Shirley MacLaine is a living legend.
The actress catapulted into stardom near the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age, winning a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year — Actress for her performance in an Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble with Harry. She has since proved to be more than just the Next Big Thing, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest to ever do it with an Oscar, an Emmy, two BAFTA Awards and a host of other accolades.
At 91, she stepped out at the Dance Hall of Fame’s inaugural ceremony on Dec. 3 to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award (which will henceforth be known as the Shirley MacLaine Lifetime Achievement Award).
See her life and career in photos, from her early days in the industry to her life today.
1934: Shirley MacLaine Is Born
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Shirley MacLaine was born Shirley MacLean Beaty on April 24, 1934, in Richmond, Virginia.
1955: Shirley MacLaine Stars in ‘The Trouble with Harry’
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MacLaine made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble with Harry in 1955. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year.
1958: Shirley MacLaine Stars in ‘Hot Spell’
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MacLaine had a ball on the set of the 1958 drama Hot Spell opposite Shirley Booth and Anthony Quinn.
1958: Shirley MacLaine Stars Alongside Frank Sinatra in ‘Some Came Running’
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MacLaine earned her first Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for her role alongside Frank Sinatra in Some Came Running.
1959: Shirley MacLaine with Her Husband, Steve Parker, and Daughter, Sachi
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MacLaine married businessman Steve Parker in 1954 and the pair welcomed their daughter, Sachi, in 1956. MacLaine and Parker divorced in 1982.
1960: Shirley MacLaine Reunites with Frank Sinatra in Can-Can
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In 1960, MacLaine and Sinatra teamed up once again in the musical film, Can-Can.
1960: Shirley MacLaine Stars in The Apartment
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MacLaine starred in The Apartment alongside Jack Lemmon, and the film was a resounding success. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and MacLaine was up for Best Actress. She didn’t win the Oscar, but took home a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
1961: Shirley MacLaine Stars in The Children’s Hour with Audrey Hepburn and James Garner
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In 1961, MacLaine starred in The Children’s Hour opposite Audrey Hepburn. She was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for her performance.
1963: Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon Make Their Marks
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MacLaine and her The Apartment costar Lemmon were honored with a hand and footprint ceremony outside the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in the early ’60s.
1964: Shirley MacLaine Wins a Golden Globe
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In 1964, MacLaine won another Golden Globe Award for her starring role in Irma la Douce.
1966: Shirley MacLaine with Brother Warren Beatty
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MacLaine is the sister of fellow actor Warren Beatty. Here, the pair attend at a movie premiere together in 1966.
1967: Shirley MacLaine Arrives at the Premiere of ‘Woman Times Seven’
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MacLaine looked like the picture of glamour when she arrived at the Woman Times Seven premiere in 1967.
1969: Shirley MacLaine Stars in ‘Sweet Charity’
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In 1969, MacLaine nabbed the titular role in the film version of the musical Sweet Charity. She was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for her performance.
1970: Shirley MacLaine Stars in ‘Two Mules for Sister Sara’ with Clint Eastwood
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In 1970, MacLaine teamed up with Clint Eastwood for a Western: Two Mules for Sister Sara.
1976: Shirley MacLaine Performs in Her CBS Special ‘Gypsy in My Soul’
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MacLaine starred in Gypsy in My Soul in 1976, and won an Emmy Award for outstanding variety special.
1976: Shirley MacLaine at the Opening of Her One-Woman Show, with Liza Minnelli
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MacLaine got some support from pal Liza Minnelli after performing her one-woman show in 1976.
1983: Shirley MacLaine with Her New Book ‘Out on a Limb’
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In 1983, MacLaine released Out on a Limb. The book was adapted into a miniseries, in which MacLaine starred. It wouldn’t be her last authorial adventure: MacLaine also wrote Dancing in the Light (1985), It’s All In The Playing (1987), My Lucky Stars (1995), Sage-ing While Age-ing (2008), I’m Over All That: And Other Confessions (2011) and more.
1983: Shirley MacLaine in ‘Terms of Endearment’
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In 1983, MacLaine starred in Terms of Endearment with Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe Award …
1984: Shirley MacLaine Wins an Academy Award
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… and her first Oscar!
1989: Shirley MacLaine in ‘Steel Magnolias’
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In 1989, MacLaine played the grumpy Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. The film also starred actresses Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Olympia Dukakis and Dolly Parton.
1995: Shirley MacLaine in Concert in Paris
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In 1995, the actress took to the stage once more, performing at Casino de Paris in the City of Love.
1996: Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson in ‘The Evening Star’
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In 1996, over a decade after acting alongside him in Terms of Endearment, MacLaine reunited with Jack Nicholson in The Evening Star.
1998: Shirley MacLaine Accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes
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In 1998, MacLaine was honored for her “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment” at the Golden Globes as a recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
2000: Shirley MacLaine in ‘These Old Broads’
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In 2000, MacLaine hit the small screen alongside Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins in Reynolds’ series, These Old Broads.
2005: Shirley MacLaine at the Premiere of ‘In Her Shoes’
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MacLaine continued to grace the big screen, starring in films like Rumor Has It… and In Her Shoes.
2008: Shirley MacLaine Supports Her Brother at the AFI Life Achievement Awards
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In 2008, MacLaine was there to support her brother, Warren Beatty, as he was honored with at the AFI Life Achievement Awards. With them, Beatty’s wife, Annette Bening.
2008: Shirley MacLaine with Nicole Kidman and Jane Fonda
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In 2008, MacLaine, Nicole Kidman and Jane Fonda rubbed elbows at ELLE’s 15th Annual Women in Hollywood Tribute.
2010: Shirley MacLaine at the ‘Valentine’s Day’ Premiere
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MacLaine appeared in the 2010 ensemble movie, Valentine’s Day. Here, she walks the red carpet with her costars, Julia Roberts and Emma Roberts.
2017: Shirley MacLaine at the Academy Awards
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MacLaine continues to act. She has made appearances on TV shows like Downton Abbey (2012 and 2013) and Glee (2014) as well as in films such as The Last Word (2017) and Wild Oats (2016). Most recently, she had a guest run on Only Murders in the Building.
2025: Shirley MacLaine at the Dance Hall of Fame
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At the Dance Hall of Fame’s inaugural ceremony, MacLaine made a rare awards show appearance to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Getting an award for dancing is the most important acknowledgement I could have,” she said in her speech. “I went to [dance] class every day until in my sixties. I would have to say that dance, what I’ve learned being part of it is why I’m still here.”
