Shelley Long
Encyclopedia
Shelley Lee Long is an American actress best known for her role as Diane Chambers
on the sitcom Cheers
, for which she won the Emmy Award
for Outstanding Lead Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress. Shelley Long has also starred in several motion pictures throughout her career like Night Shift
(1982), her Golden Globe nominated role in Irreconcilable Differences
(1984), The Money Pit (1986), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Hello Again
(1987), Troop Beverly Hills (1989), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), and Dr. T & the Women
(2000).
at 7:15 AM on Tuesday, August 23, 1949. She is the daughter of Ivadine, a school teacher, and Leland Long, who worked in the rubber industry before becoming a teacher. She was active on her high school speech team, competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association, and in 1967 she won the National Forensic League
National Championship in Original Oratory. She delivered a speech on the need for sex education
in high school entitled, "Sex Perversion Weed." After graduating from South Side High School
in Fort Wayne, she studied drama at Northwestern University
, but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and modelling
. Her first break as an actress occurred when she began doing commercials in the Chicago area for a furniture company called Homemakers.
comedy troupe, and in 1975, she began writing, producing, and co-hosting the television program
Sorting It Out. The local NBC
broadcast went on to win three Emmy Awards for Best Entertainment Show. Long also appeared in the 1970s in V05 Shampoo print advertisements. Her first notable role came in the 1979 television movie
The Cracker Factory
, in which she portrayed a psychiatric inmate, opposite Natalie Wood
. The following year she appeared in A Small Circle of Friends
with Brad Davis
and Karen Allen
. The film about social unrest at Harvard University
during the 1960s was a critical success. In 1981, she played the role of Tala in the Ringo Starr
film Caveman
, starring opposite Dennis Quaid
. She played Nurse Mendenhall in an episode of M*A*S*H ("Bottle Fatigue," 1980).
In 1982, she starred as Belinda in Ron Howard
's comedy Night Shift
(co-starring Henry Winkler
and Michael Keaton
), about life working on the night shift at a city morgue, and starred with Tom Cruise
in the 1983 comedy film Losin' It
.
in the long-running television sitcom Cheers
. The show was slow to capture an audience but eventually became one of the most popular on the air. Throughout her Cheers
career, She continued starring in several motion pictures. In 1984, she was nominated for a Best Leading Actress Golden Globe for her performance in Irreconcilable Differences
. She then starred in a series of comedies, such as The Money Pit
with Tom Hanks
(1986), Outrageous Fortune with Bette Midler
and Peter Coyote
(1987) and Hello Again
with Corbin Bernsen
(1987). She was even offered to play the lead characters in Working Girl
, Jumpin' Jack Flash
, and My Stepmother is an Alien
.
Amid much controversy, Long left Cheers after season five in 1987. In the Cheers biography documentary, costar Ted 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 like her character than she would like to admit, but also said that her performances often "carried the show." Long said in later interviews that in her decision to leave, it did not occur to her that she was going to 'sabotage a show' and she felt confident that the rest of the cast could continue without her. In later documentaries about the show, some cast and crew (including Jean Kasem
and the show's makeup artist) talked of Long having been difficult on set and claimed she was constantly in conflict with everyone while filming the program. A costar in the documentary said 'it wasn't Shelley versus Ted, it wasn't Shelley versus the cast, it wasn't Shelley versus the crew, it was Shelley versus everyone.'
In a 2003 interview on The Graham Norton Show
, Long said she left for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was her desire to spend more time with her newborn daughter. In a 2007 interview on Australian television, Long claimed Danson was "a delight to work with" and talked of her love for costar Nicholas Colasanto 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 at Cheers 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."
, a comedy in which she plays a housewife who takes leadership of a "Wilderness Girl" troop for bonding with her daughter and to distract herself from divorce proceedings.
In 1990, Long returned to television for the fact-based ABC
miniseries Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase
. She received critical praise for the role, which required her to portray nearly 20 different personalities.
Major feature roles followed such as the romantic comedy Don't Tell Her It's Me
with Jami Gertz
and Steve Guttenberg
and Frozen Assets
, a comedy about a sperm bank, which reunited her with Hello Again co-star Corbin Bernsen.
