Person
Shirley Knight
Acting · 1936–2020 · Goessel, Kansas, USA
Biography
Shirley Enola Knight (July 5, 1936 – April 22, 2020) was an American stage, screen, and television actress. She has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, in 1960 for The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and in 1962 for Sweet Bird of Youth.
Known for
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dr. Wharton
Law & Order
Melanie Cullen
House
Georgia Adams
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Tony Awards
Self - Winner
Desperate Housewives
Phyllis Van De Kamp
ER
Mrs. Burke
NYPD Blue
Agnes Cantwell
The Fugitive
Jane Washburn
Murder, She Wrote
Grace Fenton
Filmography
- 2021Broadway: Beyond the Golden AgeSelf
- 2018PeripheryLeanne Cross
- 2015The Missing GirlMrs. Colvins
- 2015Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2Mom
- 2014MercyMercy
- 2013Redwood HighwayMarie
- 2013ElevatorJane Redding
- 2011Our Idiot BrotherIlene Rochlin
- 2010Listen to Your HeartGrandma Sam
- 2010Hot in ClevelandLoretta
- 2009Drop Dead DivaMillie Carlson
- 2009The Private Lives of Pippa LeeDot Nadeau
- 2009Paul Blart: Mall CopMom
- 2008Not Fade AwayDiane
- 2008The Other Side of the TracksHelen
- 2006Open WindowAnn
- 2006Love and DebateLea
- 2006Sweet Bird of Youth: Chasing TimeSelf
- 2006The UnitMrs. Gaffney
- 2006Grandma's BoyBea
- 2005Sexual LifeJoanne
- 2004HouseGeorgia Adams
- 2004Desperate HousewivesPhyllis Van De Kamp
- 2004SudburyAunt Jet
- 2003A House on a HillMercedes Mayfield
- 2003Mrs. Ashboro's CatMrs. Ashboro
- 2003Cold CaseDottie
- 2003Fly CherryMiss Christina
- 2002Shadow RealmMrs. Finch
- 2002Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodNecie
- 2002P.S. Your Cat is Dead!Aunt Claire
- 2002The Salton SeaNancy Plummer
- 2001Crossing JordanFrances Littleton
- 2001Angel EyesElanora Davis
- 2001My Louisiana SkyJewel Ramsey
- 200075 Degrees in JulyJo Beth Anderson
- 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Wharton
- 1998A Marriage of ConvenienceHarriet Winslow
- 1998Maggie WintersEstelle Winters
- 1998A Father for BrittanyDonna Minkowitz
- 1998Significant Others
- 1998The WeddingGram (Miss Caroline)
- 1997As Good as It GetsBeverly Connelly
- 1997ConvictionsMargaret
- 1997Ally McBealHelen Apple
- 1997Little Boy BlueDoris Knight
- 1996Somebody Is WaitingIrma
- 1996Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena StoryJoan Hart
- 1996Mary & TimEsther
- 1996The UninvitedDelia
- 1996If These Walls Could TalkMary Donnelly
- 1996DiaboliqueEdie Danziger
- 1996A Promise to CarolynJolene Maggart
- 1996Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose GardenSally Ann
- 1995Stuart Saves His FamilyMom
- 1995VR.5Dr. Hearst
- 1995Children of the DustAunt Bertha
- 1995CybillLoretta Bennett
- 1995Indictment: The McMartin TrialPeggy Buckey
- 1995Dad, the Angel & MeBetty
- 1994Death in Venice, CAMona Dickens
- 1994ERMrs. Burke
- 1994Color of NightEdith Niedelmeyer
- 1994A Part of the FamilyMartha
- 1994The Yarn PrincessEsther
- 1994Baby BrokersSylvia
- 1994BendersDonna
- 1994The Secret Life of HousesAunt Fergie
- 1994Hoggs' HeavenMom
- 1993A Mother's RevengeBess Warden
