Shelley Long

Shelley Lee Long (born August 23, 1949) is an American actress and comedian. Long is known for playing Diane Chambers on the sitcom Cheers,[1] for which she received five Emmy nominations, winning in 1983 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.[2] She won two Golden Globe Awards for the role.[3] Long reprised her role as Diane Chambers in three episodes of the spin-off Frasier, for which she received an additional guest star Emmy nomination. In 2009, she began playing a recurring role as DeDe Pritchett on the ABC comedy series Modern Family.

Shelley Long
Long in 1996
Born	Shelley Lee Long August 23, 1949 Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Actress, comedian
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Ken Solomon ​ (divorced)​ Bruce Tyson ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 2004)​
Children	1

Long has also starred in several films, including Night Shift (1982), Irreconcilable Differences (1984), The Money Pit (1986), Outrageous Fortune (1987), Hello Again (1987), Troop Beverly Hills (1989), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), A Very Brady Sequel (1996), and Dr. T & the Women (2000).

Early life

Shelley Long was born on August 23, 1949 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.[4] She is the daughter of Ivadine, a school teacher, and Leland Long, who worked in the rubber industry before becoming a teacher.[5] She was active on her high school speech team, competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association. In 1967, she won the National Forensic League's National Championship in Original Oratory.[6]

After graduating from South Side High School in Fort Wayne, she studied drama at Northwestern University,[1] but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and modeling. Her first break as an actress occurred when she began doing commercials in the Chicago area.[7]

Career

Early roles

In Chicago, she joined The Second City comedy troupe. In 1975, she began writing, producing, and co-hosting the television program Sorting It Out on WMAQ-TV,[8] and went on to win three Regional Emmys for her work on the show.[9] Long also appeared in the 1970s in V05 Shampoo print advertisements, and in commercials for Homemakers Furniture and Camay Soap. In 1978 she appeared in a vignette on The Love Boat.[10]

In 1979, Long appeared in television movie The Cracker Factory as a psychiatric inmate. That same year she guest starred on Family and Trapper John, M.D. In 1980 she appeared in her first feature film role in A Small Circle of Friends.[11] The film about social unrest at Harvard University during the 1960s enjoyed a level of critical success.[12][13] In 1981, she played the role of Tala in Caveman. She played Nurse Mendenhall in a 1979 episode of M*A*S*H.[14] In 1982, she starred as Belinda, the good-natured prostitute neighbor of the character portrayed by Henry Winkler in Ron Howard's comedy Night Shift (also co-starring Michael Keaton), and starred with Tom Cruise in Losin' It (1983). She was offered the role of Mary, the mother in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but she declined because she had already signed on to appear in Night Shift.

Cheers

Although she had already been in feature films, Long became famous for her role in the long-running television sitcom Cheers as the character Diane Chambers, who has a tempestuous on-and-off relationship with Sam Malone.[11] The show was slow to capture an audience but eventually became one of the most popular on the air. Amid some controversy, Long left Cheers after season five in 1987.[15]

In the Cheers biography documentary, co-star Ted Danson admitted there was tension between them but "never at a personal level and always at a work level" due to their different modes of working. He also stated that Long was much more like her character than she would like to admit, but also said that her performances often "carried the show."[16][17] Long said in later interviews that it did not occur to her, when deciding to leave, that she was going to "sabotage a show" and she felt confident that the rest of the cast could continue without her.[18]

In a 2003 interview with Graham Norton, Long said she left for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was her desire to spend more time with her toddler daughter. In a 2007 interview on Australian television, Long claimed Danson was "a delight to work with" and talked of her love for co-star Nicholas Colasanto ("Coach"), who was "one of my closest friends on set". She said she left the show because she "didn't want to keep doing the same episode over and over again and the same story. I didn't want it to become old and stale." She went on to say that "working at Cheers was a dream come true...it was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life. So, yes, I missed it, but I never regretted that decision."[19]

Film

While simultaneously appearing on Cheers, she continued starring in several motion pictures. In 1984, she was nominated for a Best Leading Actress Golden Globe for her performance in Irreconcilable Differences. She starred in a series of comedies, such as The Money Pit, Outrageous Fortune, and Hello Again. She was also offered lead roles in Working Girl, Jumpin' Jack Flash and My Stepmother Is an Alien, but did not accept those roles.

