--- name: "Shirley Knight" canonical: "https://film.one/person/shirley-knight" fi1m_id: "shirley-knight" imdb_id: "nm0004309" tmdb_id: 28778 wikidata_id: "Q238884" roles: ["Actor"] born: "5 July 1936" died: "22 April 2020" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-17T22:17:56.264315+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Shirley Knight ## Identity Shirley Knight - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/shirley-knight - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** shirley-knight - **IMDb ID:** nm0004309 - **TMDB ID:** 28778 - **Wikidata ID:** Q238884 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Knight, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238884, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28778 Actor. Born 5 July 1936 in Goessel, Kansas, USA. Died 22 April 2020. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 5 July 1936, Goessel, Kansas, USA - **Died:** 22 April 2020 - **Also known as:** Shirley Enola Knight - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Knight, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238884, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/28778 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*As Good as It Gets*](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md) (77) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Shirley Enola Knight was an American actress who worked in theatre, film and television from the late 1950s until 2018. She received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for *The Dark at the Top of the Stairs* (1960) and *Sweet Bird of Youth* (1962). In 1976 she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for *Kennedy's Children*. She also won three Primetime Emmy Awards. Her later screen credits include *As Good as It Gets* (1997), in which she played Beverly Connelly, *Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood* (2002), *Paul Blart: Mall Cop* (2009) and its 2015 sequel, and guest roles in series such as *Desperate Housewives* (2004) and *House* (2004). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *As Good as It Gets* (1997), Fi1m 77, as Beverly Connelly — [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md) ## Complete filmography (152) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Periphery* (2018), as Leanne Cross - *The Missing Girl* (2015), as Mrs. Colvins - *Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2* (2015), as Mom - *Mercy* (2014), as Mercy - *Redwood Highway* (2013), as Marie - *Elevator* (2013), as Jane Redding - *Our Idiot Brother* (2011), as Ilene Rochlin - *Listen to Your Heart* (2010), as Grandma Sam - *Hot in Cleveland* (2010), series, as Loretta - *Drop Dead Diva* (2009), series, as Millie Carlson - *The Private Lives of Pippa Lee* (2009), as Dot Nadeau - *Paul Blart: Mall Cop* (2009), as Mom - *Not Fade Away* (2008), as Diane - *The Other Side of the Tracks* (2008), as Helen - *Open Window* (2006), as Ann - *Love and Debate* (2006), as Lea - *The Unit* (2006), series, as Mrs. Gaffney - *Grandma's Boy* (2006), as Bea - *Sexual Life* (2005), as Joanne - *House* (2004), series, as Georgia Adams — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md) - *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Phyllis Van De Kamp — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md) - *Sudbury* (2004), as Aunt Jet - *A House on a Hill* (2003), as Mercedes Mayfield - *Mrs. Ashboro's Cat* (2003), as Mrs. Ashboro - *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Dottie - *Fly Cherry* (2003), as Miss Christina - *Shadow Realm* (2002), as Mrs. Finch - *Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood* (2002), as Necie - *P.S. Your Cat is Dead!* (2002), as Aunt Claire - *The Salton Sea* (2002), as Nancy Plummer - *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Frances Littleton - *Angel Eyes* (2001), as Elanora Davis - *My Louisiana Sky* (2001), as Jewel Ramsey - *75 Degrees in July* (2000), as Jo Beth Anderson - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Dr. Wharton, Rose Granville - *A Marriage of Convenience* (1998), as Harriet Winslow - *Maggie Winters* (1998), series, as Estelle Winters - *Little Boy Blue* (1998), as Doris Knight - *A Father for Brittany* (1998), as Donna Minkowitz - *Significant Others* (1998), series, Actor - *The Wedding* (1998), as Gram (Miss Caroline) - *As Good as It Gets* (1997), as Beverly Connelly — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/as-good-as-it-gets.md) - *Convictions* (1997), as Margaret - *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Helen