In 1992, she appeared in Fatal Memories: The Eileen Franklin Story, a fact-based 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." The still controversial "recovered memories
" basis for the prosecution resulted in the conviction and sentence of life imprisonment of George Franklin, Sr., a conviction that was later overturned.
In 1993, the actress returned to Cheers for its series finale
, and picked up another Emmy nomination for her return to Diane. She also starred in the sitcom Good Advice
with Treat Williams
and Teri Garr
, but the show lasted just two seasons. She later resurfaced as Diane for several episodes of the Kelsey Grammer
spinoff series Frasier
, for which she was nominated for yet another Emmy Award
.
, a campy take on the popular television show. In 1996, she reprised her role in A Very Brady Sequel
, which had more modest success.
A series of ventures followed such as the made for TV remake of Freaky Friday
, and the family sitcom Kelly Kelly
, which only lasted for a few episodes. She played the Wicked Witch of the Beanstalk in a 1997 episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
.
In 2000, Long appeared as one of the Women in the Richard Gere
film, Dr. T and the Women, directed by Robert Altman
. She later returned for a third go-around as Carol Brady in the TV Film The Brady Bunch in the White House
.
In recent years, She has guest starred in several TV shows such as 8 Simple Rules
, Yes, Dear
, Strong Medicine
, and Boston Legal
. She has a recurring role on the popular ABC Sitcom Modern Family
. Long stared in several TV Films such as "Honeymoon with Mom", Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door
, and the newly premiered Hallmark Holiday Movie "A Holiday Engagement" which premiered on November 27, 2011. Also, she starred in several Independent films such as the 2007 film Trust Me, "A Couple of White Chicks in the Hairdresser" and "Zombie Hamlet". She continues to be active in several guest appearances on sitcoms, TV Movies, and Films.
Diane Chambers
Diane Chambers is a fictional character portrayed by Shelley Long on the American television show Cheers , and on several episodes of the subsequent Cheers spin-off Frasier...
on the sitcom Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, for which she won the Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for Outstanding Lead Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress. Shelley Long has also starred in several motion pictures throughout her career like Night Shift
Night Shift (film)
Night Shift is a 1982 comedy film, one of Ron Howard's earliest directorial efforts. It stars Howard's Happy Days co-star Henry Winkler along with Michael Keaton, in his first starring role, and Shelley Long, who later in the year would star as Diane Chambers in the popular sitcom Cheers. Also...
(1982), her Golden Globe nominated role in Irreconcilable Differences
Irreconcilable differences
The concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be...
(1984), The Money Pit (1986), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Hello Again
Hello Again (film)
Hello Again is a 1987 romantic fantasy-comedy film, directed and produced by Frank Perry, written by Susan Isaacs and starring Shelley Long, Judith Ivey, Gabriel Byrne, Corbin Bernsen, Sela Ward, Austin Pendleton, Carrie Nye, Robert Lewis, Madeleine Potter, Thor Fields and Illeana...
(1987), Troop Beverly Hills (1989), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), and Dr. T & the Women
Dr. T & the Women
Dr. T & the Women is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Altman. It stars Richard Gere as wealthy gynecologist Dr. Sullivan Travis and Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Shelley Long, Tara Reid, Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler as the various "women" that encompass his everyday...
(2000).
Early life
Shelley Long was born in Fort Wayne, IndianaFort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
at 7:15 AM on Tuesday, August 23, 1949. She is the daughter of Ivadine, a school teacher, and Leland Long, who worked in the rubber industry before becoming a teacher. She was active on her high school speech team, competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association, and in 1967 she won the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
National Championship in Original Oratory. She delivered a speech on the need for sex education
Sex education
Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
in high school entitled, "Sex Perversion Weed." After graduating from South Side High School
South Side High School (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
South Side High School is a Fort Wayne Community Schools high school situated in south-central Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.-History:On September 11, 1922, South Side High School opened its doors to students for the first time...
in Fort Wayne, she studied drama at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and modelling
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. Her first break as an actress occurred when she began doing commercials in the Chicago area for a furniture company called Homemakers.
Early roles
In Chicago, she joined The Second CityThe Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
comedy troupe, and in 1975, she began writing, producing, and co-hosting the television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Sorting It Out. The local NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
broadcast went on to win three Emmy Awards for Best Entertainment Show. Long also appeared in the 1970s in V05 Shampoo print advertisements. Her first notable role came in the 1979 television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
The Cracker Factory
The Cracker Factory
The Cracker Factory is an American television movie directed by Burt Brinckerhoff. The teleplay by Richard Shapiro is based on the best-selling 1977 novel by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt. The film was broadcast by ABC on March 16, 1979.-Synopsis:...
, in which she portrayed a psychiatric inmate, opposite Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood, born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko was an American film and television actress. After first working in films as a child, Wood became a successful Hollywood star as a young adult, receiving three Academy Award nominations before she was 25 years old.Wood began acting in movies at the...
. The following year she appeared in A Small Circle of Friends
A Small Circle of Friends
A Small Circle of Friends is a film released in 1980 by United Artists starring Brad Davis, Karen Allen, Shelley Long, Jameson Parker, Peter Mark, and an uncredited Craig Richard Nelson, who played Bell in The Paper Chase, another film set at Harvard. The film follows the life of three students at...
with Brad Davis
Brad Davis (actor)
Robert Creel "Brad" Davis was an American actor, known for starring in the 1978 film Midnight Express.-Early life:...
and Karen Allen
Karen Allen
Karen Jane Allen is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull...
. The film about social unrest at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
during the 1960s was a critical success. In 1981, she played the role of Tala in the Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
film Caveman
Caveman (film)
Caveman is a 1981 American slapstick comedy film written and directed by Carl Gottlieb and starring Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long and Barbara Bach.-Plot:...
, starring opposite Dennis Quaid
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor known for his comedic and dramatic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the 1980s, his career rebounded in the 1990s after he overcame an addiction to drugs and an eating disorder...
. She played Nurse Mendenhall in an episode of M*A*S*H ("Bottle Fatigue," 1980).
In 1982, she starred as Belinda in Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
's comedy Night Shift
Night Shift (film)
Night Shift is a 1982 comedy film, one of Ron Howard's earliest directorial efforts. It stars Howard's Happy Days co-star Henry Winkler along with Michael Keaton, in his first starring role, and Shelley Long, who later in the year would star as Diane Chambers in the popular sitcom Cheers. Also...
(co-starring Henry Winkler
Henry Winkler
Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE is an American actor, director, producer, and author.Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days...
and Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
), about life working on the night shift at a city morgue, and starred with Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
in the 1983 comedy film Losin' It
Losin' It
Losin' It is a 1983 comedy film starring Tom Cruise, Shelley Long, Jackie Earle Haley, and John Stockwell. The film is directed by Curtis Hanson. It was filmed largely in Calexico, California.-Plot summary:...
.
Cheers
Although she had already been in feature films, Long became famous as the character Diane ChambersDiane Chambers
Diane Chambers is a fictional character portrayed by Shelley Long on the American television show Cheers , and on several episodes of the subsequent Cheers spin-off Frasier...
in the long-running television sitcom Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
. The show was slow to capture an audience but eventually became one of the most popular on the air. Throughout her Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
career, She continued starring in several motion pictures. In 1984, she was nominated for a Best Leading Actress Golden Globe for her performance in Irreconcilable Differences
Irreconcilable differences
The concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be...
. She then starred in a series of comedies, such as The Money Pit
The Money Pit
The Money Pit is a 1986 comedy film and remake of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Directed by Richard Benjamin and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as a couple who attempt to renovate a recently purchased house. The Money Pit was filmed in New...
with Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
(1986), Outrageous Fortune with Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
and Peter Coyote
Peter Coyote
Peter Coyote is an American actor, author, director, screenwriter and narrator of films, theatre, television and audio books. His voice work includes narrating the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics and Apple's iPad campaign. He has also served as on-camera co-host of the 2000 Oscar...
(1987) and Hello Again
Hello Again (film)
Hello Again is a 1987 romantic fantasy-comedy film, directed and produced by Frank Perry, written by Susan Isaacs and starring Shelley Long, Judith Ivey, Gabriel Byrne, Corbin Bernsen, Sela Ward, Austin Pendleton, Carrie Nye, Robert Lewis, Madeleine Potter, Thor Fields and Illeana...
with Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych...