Post-Cheers projects

Her first post-Cheers project was Troop Beverly Hills, a comedy in which she plays a housewife who takes leadership of a 'Wilderness Girl' troop to bond with her daughter and to distract herself from divorce proceedings.

In 1990, Long returned to television for the fact-based miniseries Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase. She received critical praise for the role, which required her to portray nearly 20 personalities. This introduced her to more dramatic roles in TV films, after which she starred in several more throughout the 1990s.[20]

Major feature film roles followed such as the romantic comedy Don't Tell Her It's Me with Jami Gertz and Steve Guttenberg and Frozen Assets, a comedy about a sperm bank, which reunited her with Hello Again co-star Corbin Bernsen.

In 1992, she starred in Fatal Memories: The Eileen Franklin Story, a fact-based television drama about a woman who remembers the childhood trauma of being raped by her father and his cronies, and witnessing him murder her childhood friend to prevent the child from "telling on him."[21] The still-controversial "recovered memories" basis for the prosecution resulted in the conviction and sentencing of life imprisonment of George Franklin. [22] a conviction that was later overturned.[23]

Long starred in the 1992 film A Message from Holly with Lindsay Wagner. Long plays a workaholic who finds out that her best friend has cancer and only six months to live, then stays with her in her last months.[24]

In 1993, the actress returned to Cheers for its series finale, and picked up another Emmy nomination for her return as Diane.[25] She also starred in the sitcom Good Advice with Treat Williams and Teri Garr, and the show lasted two seasons.[26] She later resurfaced as Diane in several episodes of the Kelsey Grammer spinoff series Frasier, for which she was nominated for another Emmy Award.[27]

Later work

Long appeared as Carol Brady in the 1995 hit film The Brady Bunch Movie, a campy take on the popular television show. In 1996, she reprised her role in A Very Brady Sequel, which had modest success. A series of ventures followed such as the TV remake of Freaky Friday and the family sitcom Kelly Kelly, which only lasted for a few episodes. She played the Wicked Witch of the Beanstalk in a 1997 episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.[27]

In 1999, she starred in another TV movie Vanished Without a Trace, about a woman who simply refuses to accept the kidnapping of her 13-year-old daughter and relentlessly pursues the villain's capture (not to be confused with the 1993 film of the same name about the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping.) In 2000, she appeared as one of the women in the Richard Gere film Dr. T & the Women, directed by Robert Altman. She later returned for a third go-around as Carol Brady in the TV movie The Brady Bunch in the White House.[27]

She guest-starred in several TV shows such as 8 Simple Rules, Yes Dear, Strong Medicine, and Boston Legal. She had a recurring role on the popular ABC sitcom Modern Family as DeDe Pritchett, the ex-wife of Jay Pritchett.[27] She starred in television movies, including Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door and Holiday Engagement. In 2012, she made a guest appearance on Switched at Birth.[27] In 2016, she produced and acted in the feature film Different Flowers.[28]

Personal life

Long's first marriage to Ken Solomon ended in divorce after a few years in the 1970s.[29] In 1979, she met her second husband Bruce Tyson, a securities broker. They married in 1981 and had a daughter, Juliana.[5] Long and Tyson separated in 2003 and divorced in 2004.

Filmography

Film

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1977	The Key		Voice role
1980	A Small Circle of Friends	Alice
1981	Caveman	Tala
1982	Night Shift	Belinda Keaton
1983	Losin' It	Kathy
1984	Irreconcilable Differences	Lucy Van Patten Brodsky	Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
1986	The Money Pit	Anna Crowley Beissart Fielding
1987	Outrageous Fortune	Lauren Ames
1987	Hello Again	Lucy Chadman	Nominated – Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress
1989	Troop Beverly Hills	Phyllis Nefler
1990	Don't Tell Her It's Me	Lizzie Potts
1992	Frozen Assets	Dr. Grace Murdock
1995	The Brady Bunch Movie	Carol Brady
1996	A Very Brady Sequel	Carol Brady
1998	The Adventures of Ragtime	Sam
2000	Dr. T & the Women	Carolyn
2007	A Couple of White Chicks at the Hairdresser	Barbara Kisner
2007	Trust Me	Mitzi Robinson
2008	Mr. Vinegar and the Curse	Ms. Persnickety
2011	Pizza Man	Mrs. Burns
2011	Zombie Hamlet	Shine Reynolds	Also co-producer
2013	The Wedding Chapel	Jeanie Robertson
2013	Best Man Down	Gail
2014	A Matter of Time	Nona
2017	Different Flowers	Grandma Mildred	Also producer
2018	The Christmas Trap	Judy Wilkins
TBA	The Cleaner	Sharon Enderly	Post-production

