Shirley Knight
Kansas-born Shirley Knight originally intended to be an opera singer until she saw a touring company of "The Lark" starring Julie Harris and switched to acting. In 1957, she headed west to study at the Pasadena Playhouse where she made her stage debut the following year in "Look Back in Anger." Knight was put under contract by Warner Bros. and the petite blonde earned critical acclaim and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination as an Oklahoman in love with a Jew in the screen adaptation of William Inge's "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (1960). She picked up a second nod in the same category as Heavenly Finley, the woman seduced and abandoned by Chance Wayne, in "Sweet Bird of Youth" (1962). In "The Group" (1966), her character found seeming happiness with James Broderick while later that same year she delivered a strong turn as a sluttish white woman who confronts a young black male passenger in "The Dutchman." After a strong turn as a pregnant woman who runs off with a football player in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Rain People" (1969), Knight moved to England with her second husband, British playwright John Hopkins and did not act on screen for five years, returning in "Juggernaut" (1974). Her subsequent film roles have generally cast her in maternal roles as in "Endless Love" (1981), "Stuart Saves His Family" (1995) and "As Good As It Gets" (1997). While she found almost immediate success in films, Knight has a stated preference for stage work. Spurning an offer to play Ophelia to Richard Burton's "Hamlet," she opted to co-star with Geraldine Page and Kim Stanley in an Actors Studio production of Chekhov's "Three Sisters" (1964). She acquired a Tony as Featured Actress in a Play for her turn as a floozy in "Kennedy's Children" (1975) and has appeared in several classics including twice playing Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire," Lola in "Come Back, Little Sheba" and Amanda Wingfield in "The Glass Menagerie." More recently, Knight returned to Broadway and netted a Tony nomination for her turn as a woman who refuses to accept that her son committed suicide in Horton Foote's Pulitzer-winning "The Young Man From Atlanta" in 1997. The small screen has also provided the actress with challenging roles. She made her first appearance in the medium in a live broadcast in 1959 and amassed numerous guest credits in the 60s and 70s. Knight co-starred opposite Jason Robards in a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation of "The Country Girl" (NBC, 1974) and Alan Arkin in the above average CBS movie "The Defection of Simas Kudirka" (1978). She offered a strong turn and earned her first Emmy nomination as a concentration camp inmate in the acclaimed "Playing for Time" (CBS, 1980) before picking up the award for a guest appearance as the mother of Mel Harris' Hope in a 1987 episode of ABC's "thirtysomething." Knight had her first regular series role in the short-lived 1993 CBS drama "Angel Falls." At the 1995 Emmy Awards, she picked up two statuettes, one for her guest appearance as the mother of a murder victim in an episode of "NYPD Blue" and the second as day care center owner Peggy Buckley who was accused of and tried for child molestation in the fact-based HBO drama "Indictment: The McMartin Trial." Knight has continued to be a powerful presence in the medium, offering effective supporting turns in such made-for-television fare as "Stolen Memories: Secrets From the Rose Garden" (Family Channel, 1996), "Mary & Tim" (CBS, 1996) and "The Wedding" (ABC, 1998). She returned to regular series work cast as the mother of the titular "Maggie Winters" in the short-lived 1998 CBS sitcom starring Faith Ford. The actress's schedule remained packed with continual roles in feature films--including "Angel Eyes" (2001), "The Salton Sea" (2002) and "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (2002). Knight became a regular fixture on the small screen with guest appearances on such series as "Ally McBeal," "ER," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Crossing Jordan," and "Cold Case" and "House," and in 2005 she began a recurring stint on "Desperate Housewives" as Phyllis Van De Kamp, the meddling mother-in-law of tightly wound Bree (Marcia Cross). Shirley Knight died on April 22, 2020 in San Marcos, TX at the age of 83.
Photos
Shirley Knight
Filmography
Movies
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The Missing Girl | Mrs. Colvins (Character) | - | 2015 |
7% |
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Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | Mom (Character) | $71.0M | 2015 |
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Mercy | Mercy (Character) | - | 2014 |
89% |
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Redwood Highway | Marie Vaughn (Character) | $1.3M | 2013 |
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Elevator | Jane Redding (Character) | - | 2011 |
70% |
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Our Idiot Brother | Ilene (Character) | $24.8M | 2011 |
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The Melancholy Fantastic | Mor (Character) | - | 2011 |
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Listen to Your Heart | Grandma Sam (Character) | - | 2010 |
69% |
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The Private Lives of Pippa Lee | Dot Nadeau (Character) | - | 2009 |
34% |
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Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Mom (Character) | $146.3M | 2009 |
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The Other Side of the Tracks | Helen (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Thanks to Gravity | Lea (Character) | - | 2006 |
20% |
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Open Window | Dr. Ann Monohan (Character) | - | 2006 |
15% |
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Grandma's Boy | Bea (Character) | $6.1M | 2006 |
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Sexual Life | Joanna (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mrs. Ashboro's Cat | Mrs. Ashboro (Character) | - | 2003 |
86% |
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Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion | Tibetan Voiceovers (Character) | $577.8K | 2003 |
75% | No Score Yet | A House on a Hill | Mercedes Mayfield (Character) | $678 | 2003 |
24% |
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P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! | Aunt Claire (Character) | $24.8K | 2002 |
44% |
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Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood | Necie (Character) | $69.6M | 2002 |
63% |
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The Salton Sea | Nancy Plummer (Character) | $676.7K | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shadow Realm | Mrs. Finch (Character) | - | 2002 |
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My Louisiana Sky | Jewel Ramsey (Character) | - | 2001 |
32% |
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Angel Eyes | Elanora Davis (Character) | $24.0M | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 75 Degrees in July | Jo Beth Anderson (Character) | - | 2000 |
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A Marriage of Convenience | Harriet Winslow (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Father for Brittany | Donna Minkowitz (Character) | - | 1998 |
25% |
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Little Boy Blue | Doris Knight (Character) | $3.5K | 1997 |
86% |
|
As Good as It Gets | Beverly Connelly (Character) | $147.6M | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Convictions | Margaret (Character) | - | 1997 |
23% |
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Diabolique | Edie Danziger (Character) | $16.5M | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mary & Tim | Esther Melville (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Uninvited | Delia (Character) | - | 1996 |
88% |
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If These Walls Could Talk | Mary Donnelly (Character) | - | 1996 |
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Somebody Is Waiting | Irma Cill (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story | Joan Hart (Character) | - | 1996 |
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A Promise to Carolyn | Jolene Maggart (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Stolen Memories: Secrets From the Rose Garden | Sally Ann (Character) | - | 1996 |
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Indictment: The McMartin Trial | Peggy Buckey (Character) | - | 1995 |
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A Good Day to Die | Aunt Bertha (Character) | - | 1995 |
30% |
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Stuart Saves His Family | Mom (Character) | $718.5K | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fudge-A-Mania | Unknown (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dad, the Angel & Me | Betty (Character) | - | 1995 |
22% |
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Color of Night | Edith Niedelmeyer (Character) | $19.7M | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Baby Brokers | Sylvia (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Secret Life of Houses | Aunt Fergie (Character) | - | 1994 |
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A Mother's Revenge | Bess Warden (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bump in the Night | Katie (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | To Save a Child | Rinda Larson (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Sweet Scent of Death | Ann Fairfax Denver (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Urge to Kill | Edna Reinecker (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Prisoners | Virginia (Character) | - | 1983 |
80% |
|
The Sender | Jerolyn (Character) | - | 1982 |
26% |
|
Endless Love | Ann Butterfield (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Barbarian Goddess | Barbara Shelton (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet |
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Playing for Time | Frau Lagerfuhrerin Maria Mandel (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet |
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Une Fille pour les Cannibales | Barbara Shelton (Character) | - | 1979 |
0% |
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Beyond the Poseidon Adventure | Hannah Meredith (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Champions: A Love Story | Barbara Harlich (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet |
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21 Hours at Munich | Anneliese Graes (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Return to Earth | Joan Aldrin (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Medical Story | Phyllis Lenahan (Character) | - | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Friendly Persuasion | Eliza Birdwell (Character) | - | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Please Stand by for Murder | Unknown (Character) | - | 1975 |
83% |
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Juggernaut | Barbara Banister (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Secrets | Beatrice (Character) | - | 1971 |
86% |
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The Rain People | Natalie Ravenna (Character) | - | 1969 |
85% |
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Petulia | Polo (Character) | - | 1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Counterfeit Killer | Angie Peterson (Character) | - | 1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shadow Over Elveron | Joanne Tregaskis (Character) | - | 1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Outsider | Peggy Leydon (Character) | - | 1967 |
75% |
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The Group | Polly (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet |
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Dutchman | Lula (Character) | - | 1966 |
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Flight From Ashiya |
Caroline Gordon/ |
- | 1964 |
No Score Yet |
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House of Women | Erica Hayden (Character) | - | 1962 |
74% |
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Sweet Bird of Youth | Heavenly Finley (Character) | - | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Couch | Terry Ames (Character) | - | 1962 |
80% |
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The Dark at the Top of the Stairs | Reenie Flood (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Five Gates to Hell | Sister Maria (Character) | - | 1959 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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21% | 43% | The Mob Doctor | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2012 |
No Score Yet | 84% | Hot in Cleveland | Loretta (Guest Star) | 2010 |
78% | 60% | Drop Dead Diva | Millie Carlson (Guest Star) | 2009 |
72% | 89% | Desperate Housewives | Phyllis Van De Kamp (Guest Star) | 2005 2007 |
85% | 77% | The Unit | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2007 |
90% | 95% | House | Georgia Adams (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Cold Case | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Crossing Jordan | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
78% | 83% | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Wharton (Guest Star) | 2001 2003 |
No Score Yet | 85% | ER | Mrs. Burke (Guest Star) | 2002 |
61% | 78% | Ally McBeal | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fugitive | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2001 |
40% | No Score Yet | Maggie Winters | Estelle Winters (Character) | 1998-1999 |
22% | No Score Yet | Significant Others | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wedding | Gram (Character) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cybill | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Children of the Dust | Unknown (Character) | 1995 |
83% | 95% | NYPD Blue | Agnes Cantwell (Guest Star) | 1995 |
71% | No Score Yet | Angel Falls | Edie Wren Cox (Character) | 1993 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Law & Order | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1990 |
83% | No Score Yet | thirtysomething | Ruth Murdoch (Guest Star) | 1987 1990 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Murder, She Wrote | Grace Lambert (Guest Star) | 1989-1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Equalizer | Kay (Guest Star) | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Spenser: For Hire | Unknown (Character) | 1985 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales of the Unexpected | Elizabeth Bourdon (Character) | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Barnaby Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Streets of San Francisco | Mary Rae Dortmunder (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Alias Smith and Jones | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Fugitive | Policewoman Jane Washburn (Guest Star) | 1964-1966 |
92% | 92% | The Outer Limits | Noelle Anderson (Character) | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Virginian | Susan Morrow (Guest Star) | 1962 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lawman | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bronco | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1959 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Surfside 6 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1960-1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 77 Sunset Strip | Mari Ellen (Guest Star) | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hawaiian Eye | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Johnny Staccato | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Restless Gun | Heide Ritter (Guest Star) | 1959 |