Shelley Winters

Date of Birth: August 18, 1920

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: January 14, 2006

Biography

Shelley Winters was an iconic American actress whose career spanned over six decades. Born Shirley Schrift on August 18, 1920, in St. Louis, Missouri, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, with her family during her childhood. Winters began her acting career on the stage before transitioning to film in the late 1940s. She became known for her versatility, taking on a wide range of roles from femme fatales to mothers and grandmothers. Winters won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in “The Diary of Anne Frank” (1959) and “A Patch of Blue” (1965). She also received critical acclaim for her performances in “A Place in the Sun” (1951) and “Lolita” (1962). Beyond her film career, she appeared in numerous television shows and was a regular on the talk show circuit, where her candid and often humorous personality shone through. In addition to her acting career, Winters was an outspoken advocate for civil rights and women’s issues. She authored several autobiographies that provided a candid look at Hollywood and her personal life. Shelley Winters passed away on January 14, 2006, in Beverly Hills, California, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic and enduring actresses.

5 Interesting Facts about Shelley Winters

1. Shelley Winters won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress.

2. She studied at the Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg.

3. Winters was known for her candid and often controversial remarks on talk shows.

4. She authored three autobiographies, giving a detailed look into her life and career.

5. Winters was an advocate for civil rights and participated in the March on Washington in 1963.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Shelley Winters

1. “I think on-stage nudity is disgusting, shameful, and damaging to all things American. But if I were twenty-two with a great body, it would be artistic, tasteful, patriotic, and a progressive religious experience.”

2. “I have bursts of being a lady, but it doesn’t last long.”

3. “I am the kind of actress that audiences don’t like to see die.”

4. “In Hollywood, all the marriages are happy. It’s trying to live together afterwards that causes the problems.”

5. “Every now and then, I get the feeling that I belong in the 19th century.”