(1987). She was even offered to play the lead characters in Working Girl
Working Girl
Working Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy film written by Kevin Wade and directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of a Staten Island-raised secretary, Tess McGill , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank...
, Jumpin' Jack Flash
Jumpin' Jack Flash (film)
Jumpin' Jack Flash is a 1986 spy comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, Carol Kane, John Wood, Annie Potts, and Jonathan Pryce...
, and My Stepmother is an Alien
My Stepmother Is an Alien
My Stepmother Is An Alien is a 1988 comedy science fiction film produced by the Weintraub Entertainment Group for release through Columbia Pictures, directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Kim Basinger and Dan Aykroyd, with featured performances by Jon Lovitz and Alyson Hannigan.-Plot:Celeste is...
.
Amid much controversy, Long left Cheers after season five in 1987. In the Cheers biography documentary, costar Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
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 like her character than she would like to admit, but also said that her performances often "carried the show." Long said in later interviews that in her decision to leave, it did not occur to her that she was going to 'sabotage a show' and she felt confident that the rest of the cast could continue without her. In later documentaries about the show, some cast and crew (including Jean Kasem
Jean Kasem
Jean Kasem is an American actress. She is best known for playing Loretta Tortelli, the dim-witted wife of Nick Tortelli on Cheers and the short-lived spinoff The Tortellis...
and the show's makeup artist) talked of Long having been difficult on set and claimed she was constantly in conflict with everyone while filming the program. A costar in the documentary said 'it wasn't Shelley versus Ted, it wasn't Shelley versus the cast, it wasn't Shelley versus the crew, it was Shelley versus everyone.'
In a 2003 interview on The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...
, Long said she left for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was her desire to spend more time with her newborn daughter. In a 2007 interview on Australian television, Long claimed Danson was "a delight to work with" and talked of her love for costar Nicholas Colasanto 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 at Cheers 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."
Post-Cheers projects
Her first post-Cheers project was Troop Beverly HillsTroop Beverly Hills
Troop Beverly Hills is a 1989 American comedy film. Produced by Weintraub Entertainment Group and directed by Jeff Kanew, it starred Shelley Long, Craig T...
, a comedy in which she plays a housewife who takes leadership of a "Wilderness Girl" troop for bonding with her daughter and to distract herself from divorce proceedings.
In 1990, Long returned to television for the fact-based ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
miniseries Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase
Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase
Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase is an ABC-Network miniseries based on When Rabbit Howls, the autobiography of Truddi Chase, a woman who after being sexually abused as a child, copes by developing 90 personalities. The four-hour miniseries, which was directed by Lamont Johnson stars Emmy...
. She received critical praise for the role, which required her to portray nearly 20 different personalities.
Major feature roles followed such as the romantic comedy Don't Tell Her It's Me
Don't Tell Her It's Me
Don't Tell Her It's Me is a 1990 comedy film starring Shelley Long, Steve Guttenberg, and Jami Gertz...
with Jami Gertz
Jami Gertz
Jami Beth Gertz is an American actress. Gertz is known for her early roles in the films Sixteen Candles, Crossroads, The Lost Boys, Less Than Zero, the 1980s TV series Square Pegs with Sarah Jessica Parker, and 1996's Twister, as well as for her role as Judy Miller in the CBS sitcom Still Standing...
and Steve Guttenberg
Steve Guttenberg
Steven Robert "Steve" Guttenberg is an American actor and comedian. He became well known during the 1980s, after a series of starring roles in major Hollywood films, including Cocoon, Three Men and a Baby, Police Academy, and Short Circuit.-Early life:Guttenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, the...
and Frozen Assets
Frozen Assets (film)
Frozen Assets is a 1992 comedy film directed by George T. Miller. It stars Shelley Long and Corbin Bernsen. It is considered by some film critics to be one of the worst movies made.-Cast:*Shelley Long as Dr. Grace Murdock*Corbin Bernsen as Zach Shepard...
, a comedy about a sperm bank, which reunited her with Hello Again co-star Corbin Bernsen.
