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Shirley Knight Biography

Birth Name:Shirley Enola Knight

Birth Place:Goessel, Kansas, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Received a Tony Award for Best Actress in "Kennedy's Children," in 1976
  • Awarded the Volpi Cup, an honor given to film actors at the Venice Film Festival, in 1967 for her work in "Dutchman"
  • While living in New York City, she studied at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village
  • Quote: "Films actors reach a certain level, but they don't get beyond it unless they work in theater․"
  • Quote: "I just let the character speak to me and things appear․"
  • Guest starred on the series "Thirtysomething," for which she won an Emmy in 1988 for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series
  • After appearing in numerous Western series during the early part of her career, she would eventually transition to film and stage work, both of which would garner her multiple acting accolades
  • Landed her first television role at the age of 20 in NBC's "Buckskin", after which she signed a contract with Warner Brothers
  • Starred along side her daughter actress Kaitlin Hopkins in the 1997 film "As Good as It Gets․"
  • While still married to producer Eugene Persson, she starred in the British film version of "Dutchman," which she had previously appeared in the L․A․ stage version

Awards

  • 1961Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1961Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1961Golden Globe-Most Promising Newcomer - Female: nominated
  • 1963Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1963Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1967Volpi Cup-Best Actress: winner
  • 1968Golden Laurel-Female Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
  • 1981Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Couple: nominated
  • 1982Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1995CableACE-Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: winner
  • 1996Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 1998Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated