Carole Shelley
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Carole Shelley (born August 16, 1939) is an English Tony Award-winning actress.
On the stage, Shelley made her Broadway debut in the original 1965 production of The Odd Couple, playing Gwendolyn Pigeon (she would reprise the role for the film version and for the first season of the subsequent television series). She appeared in several plays throughout the 1970s and 1980s, earning her first Tony Award nomination in 1975 for her performance as "Jane" in Absurd Person Singular. Ms. Shelley won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as "Mrs. Kendal" in The Elephant Man, and was nominated again in 1987 for her performance in Stepping Out as "Maxine." Ms. Shelley also began appearing in musicals in the late 1990s, with the revivals of Show Boat and Cabaret. In 2003, Ms. Shelley created the role of "Madame Morrible" in the original Broadway cast of the hit Broadway musical Wicked. For this role she has garnered rave reviews from audiences. She left the production on May 29th 2005 along with co-stars George Hearn & Jennifer Laura Thompson. She was replaced by Rue McClanahan.
She reprised this role in the National Tour on 21 December 2005 replacing Carol Kane. She remained with the National Tour for 11 weeks and left the Tour on March 5th 2006 along with co-stars Stephanie J. Block, David Garrison & Jenna Leigh Green. She was replaced by Alma Cuervo. Shelley once again reprised her role in Chicago for a limited engagement. She remained in Chicago from April 25th to June 25th in 2006 whilst Rondi Reed was on temporary leave to do another show. She is often mistaken for Carol Kane, who originated the role of Madame Morrible in the National Tour and in Southern California.
Shelley has had numerous roles on film and television. Most recently, she was featured as "Aunt Clara" alongside Nicole Kidman and former Wicked co-star Kristin Chenoweth in the film Bewitched.
Shelley returned to the Broadway production of Wicked on August 28, 2007 and reprised the role of "Madame Morrible" until January 20, 2008. This time she was succeeded by London's Original "Madame Morrible" Miriam Margoyles.
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| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by Jessica Tandy for The Gin Game |
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play 1978-1979 for The Elephant Man |
Succeeded by Pat Carroll for Gertrude Stein |
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