In 1992, she appeared in Fatal Memories: The Eileen Franklin Story, a fact-based 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." The still controversial "recovered memories
Memory and trauma
Memory is described by psychology as the ability of an organism to store, retain, and subsequently retrieve information. When an individual experiences a traumatic event, whether physically or psychologically traumatic, his or her memory can be affected in many ways...
" basis for the prosecution resulted in the conviction and sentence of life imprisonment of George Franklin, Sr., a conviction that was later overturned.
In 1993, the actress returned to Cheers for its series finale
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
, and picked up another Emmy nomination for her return to Diane. She also starred in the sitcom Good Advice
Good Advice (TV series)
Good Advice is an American situation comedy series that aired for two seasons on CBS from 1993 to 1994. It was co-created and executive produced by Danny Jacobson and starred Shelley Long and Treat Williams.-Synopsis:...
with Treat Williams
Treat Williams
Richard Treat Williams is a Screen Actors Guild Award–nominated American actor and children's book author who has appeared on film, stage and television...
and Teri Garr
Teri Garr
-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
, but the show lasted just two seasons. She later resurfaced as Diane for several episodes of the Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
spinoff series Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
, for which she was nominated for yet another Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
.
Later work
Long appeared as Carol Brady in the 1995 hit film The Brady Bunch MovieThe Brady Bunch Movie
The Brady Bunch Movie is a 1995 American comedy film based on the 1969–1974 television series The Brady Bunch.The film features all the original regular characters, all played by new actors...
, a campy take on the popular television show. In 1996, she reprised her role in A Very Brady Sequel
A Very Brady Sequel
A Very Brady Sequel is a 1996 comedy film and sequel to 1995’s The Brady Bunch Movie. Both films are parodies-homages of the classic 1969–1974 television sitcom The Brady Bunch. The film was directed by Arlene Sanford and stars Shelley Long and Gary Cole as Carol and Mike Brady. The film was a box...
, which had more modest success.
A series of ventures followed such as the made for TV remake of Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday (1995 film)
Freaky Friday is a 1995 television film based on the book Freaky Friday.-Plot:A mother, Ellen, and daughter Annabelle find it difficult to get along with each other, each professing that the other has no idea what her life is like...
, and the family sitcom Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly (TV series)
Kelly Kelly is an American situation comedy television series starring Shelley Long and Robert Hays. The series premiered April 20, 1998 on The WB.-Plot:...
, which only lasted for a few episodes. She played the Wicked Witch of the Beanstalk in a 1997 episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...
.
In 2000, Long appeared as one of the Women in the Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
film, Dr. T and the Women, directed by Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
. She later returned for a third go-around as Carol Brady in the TV Film The Brady Bunch in the White House
The Brady Bunch in the White House
The Brady Bunch in the White House is a 2002 TV movie. It is the second sequel to the The Brady Bunch Movie , following A Very Brady Sequel . It was directed by Neal Israel and written by Lloyd J...
.
In recent years, She has guest starred in several TV shows such as 8 Simple Rules
8 Simple Rules
8 Simple Rules is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 17, 2002, to April 15, 2005, with 76 episodes produced over three seasons. It is based on the self-improvement book of the same name. The show starred John Ritter until his death on September 11, 2003...
, Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear
Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder....
, Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and...
, and Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
. She has a recurring role on the popular ABC Sitcom Modern Family
Modern Family
Modern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label...
. Long stared in several TV Films such as "Honeymoon with Mom", Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door
Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door
Falling in Love With the Girl Next Door is a Hallmark Channel original television movie filmed primarily on location in Avalon, Catalina Island...
, and the newly premiered Hallmark Holiday Movie "A Holiday Engagement" which premiered on November 27, 2011. Also, she starred in several Independent films such as the 2007 film Trust Me, "A Couple of White Chicks in the Hairdresser" and "Zombie Hamlet". She continues to be active in several guest appearances on sitcoms, TV Movies, and Films.
Personal life
Long's first marriage ended in divorce. In 1979, Long met her second husband, securities broker Bruce Tyson. They married in 1981 and had a daughter, Juliana, on March 27, 1985. Another attempt at pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage in 1989. Shelley also has a stepson. Long and Tyson separated in 2003 and divorced in 2004. In November 2004, Long was rushed to the hospital after an overdose of painkillers.Emmy Nominations
- 1984 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series - Cheers
- 1985 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series - Cheers
- 1986 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series - Cheers
- 1993 - Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series - Cheers
- 1996 - Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series - Frasier
Golden Globe Awards
- 1983 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television - Cheers
- 1985 - Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical - Cheers
Golden Globe Nominations
- 1984 - Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Comedy Or Musical - Cheers
- 1985 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical - Irreconcilable DifferencesIrreconcilable differencesThe concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be...
