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Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall

Actor and producer · Died July 11, 2024, aged 75 · Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Shelley Alexis Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) was an American actress known for her portrayal of distinctive, often eccentric characters. She was the recipient of several accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Peabody Award and nominations for a British Academy Film Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Born in Texas, Duvall began acting after being discovered by director Robert Altman, who was impressed with her upbeat presence and cast her in the black comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). Despite her hesitance towards becoming an actress, she continued to work with Altman, appearing in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974). Her breakthrough came with Altman's cult film Nashville (1975), and she earned widespread acclaim with the drama 3 Women (1977), also directed by Altman, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and earned a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. That same year, she appeared in a supporting role (as a writer for Rolling Stone) in Woody Allen's satirical romantic comedy Annie Hall (1977) and hosted Saturday Night Live. In the 1980s, Duvall became famous for her leading roles, which include Olive Oyl in Altman's live-action feature version of Popeye (1980) and Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining (1980). She appeared in Terry Gilliam's fantasy film Time Bandits (1981), the short comedy horror film Frankenweenie (1984), and the comedy Roxanne (1987). She ventured into producing television programming aimed at children and youth in the latter half of the 1980s, notably creating and hosting the programs Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987), Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987) (which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1988), and Nightmare Classics (1989). Duvall sporadically worked in acting throughout the 1990s, notably playing supporting roles in Steven Soderbergh's thriller The Underneath (1995) and the Henry James adaptation The Portrait of a Lady (1996), directed by Jane Campion. Her last performance was in Manna from Heaven (2002), after which she retired from acting. Duvall for many years kept out of the public media, keeping her personal life generally private; however, her health issues earned significant media coverage. After a 21-year hiatus from acting, Duvall returned to acting in the horror film The Forest Hills. She died due to complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, southwest of Austin, Texas.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 7, 1949
Died
July 11, 2024 (aged 75)
From
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 99 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 23% in 30 days

What are Shelley Duvall's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
34%
Bonds
28%
Society
15%
Morality
7%
Power
6%
Survival
6%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 19 · Serious 7 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 14 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 11

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 12 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 12
Hero
1 of 12
Mentor
1 of 12
Threshold guardian
1 of 12
Trickster
1 of 12
Shapeshifter
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Joyful
12
Warm
12
Melancholic
9
Absurd
6
Other
23

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous8
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Shelley Duvall's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shelley Duvall's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

99 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Shine On: The Forgotten Shining Location (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    In Memory Of · as Self (archive footage)

  • Frankenweenie(2012)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Bad Ballet Dancer (archive footage)

  • Manna from Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Detective Dubrinski

  • Dreams in the Attic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Aunt Nellie

  • The 4th Floor(1999)

    as Martha Stewart

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Home Fries(1998)

    as Mrs. Jackson

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Maggie Winters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 18 episodes · as Muriel

  • The Hughleys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Crump

  • Casper Meets Wendy(1998)

    as Gabby

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Tale of the Mummy(1998)

    as Edith Butros

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Boltneck(2000)

    as Mrs. Stein

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Alone(1997)

    as Estelle

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • RocketMan(1997)

    as Mrs. Randall (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Twilight of the Ice Nymphs(1997)

    as Amelia Glahn

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Changing Habits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Sister Agatha

  • The Adventures of Shirley Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 52 episodes · as Alice Flitt

  • Shadow Zone: My Teacher Ate My Homework(1997)

    as Mrs. Fink

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Portrait of a Lady(1996)

    as Countess Gemini

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Wishbone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 50 episodes · as Renee Lassiter

  • The Underneath(1995)

    as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories: The Christmas Witch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Executive Producer · as Host

  • Aaahh!!! Real Monsters(1994)

    Show 102 episodes · as Ocka (voice)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 13 episodes · Executive Producer · as Potsi

  • Aliens for Breakfast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Teacher

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Caroline (voice)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 13 episodes · as Shelley Duvall

  • Suburban Commando(1991)

    as Jenny Wilcox

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Backfield in Motion(1991)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Frogs!(1992)

    as Annie

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme(1990)

