that some of her ancestors wereslaveholders.[15] She also has a tangential connection toMarjorie Post who was once married to her grandfather, Edward Bennett Close.
Close started her professional career on the stage in 1974 at age 27.[13] In her senior year of college, she called her school's theater department to be nominated for a series of auditions through the University Resident Theatre Association andTCG.[13] Eventually, she was given a callback and hired for one season to do three plays at theHelen Hayes Theatre, one of those plays beingLove for Love directed byHal Prince.[16] She made her television debut in 1975 with a small role in the anthology seriesGreat Performances. In 1975, Close also appeared asCordelia inKing Lear at theMilwaukee Repertory Theatre.[17] In 1976, she playedMary I in the short-lived Broadway musicalRex, with a score byRichard Rodgers andSheldon Harnick.[18]
From September 1978 to April 1979, Glenn appeared on Broadway inThe Crucifer of Blood playing the part of Irene St. Claire, withPaxton Whitehead andDwight Schultz.[19] In 1979, she filmed the television moviesOrphan Train andToo Far to Go. The latter film includedBlythe Danner andMichael Moriarty in the cast, and Close played Moriarty's lover. Her last major stage role before beginning her motion picture career was playing Chairy, the female lead in the Broadway musicalBarnum, from April 1980 to March 1981.[20]
The 1980s proved to be Close's breakthrough in Hollywood. In 1980, directorGeorge Roy Hill discovered Close on Broadway and asked her to audition withRobin Williams for a role inThe World According to Garp, which would become her first film role, as well as her firstAcademy Award nominated performance.[21] She playedRobin Williams's mother, despite being just four years older. The following year she played Sarah Cooper inThe Big Chill, a character that directorLawrence Kasdan said he specifically wrote for her. The movie received positive reviews and was a financial success. Close became the third actor to receive a Tony, Emmy, and Oscar (Academy Award) nomination all in the same calendar year after the release ofThe Big Chill. Also in 1980, she received her firstTony Award nomination for her performance in the musicalBarnum.
In 1984, Close was given a part inRobert Redford's baseball dramaThe Natural, and although it was a small supporting role, she earned a third consecutive Oscar nomination. Close, to this day, credits her nomination to cinematographerCaleb Deschanel, stating "That hat was designed so the sunlight would come through. We waited for a certain time of day, so the sun was shining through the back of the stadium. And he had a lens that muted the people around me. It was an incredibly well thought-out shot. And I honestly think that's the reason I got nominated."[22] Close also starred oppositeRobert Duvall in the dramaThe Stone Boy (1984), a film about a family coping after their youngest child accidentally kills his older brother in a hunting accident. She continued to appear in television films in the following years, beginning withThe Elephant Man, and in 1984, she starred in the critically acclaimed dramaSomething About Amelia, a television film about a family destroyed by sexual abuse. She won her first Tony Award in 1984 forThe Real Thing, directed byMike Nichols.
Eventually, Close began to seek different roles to play because she did not want to be typecast as a motherly figure.[23] She starred in the 1985 romantic comedyMaxie, alongsideMandy Patinkin. Close was given favorable reviews and even received her secondGolden Globe Award nomination, but the movie was critically panned and under-performed at the box office.[24][25] In 1985, Close starred in the legal thrillerJagged Edge, oppositeJeff Bridges. Initially,Jane Fonda was attached to the role, but was replaced with Close when she requested changes in the script. ProducerMartin Ransohoff was against the casting of Close because he said she was "too ugly" for the part. Close eventually heard about this and said she didn't want Ransohoff on set while she was making her scenes. DirectorRichard Marquand stood by her side and sent Ransohoff away. Infuriated, Ransohoff went to the studio heads trying to get Close and Marquand fired from the picture. The studio refused, stating they were pleased with their work in the film.[26]Jagged Edge received mixed-to-positive reviews and grossed $40-million on a $15-million budget.[27]
In 1987, Close played the disturbed book editor Alex Forrest in the psychological thrillerFatal Attraction. The film became a huge box-office success, the highest-grossing film worldwide of that year. The film propelled Close to international stardom and the character of Alex Forrest is considered one of her most iconic roles; the phrase "bunny boiler" has even been added to the dictionary, referring to a scene from the movie. During the re-shoot of the ending, Close suffered a concussion from one of the takes when her head smashed against a mirror. After being rushed to the hospital, she discovered, much to her horror, that she was actually a few weeks pregnant with her daughter. Close stated in an interview that, "Fatal Attraction was really the first part that took me away from the Jenny Fields, Sarah Coopers—good, nurturing women roles. I did more preparation for that film than I've ever done."[23] Close received her fourth Oscar nomination for this role, her first in the leading role[28] and also won thePeople's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Actress.[citation needed]
She played a scheming aristocrat, the Marquise de Merteuil, in 1988's period romantic dramaDangerous Liaisons.[13] Close earned stellar reviews for this performance, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. In addition, she received her firstBAFTA Award nomination.[29] Also in 1988, she appeared alongsideKeith Carradine inStones for Ibarra, a television film adapted from the book written byHarriet Doerr and produced by theHallmark company. Close's final film role of the decade wasImmediate Family (1989), a drama about a married couple seeking to adopt a child. Producer Lawrence Kasdan had Close star in the film, as he directed her previously inThe Big Chill.