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Key | voice | |
| 1979 | The Dooley Brothers | Lucy Bennett | (TV Film) |
| The Cracker Factory The Cracker Factory The Cracker Factory is an American television movie directed by Burt Brinckerhoff. The teleplay by Richard Shapiro is based on the best-selling 1977 novel by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt. The film was broadcast by ABC on March 16, 1979.-Synopsis:... |
Clara | (TV Film) | |
| 1980 | A Small Circle of Friends A Small Circle of Friends A Small Circle of Friends is a film released in 1980 by United Artists starring Brad Davis, Karen Allen, Shelley Long, Jameson Parker, Peter Mark, and an uncredited Craig Richard Nelson, who played Bell in The Paper Chase, another film set at Harvard. The film follows the life of three students at... |
Alice | |
| The Promise of Love The Promise of Love The Promise of Love is a 1980 television film directed by Don Taylor. The film was originally titled Personal Effects.- Plot :Starting in 1967 Oceanside, Kathy Wakeman is a high school senior who, soon after graduation, abandons her college plans to marry her mariner sweetheart Chuck Wakemore.... |
Lorraine Simpson | (TV Film) | |
| 1981 | Caveman Caveman (film) Caveman is a 1981 American slapstick comedy film written and directed by Carl Gottlieb and starring Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long and Barbara Bach.-Plot:... |
Tala | |
| The Princess and the Cabbie The Princess and the Cabbie The Princess and the Cabbie is a 1981 television movie aired on CBS on 3 November 1981 about a young woman who struggles with dyslexia.The film stars Valerie Bertinelli as Joanna James, an heiress who is sheltered from the real world. One day she meets literary cab driver, Joe Holiday , who... |
Carol | (TV Film) | |
| 1982 | Night Shift Night Shift (film) Night Shift is a 1982 comedy film, one of Ron Howard's earliest directorial efforts. It stars Howard's Happy Days co-star Henry Winkler along with Michael Keaton, in his first starring role, and Shelley Long, who later in the year would star as Diane Chambers in the popular sitcom Cheers. Also... |
Belinda Keaton | |
| 1983 | Losin' It Losin' It Losin' It is a 1983 comedy film starring Tom Cruise, Shelley Long, Jackie Earle Haley, and John Stockwell. The film is directed by Curtis Hanson. It was filmed largely in Calexico, California.-Plot summary:... |
Kathy | |
| 1984 | Irreconcilable Differences Irreconcilable differences The concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be... |
Lucy Van Patten Brodsky | Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 1986 | The Money Pit The Money Pit The Money Pit is a 1986 comedy film and remake of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Directed by Richard Benjamin and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as a couple who attempt to renovate a recently purchased house. The Money Pit was filmed in New... |
Anna Crowley Beissart Fielding | |
| 1987 | Outrageous Fortune | Lauren Ames | |
| Hello Again Hello Again (film) Hello Again is a 1987 romantic fantasy-comedy film, directed and produced by Frank Perry, written by Susan Isaacs and starring Shelley Long, Judith Ivey, Gabriel Byrne, Corbin Bernsen, Sela Ward, Austin Pendleton, Carrie Nye, Robert Lewis, Madeleine Potter, Thor Fields and Illeana... |
Lucy Chadman | ||
| 1989 | Troop Beverly Hills Troop Beverly Hills Troop Beverly Hills is a 1989 American comedy film. Produced by Weintraub Entertainment Group and directed by Jeff Kanew, it starred Shelley Long, Craig T... |
Phyllis Nefler | |
| 1990 | Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase is an ABC-Network miniseries based on When Rabbit Howls, the autobiography of Truddi Chase, a woman who after being sexually abused as a child, copes by developing 90 personalities. The four-hour miniseries, which was directed by Lamont Johnson stars Emmy... |
Truddi Chase | (TV Film) |
| Don't Tell Her It's Me Don't Tell Her It's Me Don't Tell Her It's Me is a 1990 comedy film starring Shelley Long, Steve Guttenberg, and Jami Gertz... |
Lizzie Potts | ||
