Shirley Stoler

Shirley Stoler (March 30, 1929 – February 17, 1999) was an American actress best known for her roles in The Honeymoon Killers and Lina Wertmüller's Seven Beauties (1975).

Early years The eldest of four children born to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in Brooklyn who owned a used furniture store, Stoler made her stage debut in 1955 and gained experience as a member of New York's experimental La Mama and Living Theatre companies. She had become a key underground player by the time she earned film fame in 1970 at age 41.

Film and TV career Throughout her career, Stoler, a large and powerfully built woman who rarely smiled onscreen, often played scary villains in such films as Seven Beauties and The Honeymoon Killers and on television in an episode of Charlie's Angels. A character actress, as well as an occasional lead, Stoler appeared in small roles in Klute, The Deer Hunter, and Desperately Seeking Susan.

A highlight of her film career was her performance as the unnamed Nazi female prison commandant in Lina Wertmüller's Seven Beauties (1975), in which she played a cat-and-mouse game of seduction with the concentration camp inmate played by Giancarlo Giannini. A profile of Stoler was featured on the front page of the New York Times Arts section.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 1976, and Wertmüller received nominations for Best Director (a first for a woman) and Best Original Screenplay; Stoler's co-star Giannini was nominated for Best Actor.

Stoler also appeared on Broadway; in the daytime soap operas The Edge of Night as Frankie and One Life to Live as Roberta (nicknamed "Tiny"); and on Saturday morning television as Mrs. Steve on Pee-wee's Playhouse.

Tim Lucas speculated she was actually Shirley Kilpatrick, changing her name after the filming of The Astounding She-Monster (1958).

Death Stoler lived in Manhattan, where she died at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center from heart failure after a long illness, aged 69.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1970 The Honeymoon Killers Martha Beck 1971 Klute Momma Reese 1975 Seven Beauties Commandant Italian title: Pasqualino Settebellezze 1976 A Real Young Girl Grocer in Aupom French title: Une vraie jeune fille 1977 The Liberation of Honeydoll Jones Verna Jones Uncredited 1977 The Displaced Person Mrs. Shortley 1978 The Deer Hunter Steven's Mother 1979 Charlie's Angels Big Aggie Episode: "Caged Angel" 1980 Skag Dottie Jessup 5 episodes 1980 Seed of Innocence Corky Alternative title: Teen Mothers 1980 Below the Belt Trish 1980 The Edge of Night Frankie Unknown episodes 1981 Second-Hand Hearts Maxy 1982 Splitz Dean Hunta 1983 The Brass Ring Marge Television movie 1983 Bring 'Em Back Alive Episode: "The Shadow Women of Chung Tai" 1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Tattoo Artist Episode: "The Quadrian Caper" 1984 A Stroke of Genius 1985 Desperately Seeking Susan Jail Matron 1985 Brass Woman in window Television movie 1986-1987 Pee-wee's Playhouse Mrs. Steve 7 episodes 1986-1987 One Life to Live Roberta "Tiny" Coleman Unknown episodes 1987 Three O'Clock High Eva 1988 Shakedown Irma 1988 Sticky Fingers Reeba 1989 Kate & Allie Episode: "Wanted: One Husband" 1989 In the Heat of the Night Adah Boone Episode: "The Pig Woman of Sparta" 1990 Frankenhooker Spike the Bartender 1990 Miami Blues Edie Wulgemuth 1990 Sons German housewife 1991 Law & Order Charlie Maylen Episode: "Misconception" 1991 Age Isn't Everything 1992 Topsy and Bunker: The Cat Killers Grace 1992 Mac Customer 1992 Malcolm X Mrs. Swerlin 1993 Me and Veronica Shouting Woman 1995 Grumpier Old Men Organist at wedding Uncredited 1997 The Deli Irma 2016 Chief Zabu Joan Ironwood Shot in 1986, (final film role)