One of her most notable roles on stage wasNorma Desmond in theAndrew Lloyd Webber production ofSunset Boulevard, for which Close won her thirdTony Award, playing the role on Broadway in 1993–94.[13] For her role, Close was met with critical acclaim. David Richards ofThe New York Times wrote in 1994 that "Glenn is giving one of those legendary performances people will be talking about years from now. The actress takes breathtaking risks, venturing so far out on a limb at times that you fear it will snap. It doesn't."[37] She would later re-team with the show's director,Trevor Nunn, in London for hisRoyal National Theatre revival ofA Streetcar Named Desire in 2002.[38]
Close appeared in the newsroom comedy-dramaThe Paper (1994), directed by her good friendRon Howard and in 1996 she acted alongside the cast ofTim Burton's alien invasion satireMars Attacks! (1996). That same year, she portrayed the sinisterCruella de Vil in theDisney live-action hit of101 Dalmatians. Her role as Cruella de Vil was universally praised and earned her a nomination forGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. The film was also a commercial success, grossing $320.6 million in theaters against a $75 million budget. Per Close's contract, she is allowed to keep any costumes from her films. The producers attempted to make copies of Close's wardrobe due to the expensive materials being used, but, to their dismay, she rejected their suggestion and kept the originals.[39] The following year, Close appeared in another box office hit withAir Force One (1997), playing the trustworthyvice president toHarrison Ford's president. Ford stated in an interview that the role of the vice president was already written for a woman and that he personally chose Close for the role after meeting her at a birthday party for then-presidentBill Clinton.[40] Close would later star in the war filmParadise Road (1997) as a choir conductor of the women imprisoned by theJapanese inWorld War II. In 1999, Close provided the voice of Kala in Disney's animated filmTarzan. She later went on to receive great reviews for her comedic role as Camille Dixon inCookie's Fortune (1999).[41]
Close began to appear in television movies rather than doing theatrical films in the early 2000s. She returned as Cruella de Vil in102 Dalmatians (2000). Although the film received mixed reviews, it performed well at the box office. Close later filmedThe Safety of Objects which premiered in 2001, a movie about four suburban families dealing with maladies. This wasKristen Stewart's first film role, and Close and Stewart would later reunite in the 2015 filmAnesthesia. Close starred inThings You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her in the same year, this would be one of many future collaborations with directorRodrigo Garcia. In 2004, she played Claire Wellington, an uptight socialite in the comedyThe Stepford Wives oppositeNicole Kidman andChristopher Walken. She provided the voice of the Blue Fairy in the English version ofPinocchio (2002) and Granny in the animated filmHoodwinked (2005). Close continued to do smaller films likeLe Divorce (2003) andThe Chumscrubber (2005). In 2005, she reunited with director Rodrigo Garcia to doNine Lives; he would later direct Close in the filmAlbert Nobbs (2011). In the same year, she starred in the filmHeights (2005), an independent drama centered on the lives of fiveNew Yorkers. Close's performance was lauded by critics.[42][43]
In 2001, she starred in a production ofRodgers and Hammerstein's classic musicalSouth Pacific as Nellie Forbush onABC. She guest-starred onWill and Grace in 2002, portraying a satirical version ofAnnie Leibovitz, which earned her an Emmy nomination for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2003, Close playedEleanor of Aquitaine in theShowtime-produced filmThe Lion in Winter. Close won a Golden Globe Award andScreen Actors Guild Award for her performance. In 2005, Close joined the FX crime seriesThe Shield, in which she played Monica Rawling, a no-nonsense precinct captain, which became her first TV role in a series. Close stated that she made the right move because television was in a "golden era" and the quality of some programs had already risen to the standards of film.[44]John Landgraf, CEO ofFX, stated that network was the "first to bring a female movie star of Glenn Close's stature to television." He also credits her collaboration with the network with promoting roles for women on television, as well as influencing other film actors to switch to the small screen.[45][46]
