The daughter of a psychology professor and a drama teacher, Shirley MacLaine grew up in a household that prized both learning and performance. Born Shirley MacLean Beaty, she later changed the spelling of her surname. She began ballet training at the age of three and was performing seriously by her teens; after high school she moved to New York City to pursue a stage career, working in the chorus of Broadway musicals.
Her break came during the Broadway run of The Pajama Game (1954), when she was understudying Carol Haney. After Haney injured her ankle, MacLaine went on in her place and was spotted by Hollywood producer Hal Wallis, who signed her to a film contract. She made her screen debut in Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry (1955) and earned her first Academy Award nomination for Some Came Running (1958).
Working with director Billy Wilder, she starred in The Apartment (1960) and Irma la Douce (1963), both of which brought Oscar nominations, and she headlined the musical Sweet Charity (1969). In the 1970s she took on the ballet drama The Turning Point (1977) and the satirical Being There (1979), balancing dramatic and comic roles.
MacLaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Terms of Endearment (1983), playing a strong-willed mother opposite Debra Winger. She followed it with popular turns in Steel Magnolias (1989) and Postcards from the Edge (1990). Alongside acting, she wrote a string of books, beginning with the bestselling Out on a Limb (1983), which explored her interest in spirituality and past lives and made her a well-known figure in the New Age movement.
She married businessman Steve Parker in 1954; the couple had a daughter, Sachi, and divorced in 1982. MacLaine also pursued politics and activism, campaigning for Democratic candidates, and she has been honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award (1998), the AFI Life Achievement Award (2012), and the Kennedy Center Honors (2013).
Shirley MacLaine was born on April 24, 1934 in Richmond, Virginia, United States. In Cardology (Destiny Cards), April 24, 1934 corresponds to the Ten of Clubs, making the Ten of Clubs her Birth Card.
In numerology, the name adds another layer to the birth-date profile. The letters of a person’s name are used to explore inner motivation, personality, expression, and the qualities they bring into relationships and everyday life. Explore how her original name Shirley MacLean Beaty influences her life and personality.
Famous Taurus People
Discover famous Taurus people, from actors and musicians to writers, athletes, and historical figures. Explore their birthdays and biographies, and see who shares the Taurus zodiac sign.
