Cybill Lynne Shepherd (born February 18, 1950) is an American actress and former model. Her film debut and

breakthrough role A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role, is a term in the film industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition. The si ...

came as Jacy Farrow in Peter Bogdanovich's coming-of-age drama ''

The Last Picture Show ''The Last Picture Show'' is a 1971 American coming-of-age drama film directed and co-written by Peter Bogdanovich, adapted from the semi-autobiographical 1966 novel ''The Last Picture Show'' by Larry McMurtry. The film's ensemble cast includes T ...

'' (1971) alongside Jeff Bridges. She also had roles as Kelly in

Elaine May Elaine Iva May (née Berlin; born April 21, 1932) is an American comedian, filmmaker, playwright, and actress. She has received numerous awards including an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and a Tony. She made her initial impact in the 1950s with her ...

's '' The Heartbreak Kid'' (1972), Betsy in

Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Scorsese emerged as one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominatio ...

's ''

Taxi Driver ''Taxi Driver'' is a 1976 American film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader, and starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. Set in a decaying and ...

'' (1976), and Nancy in

Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...

's ''

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

'' (1990). On television, her first major role was as Colleen Champion in the one season of the night-time drama ''The Yellow Rose'' (1983). Shepherd played Madeline Hayes on the detective comedy-drama ''

Moonlighting Moonlighting may refer to: * Side job, a job taken in addition to one's primary employment Entertainment * ''Moonlighting'' (film), a 1982 drama film by Jerzy Skolimowski * ''Moonlighting'' (TV series), 1985–1989 American television series, s ...

'' (1985–1989) opposite Bruce Willis, for which she won two

Golden Globes The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical TV Series out of three such nominations. She later starred as Cybill Sheridan on '' Cybill'' (1995–1998), for which she won her third Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical TV series. Her later television roles included Phyllis Kroll on ''

The L Word ''The L Word'' is a television drama that aired on Showtime from January 18, 2004 to March 8, 2009. The series follows the lives of a group of lesbian and bisexual women who live in West Hollywood, California. The premise originated with Ilene Ch ...

'' (2007–2009), Madeleine Spencer on ''

Psych ''Psych'' is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks for USA Network. The series stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observ ...

'' (2008–2013), Cassie in the television film '' The Client List'' (2010), and Linette Montgomery on '' The Client List'' (2012–2013).

Early life and career

Shepherd was born February 18, 1950, in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...

, the daughter of Patty ( ''née'' Shobe), a homemaker, and William Jennings Shepherd, who managed a home appliance business. She is the second of three children. She had an older sister, Terry, and has a younger brother, William. Cybill was named using a name blend that referred to her grandfather Cy and her father, Bill. While attending East High School, Shepherd won the "Miss Teenage Memphis" title and represented the city at the 1966 Miss Teenage America pageant at age 16, where she won the congeniality award. She competed at the 1968 "Model of the Year" contest at age 18, making her a fashion star of the 1960s and resulting in fashion model assignments through high school and afterward. Cybill Shepherd 1970

According to Shepherd's autobiography, a 1970 ''

Glamour Glamour may refer to: Arts Film * ''Glamour'' (1931 film), a British film * ''Glamour'' (1934 film), an American film * ''Glamour'' (2000 film), a Hungarian film Writing * ''Glamour'' (magazine), a magazine for women * ''The Glamour ...

'' magazine cover caught the eye of film director Peter Bogdanovich. His then-wife, Polly Platt, claimed that when she saw the cover in a check-out line in a

Ralphs Ralphs is an American supermarket chain in Southern California. The largest subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger, it is the oldest such chain west of the Mississippi River. Kroger also operates stores under the Food 4 Less and Foods Co. names ...

grocery store in southern California, he said "That's Jacy," referring to the role Bogdanovich was casting—and ultimately given to Shepherd—in ''

'' (1971).

First experience of fame

Her first film was ''

'', also starring Jeff Bridges and Timothy Bottoms. The film became a critical and box office hit, earning eight Academy Awards nominations and winning two. Shepherd was nominated for a Golden Globe. Shepherd was cast opposite Charles Grodin in '' The Heartbreak Kid'' (1972). She played Kelly, a young woman for whom Grodin's character falls while on his honeymoon in Miami. Directed by

, it was another critical and box office hit. Also in 1972, Shepherd posed as a

Kodak The Eastman Kodak Company (referred to simply as Kodak ) is an American public company that produces various products related to its historic basis in analogue photography. The company is headquartered in Rochester, New York, and is incorpor ...