In 2007, she appeared in the same film as her previous co-starMeryl Streep in the ensemble dramaEvening. This would be Close's final theatrical film role of the decade, since she began to star in her own television series,Damages (2007). Close was asked about her contributions to independent films, to which she responded "I love the casts that gather around a good piece of writing certainly not for the money but because it is good and challenging. Sometimes I've taken a role for one scene that I thought was phenomenal. Also my presence can help them get money, so it's I think a way for me to give back."[47] Shortly after her stint onThe Shield, Close was approached byFX executives who pitched a television series for her to star in. Also in 2007, Close began a five-season run playing the ruthless and brilliant lawyerPatty Hewes onDamages. Her portrayal of this character was met with rave reviews and a plethora ofaward nominations, in addition she went on to win two consecutiveEmmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.[48] Close's win also made her the first Best Actress winner in a drama series at the Emmy's for a cable show. Throughout the show's run, she became one of the highest-paid actresses on cable, earning $200,000 per episode.[49] Close stated that her role of Patty Hewes was the role of her life. She also kept in contact with her co-starRose Byrne, and the two have become friends. After the series ended, Close stated that she would not return to television in a regular role, but that she was open to do a miniseries or guest spot.[50] In 2008, Close performed atCarnegie Hall, narrating the violin concertoThe Runaway Bunny, a concerto for reader, violin and orchestra, composed and conducted byGlen Roven.
In December 2010, Close began filmingAlbert Nobbs inDublin. She had previously won anObie in 1982 for her role in the play on stage. She had been working on the project, in which she appeared alongside101 Dalmatians co-star Mark Williams, for almost twenty years, and aside from starring in it, she co-wrote the script and produced the film.[51] Close stated it became more important for her to make the film in order to stimulate discussion ontransgender issues, commenting, "There came a point where I asked, 'Am I willing to live the rest of my life having given up on this?' And I said, 'No I won't.' Some people will change their point of view, and those who are either too old, or too blinkered, to accept the beauty of difference will just have to 'die off'."[52] In the film, Close played the title role ofAlbert Nobbs, a woman living as a man in 19th century Ireland after beingsexually assaulted as a young girl.
While the film overall received mixed reviews, Close's performance received critical acclaim, as it was noted for being the most subtle and introverted of her career to that point and a departure from her previous roles. When asked during the film's awards campaign about the fact of not having an Oscar, Close said: "I remember being astounded that I met some people who were really kind of almost hyper-ventilating as to whether they were going to win or not, and I have never understood that. Because if you just do the simple math, the amount of people who are in our two unions, the amount of people who in our profession are out of work at any given time, the amount of movies that are made every year, and then you're one of five [nominees]. How could you possibly think of yourself as a loser?"[53]
Close at the French premiere ofAlbert Nobbs in 2012
The ENO London production ofSunset Boulevard transferred to thePalace Theatre on Broadway, with Close reprising her role. It opened on February 9, 2017, in a limited run, selling tickets through June 25, 2017. The production featured a 40-piece orchestra, the largest in Broadway history.[68][69][70] Close in particular was lauded by critics for her new incarnation of Norma Desmond. AsThe New York Times called it "one of the great stage performances of this century."[71]Variety,Parade,The Guardian andEntertainment Weekly also gave the new production positive reviews.[72][73][74] That same year, Close starred in a half hour comedy pilot forAmazon, titledSea Oak. The pilot premiered online with viewers voting to choose if it wanted Amazon to produce the series. Although it received favorable reviews it was not picked up.[75] Also in 2017, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at theTheatre World Awards.[76] In 2017, Close appeared alongsideNoomi Rapace andWillem Dafoe inWhat Happened to Monday, a science fiction thriller produced byNetflix.[77] Also that year, she was reunited with actorsJohn Malkovich (her co-star inDangerous Liaisons) andPatrick Stewart (co-star inThe Lion in Winter) in the romantic comedyThe Wilde Wedding, and co-starred inCrooked House, a film adaptation of the novel byAgatha Christie.
