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Although born in England, Carole Shelley spent nearly her entire acclaimed career in American theatre, becoming a staple of Broadway and a pioneer in the American theatrical scene.
Shelley was born in London to Deborah (Bloomstein), an opera singer, and Curtis Shelley, a composer. After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, she maintained a busy career across film, television, and especially live theatre. Her Broadway debut was in "The Odd Couple," where she played the comedic Gwendolyn Pigeon, Felix's intended blind date—a role she reprised in the 1968 film adaptation and the 1970 television series. Other Broadway appearances include "The Miser," "Stepping Out" (earning a Tony nomination), "The Elephant Man" (winning the Tony Award for Best Actress), "Hay Fever," "The Norman Conquests" (winning the LADCC Award), "Absurd Person Singular" (Tony nomination), and "Loot."
Her national tours featured "Broadway Bound," "The Royal Family," and "Noises Off." Off-Broadway, she appeared in productions such as "The Film Society," "London Suite," "The Destiny of Me," "Richard II" (New York Shakespeare Festival), "Later Life" (Drama Desk nomination), "Cabaret Verboten," "What the Butler Saw," "Little Murders," "Twelve Dreams" (Obie Award), and "Tartuffe."
Returning to London, Shelley succeeded Maggie Smith in the West End production of "Lettuce and Lovage," after having traveled to America for the Broadway run. Always eager for work, she took on roles in long-running hits like "Cabaret," "Show Boat," "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," and "Noises Off," demonstrating great skill.
Shelley also appeared in films such as "Quiz Show" (1994), "The Road to Wellville" (1994), "Jungle 2 Jungle" (1997), and "The Super" (1991). She lent her voice to several Disney animated classics, including "Hercules" (1997), "The Aristocats" (1970), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996), and "Robin Hood" (1973).
Carole Shelley passed away on August 31, 2018, in Manhattan, New York City.
In tribute to her Broadway contributions, the marquee lights at The Gershwin Theatre, The Walter Kerr Theatre, The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, and The Imperial Theatre were dimmed for one minute at 6:45 PM on September 5, 2018, in her memory.