Girl for the

camera A camera is an Optics, optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), ...

manufacturer's then-ubiquitous cardboard displays. In 1974, Shepherd again teamed up with Peter Bogdanovich for the title role in ''

Daisy Miller ''Daisy Miller'' is a novella by Henry James that first appeared in ''The Cornhill Magazine'' in June–July 1878, and in book form the following year. It portrays the courtship of the beautiful American girl Daisy Miller by Winterbourne, a so ...

'', based on the

Henry James Henry James ( – ) was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the ...

novella. The film—a period piece set in Europe—was a

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicke ...

failure. That same year, she launched a singing career, releasing a studio album ''Cybill Does It...To Cole Porter'' for MCA Records. It was panned by ''

Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the creat ...

'' critic

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

, who wrote: "Her voice is surprisingly pleasant, but you'd never know how these songs sparkle. Since Cole didn't like to . . . do it with (or 'to') women very much, maybe the 'do' is as hostile as it sounds." In 1975, she made her next film, ''

At Long Last Love ''At Long Last Love'' is a 1975 American jukebox musical comedy film written, produced, and directed by Peter Bogdanovich. It stars Burt Reynolds, Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn, and Duilio Del Prete as two couples who each switch partners durin ...

'', a musical that was directed by Bogdanovich, but, like ''Daisy Miller'', it flopped. Shepherd returned with good reviews for her work in

's ''

'' (1976). According to Shepherd, Scorsese had requested a "Cybill Shepherd type" for the role. She portrayed an ethereal beauty with whom

Robert De Niro Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. ( , ; born August 17, 1943) is an American actor. Known for his collaborations with Martin Scorsese, he is considered to be one of the best actors of his generation. De Niro is the recipient of various accolades ...

's character, Travis Bickle, becomes enthralled. A series of less-successful roles followed, including ''

The Lady Vanishes ''The Lady Vanishes'' is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. Written by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, based on the 1936 novel ''The Wheel Spins'' by Ethel Lina ...

'', a remake of

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's 1938 film of the same name. Already sitting in on an acting class taught by Stella Adler, Shepherd was offered work at a dinner theater in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...

, and turned to friend

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

for advice. He encouraged her to get experience on stage in front of an audience, anywhere but New York or Los Angeles, away from the harsh big-city critics and so she moved back to her home town of Memphis to work in regional theatre.

Return to Hollywood

In 1982, Shepherd returned to New York and to the stage when she played alongside

James MacArthur James Gordon MacArthur (December 8, 1937 – October 28, 2010) was an American actor with a long career in both movies and television. MacArthur's early work was predominantly in supporting roles in films. Later, he had a starring role as D ...

in a theatre tour of ''Lunch Hour'' by

Jean Kerr Jean Kerr (born Bridget Jean Collins, July 10, 1922 – January 5, 2003) was an Irish-American author and playwright born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, who authored the 1957 bestseller ''Please Don't Eat the Daisies'' and the plays ''King of Hea ...

. The following year, Shepherd went back to Los Angeles and was cast as Colleen Champion in the night-time drama ''

The Yellow Rose ''The Yellow Rose'' is an American soap opera television series that was broadcast on NBC from October 2, 1983 until May 12, 1984. It was produced by Paul Freeman. The series was at least partly inspired by the more coltish elements of the soap o ...

'' (1983), opposite Sam Elliott. Although critically acclaimed, the series lasted only one season. A year later, Shepherd was cast as Maddie Hayes on ''

'' (1985–1989), which became the role that defined her career. The producers knew that her role depended on having chemistry with her co-star, and she was involved in the selection of Bruce Willis. A lighthearted combination of

mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

and

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

, the series won Shepherd two

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

s. She starred in '' Chances Are'' (1989) with

Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...

and

Ryan O'Neal Ryan O'Neal (born April 20, 1941) is an American actor and former boxer. He trained as an amateur boxer before beginning his career in acting in 1960. In 1964, he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera '' Peyton Place ...

