Shirley Booth

Shirley turned down the role of Ada Quonsett in Airport (1970) due to chronic bursitis she had that was acting up at the time, and the part went to Helen Hayes.

Shirley made her stage debut at the age of 12, when she joined the Hartford Stock Company, doing 3 plays a week.

Shirley's role as Lola Delaney in Come Back, Little Sheba (1952) was turned down by Bette Davis, who said she felt strongly that only Shirley could do the role justice.

Shirley was named "The World's Greatest Actress" at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953.

Shirley got noticed by Hollywood producers appearing in skits by Dorothy Parker in New York City at the Barbizon Plaza Hotel called "Sunday Nights at Nine" in exchange for room and breakfast in the early 1930s.

Shirley's main hobby was interior decorating.

Shirley is one of only 8 actors to win both the Oscar and the Tony for the same role. The other 7 include Jack Albertson, Anne Bancroft, Yul Brynner, Jose Ferrer, Joel Grey, Rex Harrison, and Paul Scofield.

Shirley was married twice, to Ed Gardner from 1929 to 1942, and to William V. Baker, from 1943 until his death in 1951.

Shirley was the voice of Mrs. Claus in the 1974 Rankin-Bass tv special "The Year Without A Santa Claus."

Shirley appeared in a magazine advertisement for RCA Television with her Hazel co-star Don Defore in 1964.

Shirley's Broadway debut was in "Hell's Bells," on January 26, 1925, with co-star Humphrey Bogart.

Shirley was featured on the cover of the August 10, 1953 issue of Time Magazine.

Shirley played Miss Duffy on the "Duffy's Tavern" radio show which ran from 1941 to 1943.

Shirley was the first actress to win both an Oscar and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award for Come Back, Little Sheba (1952).

Shirley won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Come Back, Little Sheba (1952), re-creating the role of Lola Delaney she won the Tony for on Broadway.

Shirley won 3 Tony awards; in 1949, for Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Drama in "Goodbye Mr. Fancy;" in 1950 for Best Actress in a Play in "Come Back, Little Sheba;" and in 1953 for Best Actress in a Drama for "Time Of The Cuckoo."

Shirley has a Motion Picture star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 6840 Hollywood Boulevard.