Carole Shelley

Though English-born, Carole Shelley spent almost her entire award-winning career in the theatre in America, becoming one of Broadway's mainstays and a true pioneer of the American theatre. Shelley was born in London, England, to Deborah (Bloomstein), an opera singer, and Curtis Shelley, a composer. A naturalized U. S. citizen, Carole stayed busy on all fronts in the entertainment industry in films, television and, of course, the live stage. Her Broadway credits include "The Odd Couple" (her Broadway debut) playing the hilarious Gwendolyn Pigeon, the intended blind date for the hapless Felix, a role she reprised for the film The Odd Couple (1968) and in the later television series (The Odd Couple (1970). Also on Broadway, she starred in "The Miser", "Stepping Out" (Tony nomination), "The Elephant Man" (Tony Award, Best Actress), "Hay Fever", "The Norman Conquests" (LADCC Award), "Absurd Person Singular" (Tony nomination) and "Loot". Her national tours include "Broadway Bound", "The Royal Family" and "Noises Off". She also worked off-Broadway, in plays including "The Film Society", "London Suite", "The Destiny of Me", "Richard II" (New York Shakespeare Festival), "Later Life" (Drama Desk nomination), "Cabaret Verboten", "What the Butler Saw", "Little Murders", "Twelve Dreams" (Obie award), "Tartuffe". Returning to London, she replaced Maggie Smith in "Lettuce and Lovage" (she had gone to America to star in the Broadway run of the play) in the West End. Always interested in remaining busy, she never turned down a good opportunity for work and acquitted herself admirably, stepping into such long running hits as "Cabaret", "Show Boat", "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" and "Noises Off".

She was nominated for a 1974 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actress in a Principal for her performance in "A Doll's House" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

She was awarded the 1975 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Performance in a Play for "The Norman Conquests," at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

She was awarded the 1976 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Lead Performance in a Play for "The Royal Family" at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Won Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for "The Elephant Man" in a tie with Constance Cummings for "Wings." Miss Shelley was present to receive her award and dedicated it to the memory of her recently departed mother whom she called "Charlie." She was also nominated for Tony Awards on two other occasions: in 1975 as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "Absurd Person Singular," and in 1987 as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "Stepping Out."

Carole won the Obie Award in 1982 for "Twelve Dreams".

She kept busy in films, too, appearing in Quiz Show (1994), The Road to Wellville (1994), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), The Super (1991), and provided some delightful vocal characterizations for many Disney animated features: Hercules (1997), The AristoCats (1970), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and Robin Hood (1973).

Currently appearing in the "Popular Tour" touring group version of the smash Broadway hit "Wicked." Will be at the Kennedy Center until mid-to-late January. [December 2005]

Nominated for the 2009 Tony Award for Best Performance for a Featured Actress in a Musical for "Billy Elliot - The Musical".