Shelley Long, born on August 23, 1949, is an American actress, singer, and comedian.
Portraying Diane Chambers on Cheers, she achieved fame with five Emmy nominations, winning in 1983.
She additionally clinched two Golden Globe Awards and made cameo appearances on the Frasier spin-off, earning another Emmy nomination.
In this article, we will get to know more about her life and her career.
Shelley Long’s Early Life
Born August 23, 1949, in Indian Village, Fort Wayne, Shelley Long is the only child of teacher parents Ivadine and Leland Long.
She was raised in the Presbyterian faith and actively participated in her high school speech team, where she competed in the Indiana High School Forensic Association.
In 1967, she achieved victory by winning the National Forensic League’s National Championship in Original Oratory.
She left Northwestern University drama studies before graduating to pursue acting and modeling post-high school.
Her journey into acting began when she landed her first job as a meal plan checker at the university.
She gained her breakthrough in the world of acting by starring in local commercials for Homemakers furniture stores in the Chicago area.
Career
Early roles
In Chicago, Long joined The Second City comedy troupe.
She began writing, producing, and co-hosting the television program Sorting It Out on WMAQ-TV in 1975, winning three Regional Emmys for her work on the show.
She appeared in VO5 shampoo print advertisements and commercials for Camay soap, as well as more Homemakers’ furniture commercials, In the 1970s.
In 1978, a vignette on The Love Boat featured her.
She played a psychiatric inmate in the television film The Cracker Factory and made guest appearances on Family and Trapper John, M.D. in 1979.
In 1980, she took on her inaugural feature film role in A Small Circle of Friends, a critically acclaimed movie depicting social unrest at Harvard University in the 1960s.
1981, she portrayed Tala in Caveman and Nurse Mendenhall in a 1979 episode of MAS*H.
In 1982, she played Belinda, the kind-hearted neighbor and prostitute in Ron Howard’s Night Shift.
She declined the role of Mary, the mother in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, as she had already committed to appear in Night Shift.
cheers
Shelley Long, despite her prior involvement in feature films, rose to fame in the enduring TV sitcom Cheers.
She portrayed the character Diane Chambers, engaged in an on-and-off relationship with Sam Malone.
Although the show had a slow start in gaining viewers, it eventually became one of the most popular on television.
Long’s departure from Cheers in 1987, following five seasons, sparked some controversy.
In the Cheers biography documentary, co-star Ted Danson acknowledged professional tensions with Long, emphasizing they were work-related and not personal.
He noted that Long’s resemblance to her TV character was more striking than she might admit, and her performances often carried the show.
Long believed her exit wouldn’t harm the show, trusting the cast to continue successfully.
In a 2003 Graham Norton interview, Long disclosed her departure reasons, prioritizing more time with her toddler.
During a 2007 Australian TV interview, Long expressed admiration for Danson and fondness for Nicholas Colasanto (“Coach”).
She explained her decision to leave the show by stating she did not want to repeat the same episodes and stories, avoiding staleness.
Despite missing Cheers, she never regretted her choice, considering her time on the show a dream come true.
Post-Cheers projects
After leaving Cheers, Shelley Long embarked on her post-sitcom career. Her first project, Hello Again, centered on a revived housewife.
She followed this with Troop Beverly Hills, where she portrayed another housewife leading a Wilderness Girl troop amid divorce.
Neither film found success with critics or at the box office.n 1990, Long’s return with Voices Within The Lives of Truddi Chase, portraying 20 personalities, earned acclaim.
This marked her entry into dramatic TV roles, and she continued to star in TV films throughout the 1990s.
She landed prominent film roles, such as the romantic comedy with Jami Gertz and Steve Guttenberg and Frozen Assets with Corbin Bernsen.
In 1992, she was featured in Fatal Memories, a true-crime drama about repressed childhood memories.
Her role was based on a controversial prosecution that led to a conviction later overturned.
Long also appeared in the 1992 film A Message from Holly with Lindsay Wagner, playing a workaholic supporting her terminally ill friend.
In 1993, she returned to Cheers for the series finale, earning another Emmy nomination for her role as Diane.
She also headlined the sitcom Good Advice with Treat Williams and Teri Garr, which ran for two seasons.
Long later reprised the character of Diane in several episodes of the Kelsey Grammer spinoff series Frasier, earning another Emmy Award nomination.
Personal life
Long divorced her first husband, Ken Solomon, in the 1970s after just a few years. In 1979, she met her second husband, Bruce Tyson, a securities broker.
They wed in 1981 and welcomed their daughter, Juliana. However, Long and Tyson separated in 2003 and finalized their divorce in 2004.
Shelley long Networth
Shelley Long, an American actress, boasts a net worth of $5 million.
Her claim to fame is her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Diane Chambers on the enduring NBC sitcom “Cheers.
Conclusion
Shelley Long, the accomplished American actress, singer, and comedian, rose to prominence through her iconic role as Diane Chambers in the beloved sitcom “Cheers.”
Her career has been marked by critical acclaim, Emmy Awards, and a successful transition from television to film.
Long’s enduring talent and adaptability establish her as an esteemed figure in the entertainment industry, boasting a $5 million net worth.
Her transition from television to film and her lasting influence on TV solidify her entertainment legacy.
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