, receiving excellent reviews. She then reprised her role as Jacy in ''

Texasville ''Texasville'' is a 1990 American drama film written and directed by Peter Bogdanovich. Based on the 1987 novel ''Texasville'' by Larry McMurtry, it is a sequel to ''The Last Picture Show'' (1971), and features Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Clori ...

'' (1990), the sequel to ''

'' (1971), as the original cast (and director Peter Bogdanovich) reunited 20 years after filming the original. She appeared in Woody Allen's ''

'' (1990) and Eugene Levy's '' Once Upon a Crime'' (1992), as well as several television films. In 1997, she won her third Golden Globe award for '' Cybill'' (1995–1998), a television

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

in which the title character, Cybill Sheridan, an actress struggling with hammy roles in

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

s and bad

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

s, was loosely modeled on herself (including portrayals of her two ex-husbands). In 2000, Shepherd's bestselling autobiography, '' Cybill Disobedience: How I Survived Beauty Pageants, Elvis, Sex, Bruce Willis, Lies, Marriage, Motherhood, Hollywood, and the Irrepressible Urge to Say What I Think'', written in collaboration with Aimee Lee Ball, was published. That same year, Shepherd hosted a short-lived syndicated talk show version of the book '' Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus'', but left the show in early 2001. In 2003, she guest-starred on ''

8 Simple Rules ''8 Simple Rules'' (originally ''8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter'') is an American sitcom television series originally starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal as middle-class parents Paul and Cate Hennessy, raising their three chi ...

'' as the sister of Cate Hennessy (portrayed by Katey Sagal). She has played

Martha Stewart Martha Helen Stewart (, ; born August 3, 1941) is an American retail businesswoman, writer, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing pub ...

in two television films: '' Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart'' (2003) and '' Martha: Behind Bars'' (2005). From 2007 until it ended, Shepherd appeared on ''

'' as Phyllis Kroll for the show's final three seasons. In 2008, she joined the cast of ''

'' as main character Shawn Spencer's mother,

Madeleine Spencer This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama TV series ''Psych'' and subsequent movies that were released on Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. The principal cast of the series has remained the same throughout the ser ...

. On November 7, 2008, Shepherd guest-starred in a February episode of the CBS drama ''

Criminal Minds ''Criminal Minds'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created and produced by Jeff Davis (writer), Jeff Davis. The series premiered on CBS on September 22, 2005, and originally concluded on February 19, 2020; it was r ...

''. In 2010 Shepherd appeared in an episode of ''

No Ordinary Family ''No Ordinary Family'' is an American television series that aired on ABC in the United States and CTV in Canada. The one hour science fiction comedy drama was produced by ABC Studios for the 2010–2011 television season. The series ran from ...

'' and in November of the same year she guest-starred in an episode of ''

$♯*! My Dad Says ''$#*! My Dad Says'' (pronounced "Bleep My Dad Says") is an American television sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Television that aired on CBS. It was based on the Twitter feed Shit My Dad Says, created by Justin Halpern and consisting of quotat ...

''. Shepherd appeared alongside

Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Love Hewitt (born February 21, 1979) is an American actress and singer. Hewitt began her career as a child actress and singer, appearing in national television commercials before joining the cast of the Disney Channel series ''Kids I ...

in the 2010 television film '' The Client List'' and then in the 2012-13 series based on the film. In July 2012, Shepherd made her Broadway debut in the revival of Gore Vidal's '' The Best Man'' at the

Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, formerly the Plymouth Theatre, is a Broadway theater at 236 West 45th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1917, the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was ...

alongside

James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...

John Stamos John Phillip Stamos ( ; born August 19, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He first gained recognition for his contract role as Blackie Parrish on the ABC television soap opera ''General Hospital'', for which he was nominated for the Da ...

, John Larroquette, Kristin Davis, and Elizabeth Ashley to positive reviews. Shepherd appeared as a mother grieving the death of her daughter in '' Do You Believe?'' (2015), a Christian-themed movie produced by Pure Flix Entertainment.

Political activism

President Ronald Reagan greeting actress Cybill Shepherd in the Oval Office

Throughout her career, Shepherd has been an outspoken activist for issues such as

gay rights Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Notably, , 3 ...

and abortion rights. In 2009, she was honored by the

Human Rights Campaign The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is an American LGBTQ advocacy group. It is the largest LGBTQ political lobbying organization within the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGB ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

with one of two National Ally for Equality awards. She has been an advocate for

same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same Legal sex and gender, sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being ...