- 1993NYPD BlueAgnes Cantwell
- 1993Angel FallsEdie Wren Cox
- 1993When Love Kills: The Seduction of John HearnEdna Larson
- 1991To Save a ChildRinda Larson
- 1991Shadow of a DoubtHelen Potter
- 1991Bump in the NightKatie Leonard
- 1990Law & OrderMelanie Cullen
- 1987thirtysomething
- 1986L.A. LawBelinda Collins
- 1986MatlockPhyllis Todd
- 1985The EqualizerKay
- 1984The Sweet Scent of DeathAnn Fairfax Denver
- 1984With Intent to KillEdna Reinecker
- 1984Murder, She WroteGrace Fenton
- 1984Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseAnn Denver
- 1982The SenderJerolyn
- 1982Kennedy's ChildrenCarla
- 1981Endless LoveAnn
- 1981NurseSylvia Dennis
- 1980Playing for TimeFrau Lagerführerin Maria Mandel
- 1979Beyond the Poseidon AdventureHannah Meredith
- 1979Tales of the UnexpectedElizabeth Bourdon
- 1979Champions: A Love StoryBarbara Harlich
- 1978The Defection of Simas KudirkaGenna Kudirka
- 197621 Hours at MunichAnneliese Graes
- 1976Return to EarthJoan Aldrin
- 1975Medical StoryPhyllis Lenahan
- 1975Medical StoryPhyllis Lenahan
- 1975Friendly PersuasionEliza Birdwell
- 1975Please Stand by for Murder
- 1974JuggernautBarbara Banister
- 1974The Manhunter
- 1974The Country GirlGeorgie Elgin
- 1973Orson Welles' Great MysteriesMargot Brenner
- 1973The LieAnna
- 1973Barnaby JonesKay Lewiston
- 1972The Streets of San Francisco
- 1972Ghost StoryBeth
- 1972That Quiet EarthThe Woman
- 1971SecretsBeatrice
- 1971Alias Smith and Jones
- 1969Medical Center
- 1969The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsMarci Boyle
- 1969The Rain PeopleNatalie Ravenna
- 1969ITV Saturday Night TheatreBarbara
- 1968FilmmakerSelf (uncredited)
- 1968The Jazz AgeEmily Castleton
- 1968PetuliaPolo
- 1968The Counterfeit KillerAngie Peterson
- 1968Shadow Over ElveronJoanne Tregaskis
- 1967The OutsiderPeggy Leydon
- 1967The InvadersMargaret Cook
- 1966DutchmanLula
- 1966The GroupPolly
- 1965Thirty-Minute TheatreThe Woman - Joyce
- 1964Flight from AshiyaCaroline Gordon / Stevenson
- 1963Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
- 1963The FugitiveJane Washburn
- 1963The Outer LimitsNoelle Anderson
- 1963Arrest and TrialRhoda Waggner
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1962The VirginianSusan Morrow
- 1962House of WomenErica Hayden
- 1962Sweet Bird of YouthHeavenly Finley
- 1962The CouchTerry Ames
- 1961Target: The Corruptors!
- 1961The DefendersBethany Windell
- 1960The Roaring 20's
- 1960Surfside 6
- 1960The Dark at the Top of the StairsReenie Flood
- 1960The Shape of the RiverSusy Clemens
- 1960Ice PalaceGrace Kennedy
- 1959Hawaiian Eye
- 1959Bourbon Street Beat
- 1959Five Gates to HellSister Maria
- 1959Johnny Staccato
- 1959RawhideJennie Cooper
- 195877 Sunset StripMari Ellen Taylor
- 1958LawmanTendis Weston
- 1958Naked CityKathy Meigs
- 1958The Texan
- 1958Bronco
- 1958BuckskinMrs. Newcomb
- 1957The Restless GunHeide Ritter
- 1957MaverickNancy Powers
- 1956Tony AwardsSelf - Winner
- 1955Matinee Theater
- 1953The OscarsSelf
- 1951Hallmark Hall of FameGeorgie Elgin
- 1950The Bob Hope ShowSelf
- 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee
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