Biography
Shelby Leverington, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from Southeast Missouri State University before moving to New York City in 1968 to pursue acting. Soon after, she discovered Milton Katselas' scene study class, whose guidance and teaching greatly influenced her decision to become a professional actor. After connecting with several New York University film students, she began acting in their films, leading to her collaboration with Alec Hirschfeld and Mitch Block on the Emmy Award-winning film "No Lies."
In 2008, "No Lies" was inducted into the National Film Registry, an honor given to only 500 American films. When "No Lies" screened at the Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles as the short film accompanying Ingmar Bergman's "Cries and Whispers," Shelby received positive reviews that helped her secure an agent. Since then, she has made Los Angeles her home.
With a career spanning over 36 years, she has worked extensively in film, television, and commercials.
She has had the privilege of working with acclaimed directors such as Blake Edwards, Walter Hill, Martin Brest, Martha Coolidge, Michael Landon, Lesli Linka Glatter, John Pasquin, Diane Keaton, Robert Wuhl, Jonathan Kaplan, Chris Chulack, Joseph Sargent, Andrew Bernstein, Michael Bay, Matthew Penn, and Hugh Wilson.
In the commercial realm, she proudly collaborated with notable directors including Leslie Dektor, Craig Gillespie, Marcus Nispel, Bennett Miller, Carroll Ballard, Haskell Wexler, Ray Dillman, Robert Lieberman, Russ Lamoureux, Phil Joanou, David Bailey, and the late Tom Coyne.
Out of deep respect for cinematographers, she also acknowledges Alec Hirschfeld, Jacques Haitkin, Chivo Lubezki, and the late Conrad Hall.
