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Shirley Knight
ACTOR

Shirley Knight

Known for House · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit · Desperate Housewives

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.

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Jul 5, 1936
Died
Apr 22, 2020
Birthplace
Goessel, Kansas, USA
Known For
Acting

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.

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Known For

TVHouse
HouseGeorgia Adams · 2004
★ 8.6
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Wharton · 1999
★ 8.0
TVDesperate Housewives
Desperate HousewivesPhyllis Van De Kamp · 2004
★ 7.9
TVER
ERMrs. Burke · 1994
★ 7.8
TVLaw & Order
Law & OrderMelanie Cullen · 1990
★ 7.3
TVMurder, She Wrote
Murder, She WroteGrace Fenton · 1984
★ 7.5
TVCold Case
Cold CaseDottie · 2003
★ 7.7
TVNYPD Blue
NYPD BlueAgnes Cantwell · 1993
★ 7.1

Filmography

Movies

Five Gates to HellSister Maria
1959
Ice PalaceGrace Kennedy
1960
The Dark at the Top of the StairsReenie Flood
1960
TS
The Shape of the RiverSusy Clemens
1960
House of WomenErica Hayden
1962
Sweet Bird of YouthHeavenly Finley
1962
The CouchTerry Ames
1962
Flight from AshiyaCaroline Gordon / Stevenson
1964
DutchmanLula
1966
The GroupPolly
1966
The OutsiderPeggy Leydon
1967
FilmmakerSelf (uncredited)
1968
PetuliaPolo
1968
Shadow Over ElveronJoanne Tregaskis
1968
The Counterfeit KillerAngie Peterson
1968
The Rain PeopleNatalie Ravenna
1969
SecretsBeatrice
1971
TQ
That Quiet EarthThe Woman
1972
The LieAnna
1973
JuggernautBarbara Banister
1974
The Country GirlGeorgie Elgin
1974
Friendly PersuasionEliza Birdwell
1975
Medical StoryPhyllis Lenahan
1975
Please Stand by for Murder
1975
21 Hours at MunichAnneliese Graes
1976
Return to EarthJoan Aldrin
1976
The Defection of Simas KudirkaGenna Kudirka
1978
Beyond the Poseidon AdventureHannah Meredith
1979
Champions: A Love StoryBarbara Harlich
1979
Playing for TimeFrau Lagerführerin Maria Mandel
1980
Endless LoveAnn
1981
Kennedy's ChildrenCarla
1982
The SenderJerolyn
1982
The Sweet Scent of DeathAnn Fairfax Denver
1984
With Intent to KillEdna Reinecker
1984
Bump in the NightKatie Leonard
1991
SO
Shadow of a DoubtHelen Potter
1991
To Save a ChildRinda Larson
1991
A Mother's RevengeBess Warden
1993
When Love Kills: The Seduction of John HearnEdna Larson
1993
A Part of the FamilyMartha
1994
Baby BrokersSylvia
1994
B
BendersDonna
1994
Color of NightEdith Niedelmeyer
1994
Death in Venice, CAMona Dickens
1994
Hoggs' HeavenMom
1994
TS
The Secret Life of HousesAunt Fergie
1994
The Yarn PrincessEsther
1994
Dad, the Angel & MeBetty
1995
Indictment: The McMartin TrialPeggy Buckey
1995
Stuart Saves His FamilyMom
1995
A Promise to CarolynJolene Maggart
1996
DiaboliqueEdie Danziger
1996
Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena StoryJoan Hart
1996
If These Walls Could TalkMary Donnelly
1996
Mary & TimEsther
1996
Somebody Is WaitingIrma
1996
Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose GardenSally Ann
1996
The UninvitedDelia
1996
As Good as It GetsBeverly Connelly
1997
ConvictionsMargaret
1997
A Father for BrittanyDonna Minkowitz
1998
A Marriage of ConvenienceHarriet Winslow
1998
Little Boy BlueDoris Knight
1998
The WeddingGram (Miss Caroline)
1998
75 Degrees in JulyJo Beth Anderson
2000
Angel EyesElanora Davis
2001
My Louisiana SkyJewel Ramsey
2001
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodNecie
2002
P.S. Your Cat is Dead!Aunt Claire
2002
Shadow RealmMrs. Finch
2002
The Salton SeaNancy Plummer
2002
A House on a HillMercedes Mayfield
2003
Fly CherryMiss Christina
2003
Mrs. Ashboro's CatMrs. Ashboro
2003
SudburyAunt Jet
2004
Sexual LifeJoanne
2005
Grandma's BoyBea
2006
Love and DebateLea
2006
Open WindowAnn
2006
SB
Sweet Bird of Youth: Chasing TimeSelf
2006
NF
Not Fade AwayDiane
2008
The Other Side of the TracksHelen
2008
Paul Blart: Mall CopMom
2009
The Private Lives of Pippa LeeDot Nadeau
2009
Listen to Your HeartGrandma Sam
2010
Our Idiot BrotherIlene Rochlin
2011
ElevatorJane Redding
2013
Redwood HighwayMarie
2013
MercyMercy
2014
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2Mom
2015
The Missing GirlMrs. Colvins
2015
PeripheryLeanne Cross
2018
Broadway: Beyond the Golden AgeSelf
2021