    Casting · Executive Producer · as Little Bo Peep

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Dinner at Eight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Producer

  • The Eyes of the Panther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Executive Producer

  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Executive Producer

  • Carmilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Executive Producer

  • Nightmare Classics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show Creator

  • The Turn of the Screw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Executive Producer

  • The Dancing Princesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host

  • Roxanne(1987)

    as Dixie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Little Mermaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Executive Producer · as Self - Host

  • Faerie Tale Theatre: Rip Van Winkle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Frog(1988)

    Executive Producer · as Mrs. Anderson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Annie Oakley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as The Host

  • Davy Crockett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Self / Host

  • John Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Self / Host

  • Ponce de Leon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Self / Host

  • Johnny Appleseed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Self / Host

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Margo Stanton

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • The Princess Who Had Never Laughed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host

  • Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Executive Producer · as Self - Host

  • Lily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Lily Miniver

  • Popples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Executive Producer · Story

  • Darlin' Clementine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Executive Producer · as Self / Host / Clementine

  • Casey at the Bat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Host

  • Pecos Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Producer · as Self / Host

  • The Emperor's New Clothes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret (segment "A Saucer of Loneliness")

  • Tall Tales & Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 9 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · as Clementine · as Self - Host

  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self / Host

  • Puss in Boots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host / Narrator

  • Cinderella (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host

  • The Ray Bradbury Theater(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Leota Bean

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Pied Piper of Hamelin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host

  • The Snow Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Host / Narrator (voice)

  • Frankenweenie(1984)

    as Susan Frankenstein

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Booker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Laura

  • WonderWorks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Burroughs

  • The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • The Secret World of the Very Young(1984)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Beauty and the Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Snow White's Mother / Self - Host

  • Thumbelina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Pinocchio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • The Princess and the Pea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Hansel and Gretel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Little Red Riding Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Jack and the Beanstalk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Sleeping Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • The Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Nightingale (voice) / Narrator (voice) / Self - Host

  • Rapunzel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Rapunzel / Marie, Rapunzel's Mother / Self - Host

  • Rumpelstiltskin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as The Miller's Daughter / Self - Host

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 27 episodes · Executive Producer · as Marie / Rapunzel · as Narrator (voice) · as Narrator / Nightingale (voice) · as Self - Host · as Snow White's Mother · as The Miller's Daughter

  • The Tale of the Frog Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Executive Producer · Producer · as Self - Host (uncredited)

  • Twilight Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Time Bandits(1981)

    as Dame Pansy / Pansy

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Popeye(1980)

    as Olive Oyl

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Shining(1980)

    as Wendy Torrance

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Paul Simon Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Joan of Arc

  • 3 Women(1977)

    Set Decoration · as Mildred "Millie" Lammoreaux

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Annie Hall(1977)

    as Pam

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Bernice Bobs Her Hair(1976)

    as Bernice

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson(1976)

    as The First Lady (Mrs. Cleveland)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Saturday Night Live(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Patron (uncredited) · as Self - Host · as Self (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Nashville(1975)

    as L.A. Joan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Thieves Like Us(1974)

    as Keechie

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Liz Christie

  • Brewster McCloud(1970)

    as Suzanne

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • McCabe & Mrs. Miller(1971)

    as Ida Coyle

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 98 titles from 1971 to 2024; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

The Shining (1980)

$50M worldwide

Highest rated

The Shining (1980)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19712024

Peak 1999 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 98: 49 only acting, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thWriting1 of 98: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing45 of 98: 32 only producing, 13 with another roleOther crew6 of 98: 3 only other crew, 3 with another role

98 titles, 14 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1970s11 · 11 acting · 1 crew1980s57 · 23 acting · 43 crew1990s25 · 25 acting · 3 crew2000s3 · acting2010s1 · crew2020s1 · crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 10% of 21 roles
718196

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Shelley Duvall's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

81stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

The Secret World of the Very Young (1984)

93rd percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Shining (1980)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Shelley Duvall's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles16–73 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles11–49 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles18–65 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles23–55 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles7–67 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Shelley Duvall work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shelley Duvall's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Altman shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles