| Shirley Stoler | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 30, 1929 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 1999 (aged 69) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1970 – 1999 |
Shirley Stoler (March 30, 1929 – February 17, 1999) was an American actress best known for her roles in The Honeymoon Killers and Lina Wertmuller's Seven Beauties.
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Throughout her career, Stoler was large and often played villainesses (such as in The Honeymoon Killers and on TV in an episode of Charlie's Angels) whose scariness often derived from Stoler's physical strength and size. A character actress as well as an occasional lead, Stoler appeared in small roles in classic films including Klute, The Deer Hunter, and Desperately Seeking Susan.
The highlight of her film career arguably was her turn as the repulsive Nazi female prison commandant in Lina Wertmüller's Pasqualino Settebellezze (1975) (Seven Beauties), in which she plays a cat and mouse game of seduction with the concentration camp inmate played by Giancarlo Giannini. Though a profile of Stoler was featured on the front page of the New York Times Arts section, her performance was ignored during the awards season, likely as her dialogue had to be dubbed into Italian. The film, the success of which depended a great deal on her, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 1976, and garnered Wertmüller nominations as Best Director (a first for a woman) and Best Original Screenplay, and Stoler's co-star Giannini a nod as Best Actor.
Stoler also appeared on Broadway and in daytime soap operas, as well as Saturday morning television, playing the role of Mrs. Steve on Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Stoler lived in Manhattan until her death from heart failure at the age of 69.[1]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | The Honeymoon Killers | Martha Beck | |
| 1971 | Klute | Momma Reese | |
| 1975 | Pasqualino Settebellezze | Commandant | English title: Seven Beauties |
| 1976 | A Real Young Girl | Grocer in Aupom | French title: Une vraie jeune fille |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Steven's Mother | |
| 1980 | Seed of Innocence | Corky | Alternative title: Teen Mothers |
| Below the Belt | Trish | ||
| 1981 | Second-Hand Hearts | Maxy | |
| 1984 | A Stroke of Genius | ||
| Splitz | Dean Hunta | ||
| 1985 | Desperately Seeking Susan | Jail matron | |
| 1987 | Three O'Clock High | Eva | |
| 1988 | Shakedown | Irma | |
| Sticky Fingers | Reeba | ||
| 1989 | Sons | German housewife | |
| 1990 | Miami Blues | Edie Wulgemuth | |
| Frankenhooker | Spike the Bartender | ||
| 1992 | Topsy and Bunker: The Cat Killers | Grace | |
| Mac | Customer | ||
| Malcolm X | Mrs. Swerlin | ||
| 1993 | Me and Veronica | Shouting Woman | |
| 1997 | The Deli | Irma | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | Charlie's Angels | Big Aggie | Episode: "Caged Angel" |
| 1980 | Skag | Dottie Jessup | 5 episodes |
| The Edge of Night | Frankie | Unknown episodes | |
| 1983 | The Brass Ring | Marge | Television movie |
| Bring 'Em Back Alive | Episode: "The Shadow Women of Chung Tai" | ||
| The Powers of Matthew Star | Tattoo Artist | Episode: "The Quadrian Caper" | |
| 1985 | Brass | Woman in window | Television movie |
| 1986–1987 | Pee-wee's Playhouse | Mrs. Steve | Episodes: "Ice Cream Soup" "Luau For Two" |
| One Life to Live | Roberta "Tiny" Coleman | Unknown episodes | |
| 1989 | Kate & Allie | 1 episode | |
| In the Heat of the Night | Adah Boone | 1 episode | |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Charlie Maylen | Episode: "Misconception" |