Shelley Long | |
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.jpg) Long in 1982 | |
| Born | (1949-08-23)August 23, 1949 (age 76) Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
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| Years active | 1971–2022 |
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| Children | 1 |
Shelley Lee Long (born August 23, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and comedian. For her role asDiane Chambers on the sitcomCheers,[1] Long received fiveEmmy nominations, winning in 1983 forOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.[2] She also won twoGolden Globe Awards for the role.[3] Long reprised her role as Diane Chambers in three episodes of thespin-offFrasier, for which she received an additional guest star Emmy nomination. From 2009 to 2020, she played the recurring role of DeDe Pritchett on the ABC comedy seriesModern Family.
Long has also starred in several films includingNight Shift (1982),Irreconcilable Differences (1984),The Money Pit (1986),Outrageous Fortune (1987),Hello Again (1987),Troop Beverly Hills (1989),The Brady Bunch Movie (1995),A Very Brady Sequel (1996), andDr. T & the Women (2000).
Shelley Long was born on August 23, 1949,[4][5] inFort Wayne, Indiana.[6] She is the only child of Ivadine (née Williams), a schoolteacher, and Leland Long, who worked in the rubber industry before becoming a teacher as well.[7]
Shelley was raised in thePresbyterian faith. She was active on her high school speech team, competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association. In 1967, she won theNational Forensic League's National Championship in Original Oratory.[8]
After graduating fromSouth Side High School in Fort Wayne, she studied drama atNorthwestern University.[1]
Long's break as an actress occurred when she began performing in local commercials for Homemakers furniture store in the Chicago area.[9]
In Chicago, Long joinedThe Second City comedy troupe. In 1975, she began writing, producing, and co-hosting the television programSorting It Out onWMAQ-TV[10] and went on to win threeRegional Emmys for her work on the show.[11] She also appeared in the 1970s inVO5 shampoo print advertisements and in commercials forCamay soap as well as more Homemakers furniture commercials. In 1978, she appeared in a vignette onThe Love Boat.[12]
Long appeared in the 1979 television filmThe Cracker Factory as a psychiatric inmate. In the same year she guest starred onFamily andTrapper John, M.D., and played Nurse Mendenhall in an episode ofM*A*S*H.[13] In 1980, she appeared in her first feature film role inA Small Circle of Friends.[14] The film about social unrest atHarvard University during the 1960s enjoyed a level of critical success.[15][16] In 1981, she played the role of Tala inCaveman. In 1982, she starred as Belinda, thegood-natured prostitute neighbor of the character portrayed byHenry Winkler inRon Howard's comedyNight Shift (also co-starringMichael Keaton), and starred withTom Cruise inLosin' It (1983). She was offered the role of Mary, the mother inSteven Spielberg'sE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but turned it down because she had already signed on to appear inNight Shift.
Although she had already been in feature films, Long became famous for her role in the long-running television sitcomCheers as the characterDiane Chambers, who has a tempestuouson-and-off relationship withSam Malone.[14] The show was slow to capture an audience but eventually became one of the more popular on the air. Amid some controversy, Long leftCheers after season five in 1987.[17]
In theCheers biography documentary, co-starTed Danson admitted there was tension between them but "never at a personal level and always at a work level" due to their different modes of working. He also stated that Long was much more similar to her TV character than she might have liked to admit, but also said that her performances often "carried the show."[18][19] Long said in later interviews that it did not occur to her, when deciding to leave, that she was going to "sabotage a show" and she felt confident that the rest of the cast could continue without her.[20]
In a 2003 interview withGraham Norton, Long said she left for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was her desire to spend more time with her daughter. In a 2007 interview on Australian television, Long said Danson was "a delight to work with" and talked of her love for co-starNicholas Colasanto ("Coach"), who was "one of my closest friends on set". She said she left the show because she "didn't want to keep doing the same episode over and over again and the same story. I didn't want it to become old and stale." She went on to say that "working atCheers was a dream come true...it was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. So, yes, I missed it, but I never regretted that decision."[21]
While appearing onCheers, Long continued to appear in motion pictures. In 1984, she was nominated for a Best Leading ActressGolden Globe for her performance inIrreconcilable Differences. She also starred in the comediesThe Money Pit andOutrageous Fortune. She was offered lead roles inWorking Girl,Jumpin' Jack Flash, andMy Stepmother Is an Alien but did not accept them.[citation needed]
On August 12, 1986, Long signed a production agreement withThe Walt Disney Studios through Itsbinso Long Inc. to produce three films for theWalt Disney Pictures andTouchstone Films labels.[22]
Long's first post-Cheers project wasHello Again, a comedy about a housewife who is brought back from the dead. This was followed byTroop Beverly Hills, a comedy about another housewife who takes leadership of a 'Wilderness Girl' troop to bond with her daughter and distract herself from divorce proceedings. Neither film was successful with critics or at the box office.
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In 1990, Long returned to television for the fact-based miniseriesVoices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase. She received critical praise for the role, which required her to portray nearly 20 personalities. This introduced her to more dramatic roles in TV films, after which she starred in several more throughout the 1990s.[23]
Major feature film roles followed such as the romantic comedyDon't Tell Her It's Me withJami Gertz andSteve Guttenberg andFrozen Assets, a comedy about a sperm bank, which reunited her withHello Again co-starCorbin Bernsen.
In 1992, she starred inFatal Memories: The Eileen Franklin Story, a television drama about a woman who remembers the childhood trauma of being raped by her father and his cronies, and witnessing him murder her childhood friend to prevent the child from "telling on him," based on a 1989 case.[24] The still-controversial "recovered memories" basis for the prosecution resulted in the conviction and sentencing of life imprisonment of George Franklin,[25] a conviction that was later overturned.[26]
Long starred in the 1992 filmA Message from Holly withLindsay Wagner. Long plays a workaholic who finds out that her best friend has cancer and only six months to live, then stays with her in her last months.[27]
In 1993, the actress returned toCheers for itsseries finale, and picked up anotherEmmy nomination for her return as Diane.[28] She also starred in the sitcomGood Advice withTreat Williams andTeri Garr, a show that lasted two seasons.[29] She later resurfaced as Diane in several episodes of theKelsey Grammer spinoff seriesFrasier, for which she was nominated for anotherEmmy Award.[30]
BothOutrageous Fortune co-starBette Midler and Paramount studio executive Richard H. Frank, who helped developCheers, described Long as being difficult to work with.[31][32]
Long appeared asCarol Brady in the 1995 filmThe Brady Bunch Movie, which is acampy take on the popular television show. In 1996, she reprised her role inA Very Brady Sequel, which had modest success, and a 2002 television film sequel—The Brady Bunch in the White House. Other ventures followed, including the TV remake ofFreaky Friday and the family sitcomKelly Kelly, which only lasted for a few episodes. She played the Wicked Witch of the Beanstalk in a 1998 episode ofSabrina, the Teenage Witch.[30]
In 1999, she starred in another television filmVanished Without a Trace, about a woman who refuses to accept the kidnapping of her 13-year-old daughter and relentlessly pursues the villain's capture (not to be confused with the 1993 film of the same name about the1976 Chowchilla kidnapping.) In 2000, she appeared as one of the women in theRichard Gere filmDr. T & the Women, directed byRobert Altman.[30]
Long guest-starred in several TV shows such as8 Simple Rules,Yes Dear,Strong Medicine, andBoston Legal. She had a recurring role on the ABC sitcomModern Family as DeDe Pritchett, the ex-wife ofJay Pritchett.[30] She starred in television films, includingFalling in Love with the Girl Next Door andHoliday Engagement. In 2012, she made a guest appearance onSwitched at Birth.[30] In 2016, Long produced and acted in the feature filmDifferent Flowers.[33]
Long's first marriage, to Ken Solomon, ended in divorce in the 1970s after only a few years.[34] In 1979, she met her second husband, Bruce Tyson, a securities broker. They married in 1981 and had a daughter, Juliana.[7] Long and Tyson separated in 2003 and divorced in 2004.[citation needed]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Key | Narrator | Voice role |
| 1980 | A Small Circle of Friends | Alice | |
| 1981 | Caveman | Tala | |
| 1982 | Night Shift | Belinda Keaton | |
| 1983 | Losin' It | Kathy | |
| 1984 | Irreconcilable Differences | Lucy Van Patten Brodsky | Nominated –Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical |
| 1986 | The Money Pit | Anna Crowley Beissart Fielding | |
| 1987 | Outrageous Fortune | Lauren Ames | |
| Hello Again | Lucy Chadman | Nominated –Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress | |
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills | Phyllis Nefler | |
| 1990 | Don't Tell Her It's Me | Lizzie Potts | |
| 1992 | Frozen Assets | Grace Murdock | |
| 1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie | Carol Brady | |
| 1996 | A Very Brady Sequel | ||
| 1998 | The Adventures of Ragtime | Sam | |
| 2000 | Dr. T & the Women | Carolyn | |
| 2007 | A Couple of White Chicks at the Hairdresser | Barbara Kisner | |
| Trust Me | Mitzi Robinson | ||
| 2008 | Mr. Vinegar and the Curse | Ms. Persnickety | |
| 2011 | Pizza Man | Mrs. Burns | |
| Zombie Hamlet | Shine Reynolds | Also co-producer | |
| 2013 | The Wedding Chapel | Jeanie Robertson | |
| Best Man Down | Gail | ||
| 2014 | A Matter of Time | Nona | |
| 2017 | Different Flowers | Grandma Mildred | Also producer |
| 2021 | The Cleaner | Sharon Enderly |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1978 | Sorting it Out | Host | (Local Chicago show) Won 3 Regional Emmy Awards |
| 1978 | That Thing on ABC | Performer | Variety special |
| The Love Boat | Heather McKenzie | Episode: "Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous?" | |
| 1979 | The Dooley Brothers | Lucy Bennett | Unaired pilot |
| Young Guy Christian | Mia Mishugi | ||
| The Cracker Factory | Cara | Television film | |
| Family | Joan Phillips | Episode: "Sleeping Over" | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Lauren | Episode: "The Shattered Image" | |
| 1980 | The Promise of Love | Lorraine Simpson | Television film |
| M*A*S*H | Lt. Mendenhall | Episode: "Bottle Fatigue" | |
| 1981 | The Princess and the Cabbie | Carol | Television film |
| Ghost of a Chance | Jenny Clifford | Unaired pilot | |
| 1982–1987, 1993 | Cheers | Diane Chambers | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series(1983) Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy(1985) Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film(1983) TV Land Awards(2006–2007) Viewers for Quality Television Award(1985–1986) Nominated –American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a Television Series(1987) Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series(1984–1986) Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series(1993) Nominated –Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy(1984) Nominated –People's Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Performer(1984–1985) |
| 1990 | Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase | Truddi Chase | Television film |
| 1991 | The Real Story of... | The Dame | Voice, episode: "Baa Baa Black Sheep" |
| Memories of M*A*S*H | Host | Documentary | |
| 1992 | Fatal Memories | Eileen Franklin Lipsker | Television film |
| A Message from Holly | Kate | ||
| 1993–1994 | Good Advice | Susan DeRuzza | 19 episodes |
| 1993 | Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's [sic] | Fay Sommerfield | Television film |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Lucille Newtrich/Ultra Lucille | Episode: "Ultra Woman" |
| Welcome to Paradise | Anne | Television film | |
| Freaky Friday | Ellen Andrews | ||
| 1996 | A Different Kind of Christmas | Elizabeth Gates | |
| Susie Q | Penny Sands | ||
| 1995, 1996 | Murphy Brown | Dottie Wilcox | 2 episodes |
| 1996, 2001 | Frasier | Diane Chambers | 3 episodes Nominated –Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series(1996) |
| 1996 | Life with Louie | Sally Tubbs | Voice, episode: "A Fair to Remember" |
| Boston Common | Louise Holmes | Episode: "Trustee and Sympathy" | |
| 1998 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | The Wicked Witch | Episode: "Sabrina and the Beanstalk" |
| Kelly Kelly | Kelly Novack | 7 episodes; also co-executive producer | |
| Diagnosis: Murder | Kay Ludlow | Episode: "Write, She Murdered" | |
| 1999 | Vanished Without a Trace | Elizabeth Porterson | Television film |
| Chicken Soup for the Soul | Teacher | Episode: "The Green Boots" | |
| 2000 | Beggars and Choosers | Pamela Marston | Episode: "Fasten Your Seatbelts" |
| 2002 | The Brady Bunch in the White House | Carol Brady | Television film |
| The Santa Trap | Molly Emerson | ||
| 2003 | 8 Simple Rules | Mary Ellen Doyle | Episode: "The Doyle Wedding" |
| Strong Medicine | Lauren Chase | Episode: "Jeaneology" | |
| 2004 | Joan of Arcadia | Miss Candy | Episode: "Vanity, Thy Name Is Human" |
| 2005 | Boston Legal | Miriam Watson | Episode: "Death Be Not Proud" |
| Yes, Dear | Margaret | Episode: "The New Neighbors" | |
| Complete Savages | Judy | 2 episodes | |
| 2006 | Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door | Betsy Lucas | Television film |
| Honeymoon with Mom | Marla | ||
| 2009 | Ice Dreams | Harriet Clayton | |
| 2009–2018 | Modern Family | DeDe Pritchett | 8 episodes Nominated – Gold Derby Awards for Comedy Guest Actress(2010) Nominated – OFTA Television Award for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series(2011) |
| 2010 | Family Guy | Carol Brady | Voice, episode: "Excellence in Broadcasting" |
| 2011 | Holiday Engagement | Meredith Burns | Television film |
| Retired at 35 | Ginny | Episode: "Hit It and Quit It" | |
| A.N.T. Farm | Mrs. Busby | Episode: "PhilANThropy" | |
| 2012 | Strawberry Summer | Eileen Landon | Television film |
| Merry In-Laws | Mrs. Claus | ||
| The Dog Who Saved the Hollidays | Aunt Barbara | Television film; also co-producer | |
| Switched at Birth | Rya Bellows | Episode: "Game On" | |
| 2013 | Holiday Road Trip | Cynthia | Television film |
| 2015 | Instant Mom | Magician | Episode: "Bawamo Shazam" |
| 2017 | Christmas in the Heartland | Judy Wilkins | Television film |
| 2017–2018 | Milo Murphy's Law | Grandma Murphy | Voice, 2 episodes |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Cheers | Won | [35] |
| 1983 | Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | |||
| 1984 | Won | ||||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Irreconcilable Differences | Nominated | |||
| 2011 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated | [36] |
| 1983 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Cheers | Won | [37] |
| 1984 | Nominated | ||||
| 1985 | Nominated | ||||
| 1986 | Nominated | ||||
| 1993 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Cheers(Episode: "One for the Road") | Nominated | ||
| 1996 | Frasier(Episode: "The Show Where Diane Comes Back") | Nominated |
Birth Place: Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States.
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