In June 2025 it was announced that Close would be undertaking the role of Drusilla Sickle in the upcoming film adaptation ofThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, alongside Billy Porter.[113]
In August 2025, it was announced that Close would star in the six-partChannel 4 British crime dramaMaud, based on the short story collections "An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good" and "An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed" by Swedish crime writerHelene Tursten.[114] In October 2025, Close was reported to have joined the cast of the drama filmThe Black Ball.[115]
Close is regarded as an extraordinarily versatile actress with an immersive acting style and a considerable range.[116][117]Vanity Fair remarked how Close is "long considered one of the great actresses of our time."[118]James Lipton described her as an actor who "can find an outstanding number of layers in a role or a single moment; she is a supple actor who performs subtle feats." Close was also professionally trained by acting coachHarold Guskin, who also mentoredKevin Kline,Bridget Fonda, andJames Gandolfini. Working with Guskin, Close learned several important lessons, which she said she's applied to her career as well as her life. One such lesson, she claims, was to "read the lines off the page" and remembering to breathe. Close states, "You have to maintain a certain openness, and if you don't maintain that, you lose something vital as an actor. It's how we're wired, and it's not a bad thing."[119] Close says that she went to every rehearsal in order to master her acting skills.[120][121]
"I love the chemistry that can be created onstage between the actors and the audience. It's molecular even, the energies that can go back and forth. I started in theater, and when I first went into movies, I felt that my energy was going to blow out the camera."
Onmethod acting, Close claims that while she found it an interesting technique, it was not her preferred style.[123] Although Close does extensive research and preparation for her roles, she also relies less on the technicality of a performance saying, "Good acting I think is like being a magician, in that you make people believe; because it's only when they believe that they are moved. And I want people to get emotionally involved. I think technique is important but it isn't everything. You can have a great technical actor who'll leave people cold. That's not my idea of great acting. As audience, I don't want to be aware of acting."[124] Longtime collaborator and playwrightChristopher Hampton describes Close as an actress who can very easily convey "a sense of strength and intelligence." Hampton worked onSunset Boulevard and the stage production ofDangerous Liaisons, later casting Close in the movie version of the latter production.[125] "Glenn is often described as having a glacial or distant quality about her, but in person she's the absolute opposite: warm and intimate," says actorIain Glen, who co-starred with her in the 2002 stage production ofA Streetcar Named Desire. "She was able to bring strength to the role, she was able to completely access that vulnerability. There was a real softness to her."[125]
However, Close is consistently praised for her roles as the villain or antagonist in her performances.[126] Her character inFatal Attraction was ranked number 7 onAFI's 100 years...100 heroes and villains list.[127] Regarding her role in the seriesDamages,The New York Times remarked, "There is no actor dead or alive as scary as a smiling Glenn Close."[128] Journalist Christopher Hooton also praised her, saying, "Christopher Walken, Glenn Close,Al Pacino, and many others have a surprising danger in them. They're a little scary to be around, because you feel they might jump you or blow up at you at any time. They are ticking time bombs."[129] Film historianCari Beauchamp has stated, "When you look at the top 10 actresses of the past 80 years, since sound came in, first you haveBette Davis,Katharine Hepburn andMeryl Streep – but I think Glenn Close is definitely in that list. It's a combination of her guts, in the roles she chooses, and her perseverance. We're talking about 30 years of nominated performances."[130]
In 1989, Close was the commencement speaker at William & Mary and received an honorary doctor of arts degree.[136] In 2023, she returned to the college to serve as the grand marshal of their annual homecoming event. She also helped dedicate William & Mary's newly renovatedPhi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall, whose main stage theater was named the Glenn Close Theatre in her honor.[137]
