Shirley MacLaine
By Alice Henry
@IreneVincent (15960)
United States
July 9, 2016 11:25am CST
I recently had lunch with a friend and somehow we got on the subject of Shirley MacLaine. I was reminded, by my friend, who lives in Waverly, Virginia, that Shirley MacLaine, an American actress was born right here in Richmond, Virginia. I guess I had forgotten that.
She was born in 1934 and her family also lived in Norfolk, Waverly and Arlington, Virginia, where her father worked at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School. It was also interesting to find out from my friend, that as a child, Shirley MacLaine played baseball on an all-boys team, and held the record for the most home runs.
She was also a cheerleader and acted in school plays, when she attended Washington-Lee High School, my friend said.
Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble With Harry” was her first movie. I’ve seen several of her movies and I agree that she made some great movies. I think the one I liked the best was “Steel Magnolias.”
Her brother, by the way, is actor Warren Beatty. I did remember that.
Have you ever seen any of her movies? Which one did you like the best?
6 people like this
7 responses
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Jul 16
She's 82 years old now and still going strong.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
10 Jul 16
@IreneVincent
Thanks for the information as I didn't know any of this.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
12 Jul 16
@Marcyaz I just think its interesting to learn about other people.
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
10 Jul 16
Shirley MacLaine's real last name is Beaty. Warren decided to spell it Beatty. Shirley's middle name is MacLean, which is her mother's maiden name.
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Jul 16
Really? I thought you might have seen some of her movies.
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
9 Jul 16
I thought she was great as Lady Cora Crawley's outspoken mother Martha Levinson. Terms of Endearment was terribly sad. She was widely regarded as a new-aged dingbat after she revealed her belief in reincarnation in her autobiographical writings.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Jul 16
Yes, her belief in reincarnation is fairly well known. I've never read any of her writings.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Jul 16
@norcal Yes, I remember the ridicule she received for quite a few years.
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
9 Jul 16
@IreneVincent She got ridiculed a lot for it, so people who never read the books heard that.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jul 16
I have seen MacLaine in countless movies. She won the Oscar for Terms of Endearment. Her last notable role was as Lady Cora's mother on Downton Abbey. MacLaine is a big star with Sweet Charity, The Turning Point, Some Came Running, Irma La Douce and The Children's Hour.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Jul 16
I guess I need to watch Downton Abbey. I can get the entire series on Netflix. I've seen a couple episodes but didn't see the beginning so I stopped watching it. I'd like to see it from beginning to end.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
9 Jul 16
I have seen "The Apartment" and "Steel Magnolias"
didn't know about Warren Beatty being her brother.
What about the other Shirley? Shirley Temple.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
9 Jul 16
According to some of my research, Shirley MacLaine was named after Shirley Temple, who was six years old when MacLaine was born.
ShirleyTemple was awesome. Singing and dancing when she was just a little girl. Amazing.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
10 Jul 16
@IreneVincent I didn't know that. Thanks
1 person likes this