. She was present at the opening of the National Civil Rights Museum in her hometown of Memphis, to which she lent financial support.

Personal life

In her autobiography, Shepherd revealed that she called her mother in 1978, crying and unhappy with the way her life and career were going. Her mother replied, "Cybill, come home." Shepherd went home to Memphis, where she met and began dating David M. Ford, a local auto parts dealer and nightclub entertainer. She became

pregnant Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestation, gestates) inside a woman, woman's uterus (womb). A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy usually occur ...

, and the couple married that year. Their daughter, Clementine Ford, was born in 1979. The marriage ended in divorce in 1982. In 1987, Shepherd became pregnant by chiropractor Bruce Oppenheim and married him. They had twins named Ariel and Zachariah Shepherd Oppenheim born during the fourth season of ''

''. The couple divorced in 1990. In June 2012, Shepherd became engaged to psychologist Andrei Nikolajevic. By 2015, the engagement had been called off.

Religious beliefs

Shepherd was raised Christian, but stated that she eventually "lost touch" with the religion. In a 2007 interview with

Metro Weekly ''Metro Weekly'' is a free weekly magazine for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Washington, D.C., United States. It was first published on May 5, 1994. ''Metro Weekly'' includes national and local news, interviews w ...

, she described herself as being "a

goddess A goddess is a female deity. In many known cultures, goddesses are often linked with literal or metaphorical pregnancy or imagined feminine roles associated with how women and girls are perceived or expected to behave. This includes themes of s ...

-worshipping Christian

Pagan Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

". In October 2014, Shepherd said that she had reconnected with her Christian faith.

Awards

Emmy Awards

Nominations: * 1986 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series - ''

'' * 1995 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series - '' Cybill'' * 1996 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series - '' Cybill'' * 1997 - Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series - '' Cybill'' In her autobiography, Shepherd addressed rumors that she was jealous of her co-stars Bruce Willis and

Christine Baranski Christine Jane Baranski (born May 2, 1952) is an American actress. She is a 15-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, winning once in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Maryann Thorpe in the sitcom ''Cybill'' ...

for winning Emmy awards while she has not: "The grain of truth in this controversy was that of course I was envious. Who doesn't want to win an Emmy?"

Golden Globe Awards

Wins: * 1985 - Best Actress in a TV series, Comedy/Musical - ''

'' * 1986 - Best Actress in a TV series, Comedy/Musical - ''

'' * 1995 - Best Actress in a TV series, Comedy/Musical - '' Cybill'' Nominations: * 1971 - Most Promising Newcomer (Female) - ''

'' * 1987 - Best Actress in a TV series, Comedy/Musical - ''

'' * 1996 - Best Actress in a TV series, Comedy/Musical - '' Cybill''

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

* ''Cybill Does It...To Cole Porter'' (

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. The following busin ...

, 1974) * ''Mad About the Boy'' (Tombstone, 1976) * ''Cybill Getz Better'' ( Inner City, 1976) * ''Vanilla'' (Gold Castle, 1979) * ''Somewhere Down the Road'' (Gold Castle, 1990) * ''Talk Memphis to Me'' (Drive Archive, 1997) * ''Songs from The Cybill Show'' (1999) * ''Live at the Cinegrill'' (2001) * ''At Home With Cybill'' (2004) * ''Jazz Baby Volumes 1–3'' (2005)

Appearances

* ''At Long Last Love'' (soundtrack) (1975) * ''

'' (soundtrack) (1987)

Notes

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shepherd, Cybill 1950 births Living people Actresses from Memphis, Tennessee American female models American women jazz singers American jazz singers American film actresses American abortion-rights activists American stage actresses American television actresses American television producers American women television producers American beauty pageant winners Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (television) winners LGBT rights activists from the United States MCA Records artists American television talk show hosts University of Southern California alumni Stella Adler Studio of Acting alumni 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses American autobiographers Women autobiographers 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers Female models from Tennessee Singers from Tennessee American women non-fiction writers Jazz musicians from Tennessee Inner City Records artists GLAAD Media Awards winners Writers from Memphis, Tennessee