Close has been married three times, with each marriage ending in divorce. Her first marriage at age 22 — which Close has described as "kind of an arranged marriage" — ended before she attended college.[138] This marriage (from 1969 to 1971) was to Cabot Wade, a guitarist and songwriter with whom she had performed during her time atUp with People.[139] From 1979 to 1983, she lived with actorLen Cariou.[140] She was married to grocery heir James Marlas from 1984 to 1987.[139] Later, Close began a relationship with producer John Starke, whom she had met on the set ofThe World According to Garp.[139] Their daughter,Annie Starke, was born in 1988 and is an actress.[141] Close and Starke separated in 1991.[139] In 1991, Close had a 5-month relationship with Woody Harrelson. In 1995, Close was engaged to carpenter Steve Beers, who had worked onSunset Boulevard; the two never married, and their relationship ended in 1999.[139] In February 2006, Close married executive and venture capitalistDavid Evans Shaw inMaine,[139][142] but they divorced in August 2015.[143] Her first grandchild was born in February 2025.[144]
In 2007 she co-founded FetchDog, a dog accessories catalog and Internet site. Part of her work was publishing blogs in which she interviewed other celebrities about their relationships with their dogs. She sold the business in 2012.[152][153]
Close has campaigned for several issues such aswomen's rights,same-sex marriage, and mental health. In 1989 she attended pro-choice marches inWashington, D.C., withGloria Steinem andJane Fonda.[170] In 1998, Close was a part of a star-studded cast that performedThe Vagina Monologues at a benefit. It raised $250,000 in a single evening with proceeds going to the effort to stop violence against women.[171][172] She was honored with aGLAAD Media Award in 2002 for promoting equal rights among theLGBT community.[173] She volunteered and produced a documentary for "Puppies Behind Bars", an organization that provides service dogs for wounded war veterans.[174][175]
Close is also a trustee ofThe Wildlife Conservation Society[176] and volunteers at Fountain House in New York City, a facility dedicated to the recovery of those suffering from mental illness.[177] She is a founding member of the Panthera Conservation Advisory Committee.Panthera is an international nonprofit whose sole mission is conservation of the world's 36 species of wild cats.[178] Close has also been a longtime supporter of late friendChristopher Reeve'sfoundation.[179][180] She is also a member of theCuriosityStream Advisory Board.[181]
Close attending a mental health advocacy meeting at the office of U.S. SenatorDebbie Stabenow in 2013
Close was a founder and is chairperson of Bring Change to Mind,[182] a US campaign to eradicate the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness, supporting her sister Jessie who hasbipolar disorder.[183] She contributed chapters to her sister's 2015 book about mental illness,Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness.[184] In 2010, Close announced to the public that she had herDNA sequenced in order to publicize her family's history of mental illness.[185] During the month of July 2013, Close put over 380 designer items up for auction oneBay from the wardrobe of herDamages character Patty Hewes. All proceeds were raised to go to her charity Bring Change to Mind. Close had director and friendRon Howard direct the foundation's first PSA.John Mayer also lent his song "Say" for the advert.[186]
In 2013, Close delivered an address at theWhite House urging passage of the Excellence in Mental-Health Act, which was written to expand treatment for the mentally ill and to provide access to mental-health services. The bill was signed into law by PresidentBarack Obama in April 2014, and will provide $1.1 billion in funding to help strengthen the mental-health-care system in the US.[187] She was awarded theWebMD Health Hero award in 2015 for her contributions to mental-health initiatives.[188] On June 16, 2016, Close donated $75,000 to the Mental-Health Association of Central Florida in order to fund counseling and other assistance to victims of theOrlando nightclub shooting.[189] She frequently promotes her charitable causes on herInstagram account.[190]
^Seymour, Steve (January 25, 2007)."Glenn Close Recorded in U.P."Rock n Roll Graffiti.Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. RetrievedJune 3, 2017.
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