Television

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1975–1978	Sorting it Out	Host	(Local Chicago show) Won 3 Regional Emmy Awards
1978	That Thing on ABC	Performer	Variety special
1978	The Love Boat	Heather McKenzie	Episode: "Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous?"
1979	The Dooley Brothers	Lucy Bennett	Unaired pilot
1979	Young Guy Christian	Mia Mishugi	Unaired pilot
1979	The Cracker Factory	Cara	Movie
1979	Family	Joan Phillips	Episode: "Sleeping Over"
1979	Trapper John, M.D.	Lauren	Episode: "The Shattered Image"
1980	The Promise of Love	Lorraine Simpson	Movie
1980	M*A*S*H	Lt. Mendenhall	Episode: "Bottle Fatigue"
1981	The Princess and the Cabbie	Carol	Movie
1981	Ghost of a Chance	Jenny Clifford	Unaired pilot
1982–1987, 1993	Cheers	Diane Chambers	Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1983) Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1985) Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1983) TV Land Awards (2006–2007) Viewers for Quality Television Award (1985–1986) Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a Television Series (1987) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1984–1986) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (1993) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1984) Nominated – People Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Performer (1984–1985)
1990	Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase	Truddi Chase	Movie
1991	The Real Story of...	The Dame (voice)	Episode: "Baa Baa Black Sheep"
1991	Memories of M*A*S*H	Host	Documentary
1992	Fatal Memories	Eileen Franklin Lipsker	Movie
1992	A Message from Holly	Kate	Movie
1993–1994	Good Advice	Susan DeRuzza	19 episodes
1993	Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's [sic]	Fay Sommerfield	Movie
1995	Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman	Lucille Newtrich/Ultra Lucille	Episode: "Ultra Woman"
1995	Welcome to Paradise	Anne	Movie
1995	Freaky Friday	Ellen Andrews	Movie
1996	A Different Kind of Christmas	Elizabeth Gates	Movie
1996	Susie Q	Penny Sands	Movie
1995, 1996	Murphy Brown	Dottie Wilcox	2 episodes
1994, 1996, 2001	Frasier	Diane Chambers	3 episodes Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (1996)
1996	Life with Louie	Sally Tubbs (voice)	Episode: "A Fair to Remember"
1996	Boston Common	Louise Holmes	Episode: "Trustee and Sympathy"
1998	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	The Wicked Witch	Episode: "Sabrina and the Beanstalk"
1998	Kelly Kelly	Kelly Novack	7 episodes; also co-executive producer
1998	Diagnosis: Murder	Kay Ludlow	Episode: "Write, She Murdered"
1999	Vanished Without a Trace	Elizabeth Porterson	Movie
1999	Chicken Soup for the Soul	Teacher	Episode: "The Green Boots"
2000	Beggars and Choosers	Pamela Marston	Episode: "Fasten Your Seatbelts"
2002	The Brady Bunch in the White House	Carol Brady	Movie
2002	The Santa Trap	Molly Emerson	Movie
2003	8 Simple Rules	Mary Ellen Doyle	Episode: "The Doyle Wedding"
2003	Strong Medicine	Lauren Chase	Episode: "Jeaneology"
2004	Joan of Arcadia	Miss Candy	Episode: "Vanity, Thy Name Is Human"
2005	Boston Legal	Miriam Watson	Episode: "Death Be Not Proud"
2005	Yes, Dear	Margaret	Episode: "The New Neighbors"
2005	Complete Savages	Judy	2 episodes
2006	Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door	Betsy Lucas	Movie
2006	Honeymoon with Mom	Marla	Movie
2009	Ice Dreams	Harriet Clayton	Movie
2009–2018	Modern Family	DeDe Pritchett	8 episodes Nominated – Gold Derby Awards for Comedy Guest Actress (2010) Nominated – OFTA Television Award for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2011)
2010	Family Guy	Carol Brady (voice)	Episode: "Excellence in Broadcasting"
2011	Holiday Engagement	Meredith Burns	Movie
2011	Retired at 35	Ginny	Episode: "Hit It and Quit It"
2011	A.N.T. Farm	Mrs. Busby	Episode: "PhilANThropy"
2012	Strawberry Summer	Eileen Landon	Movie; AKA Easy Heart
2012	Merry In-Laws	Mrs. Claus	Movie
2012	The Dog Who Saved the Hollidays	Aunt Barbara	Movie; also co-producer
2012	Switched at Birth	Rya Bellows	Episode: "Game On"
2013	Holiday Road Trip	Cynthia	Movie
2015	Instant Mom	Magician	Episode: "Bawamo Shazam"
2017	Christmas in the Heartland	Judy Wilkins	Movie
2017–2018	Milo Murphy's Law	Grandma Murphy (voice)	Episodes: "A Christmas Peril", "Now I Am Murphy"

Awards and nominations

Emmy Awards (Primetime)

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result	Ref.
1983	Cheers	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Won	[30]
1984			Nominated
1985			Nominated
1986			Nominated
1993		Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	Nominated
1996	Frasier		Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result	Ref.
1983	Cheers	Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television	Won	[31]
1984		Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy	Nominated
1985			Won	[31]
	Irreconcilable Differences	Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Nominated

References

1. "Where Everybody Knows Your Name". Cheersboston.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
2. Shelley Long Primetime Emmy Award database, Emmy.com
3. "New York Times". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
4. "Names & Faces Happy Birthday". Orlando Sentinel. August 23, 1992. p. A2. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
5. Bjorklund, Dennis A. (1997). Toasting Cheers. ISBN 9780899509624. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014.
6. National Forensic League's National Championship in Original Oratory, nflonline.org; accessed December 8, 2017.
7. "Shelley Long profile". New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
8. Rhines, Neil (June 27, 2004). "Star behind the scenes - Former TR man earns television editing honor". Manitowoc (Wisconsin) Herald-Times: 34.
9. Associated Press (December 17, 1986). "Long Leaving 'Cheers' for 'Wonderful Future'". The (Palm Springs, California) Desert Sun. 60: 24.
10. "Summaries from ABC". The Parsons (Kansas) Sun. 106: 8. February 10, 1978.
11. "Shelley Long Biography". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
12. Murphy, Jim (May 26, 1988). "New Releases". The (Melbourne, Australia) Age. 31: 50.
13. Sherwood, Rick (July 31, 1984). "TV Tonight". (Escondido, California) Times-Advocate: B3.
14. Winne, Judity W (November 22, 1991). "CBS lets us reflect on some golden times". (Camden, New Jersey) Courier-Post: 12D.
15. "Shelley Long – Top 10 Quitters". TIME. July 24, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
16. Staff. "Shelley Long Biodata". AOL. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
17. Rozen, Leah (May 11, 1987). "Ted Danson Leers Again on Cheers". People. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
18. "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search".
19. "Where Are They Now Australian TV Interview".
20. "Shelley Long". IMDb. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
21. Erickson, Hal Fatal Memories (1992) Review, nytimes.com; accessed June 19, 2018.
22. Wadler, Joyce Exhuming the horror/For 20 Years, Eileen Franklin Repressed a Memory of Murder; Now She's Healing—and Her Father Is in Jail People, November 4, 1991
23. Workman, Bill `Memory' Case Put To Rest – No Retrial/Franklin to go free after almost 7 years, SFGate.com, July 3, 1996.Archived November 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
24. "Rare Movies - A MESSAGE FROM HOLLY". raremovies.biz. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
25. Bird, J.B. Cheers/U.S. Situation Comedy The Museum of Broadcast Communications, Undated
26. Good Advice (TV Series, 1993–94), IMDb; accessed June 19, 2018.
27. Shelley Long at IMDb
28. "Shelley Long joins road trip film 'Different Flowers'". ew.com. July 29, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
29. Haller, Scot (February 23, 1987). "Cheers and Tears: the Long Goodbye". People. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
30. Shelley Long profile, Primetime Emmy Award Database; accessed June 19, 2018.
31. Shelly Long Official Website of the Annual Golden Globe Awards, undated. Archived July 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Shelley Long at IMDb
• Shelley Long at AllMovie
• Shelley Long at TV Guide