Television

Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1 eps
1944
The Bob Hope ShowSelf · 1 eps
1950
Hallmark Hall of FameGeorgie Elgin · 1 eps
1951
Hallmark Hall of FameMrs. Potter · 1 eps
1951
The OscarsSelf · 1 eps
1953
Matinee Theater1 eps
1955
Tony AwardsSelf - Winner · 1 eps
1956
Tony AwardsSelf - Presenter · 1 eps
1956
Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1 eps
1956
MaverickNancy Powers · 1 eps
1957
The Restless GunHeide Ritter · 1 eps
1957
77 Sunset StripMari Ellen Taylor · 1 eps
1958
Bronco1 eps
1958
BroncoMolly Durrock · 1 eps
1958
B
BuckskinMrs. Newcomb · 34 eps
1958
LawmanTendis Weston · 1 eps
1958
Naked CityKathy Meigs · 1 eps
1958
The Texan2 eps
1958
Bourbon Street Beat1 eps
1959
Hawaiian Eye3 eps
1959
Johnny Staccato1 eps
1959
RawhideJennie Cooper · 1 eps
1959
Surfside 63 eps
1960
The Roaring 20's1 eps
1960
Target: The Corruptors!1 eps
1961
The DefendersBethany Windell · 1 eps
1961
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1 eps
1962
The VirginianSusan Morrow · 1 eps
1962
The VirginianClara Malone · 1 eps
1962
Arrest and TrialRhoda Waggner · 1 eps
1963
BH
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1 eps
1963
The FugitiveJane Washburn · 1 eps
1963
The FugitiveMona Ross · 1 eps
1963
The FugitiveJanice Pruitt · 1 eps
1963
The Outer LimitsNoelle Anderson · 1 eps
1963
Thirty-Minute TheatreThe Woman - Joyce · 1 eps
1965
The InvadersMargaret Cook · 1 eps
1967
TJ
The Jazz AgeEmily Castleton · 1 eps
1968
ITV Saturday Night TheatreBarbara · 1 eps
1969
Medical Center1 eps
1969
The Bold Ones: The New DoctorsMarci Boyle · 1 eps
1969
Alias Smith and Jones1 eps
1971
Ghost StoryBeth · 1 eps
1972
The Streets of San Francisco1 eps
1972
Barnaby JonesKay Lewiston · 1 eps
1973
Orson Welles' Great MysteriesMargot Brenner · 1 eps
1973
The Manhunter1 eps
1974
Medical StoryPhyllis Lenahan · 1 eps
1975
Tales of the UnexpectedElizabeth Bourdon · 1 eps
1979
NurseSylvia Dennis · 1 eps
1981
Hammer House of Mystery and SuspenseAnn Denver · 1 eps
1984
Murder, She WroteGrace Fenton · 2 eps
1984
The EqualizerKay · 1 eps
1985
L.A. LawBelinda Collins · 1 eps
1986
MatlockPhyllis Todd · 1 eps
1986
thirtysomething2 eps
1987
Law & OrderMelanie Cullen · 1 eps
1990
AF
Angel FallsEdie Wren Cox · 6 eps
1993
NYPD BlueAgnes Cantwell · 1 eps
1993
ERMrs. Burke · 1 eps
1994
Children of the DustAunt Bertha · 2 eps
1995
CybillLoretta Bennett · 1 eps
1995
VR.5Dr. Hearst · 1 eps
1995
Ally McBealHelen Apple · 1 eps
1997
MW
Maggie WintersEstelle Winters · 18 eps
1998
Significant Others2 eps
1998
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Wharton · 1 eps
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitRose Granville · 1 eps
1999
Crossing JordanFrances Littleton · 1 eps
2001
Cold CaseDottie · 1 eps
2003
Desperate HousewivesPhyllis Van De Kamp · 5 eps
2004
HouseGeorgia Adams · 1 eps
2004
The UnitMrs. Gaffney · 1 eps
2006
Drop Dead DivaMillie Carlson · 1 eps
2009
Hot in ClevelandLoretta · 1 eps
2010

Photos

Shirley Knight photo
Shirley Knight photo
Shirley Knight photo
Shirley Knight photo
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