| 1992 | Frozen Assets Frozen Assets (film) Frozen Assets is a 1992 comedy film directed by George T. Miller. It stars Shelley Long and Corbin Bernsen. It is considered by some film critics to be one of the worst movies made.-Cast:*Shelley Long as Dr. Grace Murdock*Corbin Bernsen as Zach Shepard... |
Dr. Grace Murdock | |
| Fatal Memories | Eileen Franklin Lipsker | (TV Film) | |
| A Message from Holly | Kate | (TV Film) | |
| 1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie The Brady Bunch Movie The Brady Bunch Movie is a 1995 American comedy film based on the 1969–1974 television series The Brady Bunch.The film features all the original regular characters, all played by new actors... |
Carol Brady | |
| The Women of Spring Break | Anne | (TV Film) | |
| Freaky Friday Freaky Friday (1995 film) Freaky Friday is a 1995 television film based on the book Freaky Friday.-Plot:A mother, Ellen, and daughter Annabelle find it difficult to get along with each other, each professing that the other has no idea what her life is like... |
Ellen Andrews | (TV Film) | |
| 1996 | Susie Q Susie Q (film) Susie Q is a 1995 Super RTL Original movie that aired on Disney Channel frequently in the late 1990s. Justin Whalin, Amy Jo Johnson and Shelley Long starred... |
Penny Sands | (TV Film) |
| A Very Brady Sequel A Very Brady Sequel A Very Brady Sequel is a 1996 comedy film and sequel to 1995’s The Brady Bunch Movie. Both films are parodies-homages of the classic 1969–1974 television sitcom The Brady Bunch. The film was directed by Arlene Sanford and stars Shelley Long and Gary Cole as Carol and Mike Brady. The film was a box... |
Carol Brady | ||
| A Different Kind of Christmas | Elizabeth Gates | (TV Film) | |
| 1998 | The Adventures of Ragtime | Sam | |
| 1999 | Vanished Without a Trace | Elizabeth Porterson | (TV Film) |
| 2000 | Dr. T & the Women Dr. T & the Women Dr. T & the Women is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Altman. It stars Richard Gere as wealthy gynecologist Dr. Sullivan Travis and Helen Hunt, Farrah Fawcett, Laura Dern, Shelley Long, Tara Reid, Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler as the various "women" that encompass his everyday... |
Carolyn | |
| 2002 | The Brady Bunch in the White House The Brady Bunch in the White House The Brady Bunch in the White House is a 2002 TV movie. It is the second sequel to the The Brady Bunch Movie , following A Very Brady Sequel . It was directed by Neal Israel and written by Lloyd J... |
Carol Brady | (TV Film) |
| The Santa Trap | Molly Emerson | (TV Film) | |
| 2006 | Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door Falling in Love With the Girl Next Door is a Hallmark Channel original television movie filmed primarily on location in Avalon, Catalina Island... |
Betsy Lucas | (TV Film) |
| Honeymoon with Mom | Marla | (TV Film) | |
| 2007 | A Couple of White Chicks at the Hairdresser | Barbara | |
| Trust Me | Mitzi Robinson | ||
| 2008 | Mr. Vinegar and the Curse | Ms. Persnickety | |
| 2009 | Ice Dreams | Harriet Clayton | (TV Film) |
| 2011 | Holiday Engagement | Meredith | (TV Film) |
| Pizza Man Pizza Man (2010 film) Pizza Man is a 2010 film directed by Joe Eckardt and starring Frankie Muniz.-Plot:Matt Burns is a college student who works full time at his mother's Pizza restaurant in order to afford to go to college. He is involved with an incident at a lab where he is shot, however, a scientist, Professor... |
Mrs. Burns | ||
| Zombie Hamlet | Shine Reynolds | ||
| 2012 | Lumpy | Gail | |
Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976-1977 | SCTV SCTV SCTV can refer to:*Second City Television, a Canadian sketch comedy television program*SCTV , an Indonesian TV station*SCTV , a television station of Sichuan province in China... |
Various | (Cast Member 1976-1977) |
| 1978 | That Thing on ABC | Performer | (TV Variety Special) |
| 1978 | The Love Boat The Love Boat The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain... |
Heather McKenzie | 1 Episode |
| 1979 | Family Family (TV series) Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols... |
Joan Phillips | 1 Episode |
| 1979 | Trapper John M.D | Lauren | 1 Episode |
| 1980 | M*A*S*H | Lt. Mendenhall | 1 Episode |
| 1981 | The Incredible Hulk | Model | (Uncredited) |
| 1982-1987 1993 | Cheers Cheers Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles... |
Diane Chambers | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1983) Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1983) Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1985) Viewers for Quality Television Award (1985,1986) TV Land Awards (2006, 2007) Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1984, 1985, 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) |
| 1993-1994 | Good Advice Good Advice (TV series) Good Advice is an American situation comedy series that aired for two seasons on CBS from 1993 to 1994. It was co-created and executive produced by Danny Jacobson and starred Shelley Long and Treat Williams.-Synopsis:... |
Susan DeRuzza | (TV Series, Lasted 19 Episodes) |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books... |
Lucille Newtrich | 1 Episode |
| 1996-2001 | Frasier Frasier Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars... |
Diane Chambers | 4 Episodes Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (1996) |
| 1996 | Life with Louie Life with Louie Life with Louie is an American animated series. The show is based on the childhood of stand-up comedian Louie Anderson, growing up with his family in Wisconsin.The first two episodes aired in primetime on Fox.... |
Sally Tubbs | 1 Episode |
| 1995-1996 | Murphy Brown Murphy Brown Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television... |
Dottie Wilcox | 2 Episodes |
| 1996 | Boston Common Boston Common Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,... |
Louise Holmes | 1 Episode |
| 1998 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | The Wicked Witch | 1 Episode |
| 1998 | Kelly Kelly | Kelly Novack | (TV Series, Lasted 7 episodes) |
| 1998 | Diagnosis Murder Diagnosis Murder Diagnosis: Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman... |
Kay Ludlow | 1 Episode |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Teacher | 1 Episode |
| 2000 | Beggars and Choosers Beggars and Choosers (TV series) Beggars and Choosers is a comedy-drama series broadcast by Showtime. Developed by Peter Lefcourt and Brandon Tartikoff, the series was a comedic, behind-the-scenes look at network television... |
Pamela Marston | 1 Episode |
| 2003 | 8 Simple Rules 8 Simple Rules 8 Simple Rules is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 17, 2002, to April 15, 2005, with 76 episodes produced over three seasons. It is based on the self-improvement book of the same name. The show starred John Ritter until his death on September 11, 2003... |
Mary Ellen Doyle | 1 Episode |
| 2003 | Strong Medicine Strong Medicine Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and... |
Lauren Chase | 1 Episode |
| 2004 | Joan of Arcadia Joan of Arcadia Joan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi , who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m... |
Miss Candy | 1 Episode |
| 2005 | Boston Legal Boston Legal Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC... |
Miriam Watson | 1 Episode |
| 2005 | Yes, Dear Yes, Dear Yes, Dear is a television sitcom that aired from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, on CBS. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley and Liza Snyder.... |
Margaret | 1 Episode |
| 2005 | Complete Savages Complete Savages Complete Savages is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 2004 to June 2005. It was part of ABC's final TGIF comedy line-up. The show was created by Mike Scully and Julie Thacker and executive produced by Mel Gibson... |
Judy | 2 Episodes |
| 2009-2011 | Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label... |
DeDe Pritchett | 2 Episodes |
| 2011 | Retired at 35 Retired at 35 Retired at 35 is an American sitcom currently airing on TV Land starring George Segal, Jessica Walter, Johnathan McClain, Josh McDermitt, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Ryan Michelle Bathe. The series premiered on January 19, 2011... |
Ginny | 1 Episode |
| 2011 | A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm A.N.T. Farm is a Disney Channel television sitcom that premiered on May 6, 2011 as a special preview and continued as a regular series on June 17, 2011. The pilot episode, "TransplANTed" aired after the series finale of The Suite Life on Deck... |
Mrs. Busby | 1 Episode |