Apple — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md) - *Somebody Is Waiting* (1996), as Irma - *Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story* (1996), as Joan Hart - *Mary & Tim* (1996), as Esther - *The Uninvited* (1996), as Delia - *If These Walls Could Talk* (1996), as Mary Donnelly - *Diabolique* (1996), as Edie Danziger - *A Promise to Carolyn* (1996), as Jolene Maggart - *Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose Garden* (1996), as Sally Ann - *Indictment: The McMartin Trial* (1995), as Peggy Buckey - *Stuart Saves His Family* (1995), as Mom - *VR.5* (1995), series, as Dr. Hearst - *Children of the Dust* (1995), series, as Aunt Bertha - *Cybill* (1995), series, as Loretta Bennett - *Dad, the Angel & Me* (1995), as Betty - *Death in Venice, CA* (1994), as Mona Dickens - *ER* (1994), series, as Mrs. Burke — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md) - *Color of Night* (1994), as Edith Niedelmeyer - *A Part of the Family* (1994), as Martha - *The Yarn Princess* (1994), as Esther - *Baby Brokers* (1994), as Sylvia - *Benders* (1994), as Donna - *The Secret Life of Houses* (1994), as Aunt Fergie - *Hoggs' Heaven* (1994), as Mom - *A Mother's Revenge* (1993), as Bess Warden - *NYPD Blue* (1993), series, as Agnes Cantwell — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md) - *Angel Falls* (1993), series, as Edie Wren Cox - *When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn* (1993), as Edna Larson - *To Save a Child* (1991), as Rinda Larson - *Shadow of a Doubt* (1991), as Helen Potter - *Bump in the Night* (1991), as Katie Leonard - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Melanie Cullen — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *thirtysomething* (1987), series, Actor - *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Belinda Collins - *Matlock* (1986), series, as Phyllis Todd - *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Kay - *The Sweet Scent of Death* (1984), as Ann Fairfax Denver - *With Intent to Kill* (1984), as Edna Reinecker - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Grace Fenton - *Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense* (1984), series, as Ann Denver - *The Sender* (1982), as Jerolyn - *Kennedy's Children* (1982), as Carla - *Endless Love* (1981), as Ann - *Nurse* (1981), series, as Sylvia Dennis - *Playing for Time* (1980), as Frau Lagerführerin Maria Mandel - *Beyond the Poseidon Adventure* (1979), as Hannah Meredith - *Tales of the Unexpected* (1979), series, as Elizabeth Bourdon - *Champions: A Love Story* (1979), as Barbara Harlich - *The Defection of Simas Kudirka* (1978), as Genna Kudirka - *21 Hours at Munich* (1976), as Anneliese Graes - *Return to Earth* (1976), as Joan Aldrin - *Medical Story* (1975), series, as Phyllis Lenahan - *Medical Story* (1975), as Phyllis Lenahan - *Friendly Persuasion* (1975), as Eliza Birdwell - *Please Stand by for Murder* (1975), Actor - *Juggernaut* (1974), as Barbara Banister - *The Manhunter* (1974), series, Actor - *The Country Girl* (1974), as Georgie Elgin - *Orson Welles' Great Mysteries* (1973), series, as Margot Brenner - *The Lie* (1973), as Anna - *Barnaby Jones* (1973), series, as Kay Lewiston - *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, Actor - *Ghost Story* (1972), series, as Beth - *That Quiet Earth* (1972), as The Woman - *Secrets* (1971), as Beatrice - *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor - *Medical Center* (1969), series, Actor - *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Marci Boyle - *The Rain People* (1969), as Natalie Ravenna - *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Barbara - *The Jazz Age* (1968), series, as Emily Castleton - *Petulia* (1968), as Polo - *The Counterfeit Killer* (1968), as Angie Peterson - *Shadow Over Elveron* (1968), as Joanne Tregaskis - *The Outsider* (1967), as Peggy Leydon - *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Margaret Cook - *Dutchman* (1966), as Lula - *The Group* (1966), as Polly - *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as The Woman - Joyce - *Flight from Ashiya* (1964), as Caroline Gordon / Stevenson - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Jane Washburn, Mona Ross, Janice Pruitt — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *The Outer Limits* (1963), series, as Noelle Anderson - *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Rhoda Waggner - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Susan Morrow, Clara Malone - *House of Women* (1962), as Erica Hayden - *Sweet Bird of Youth* (1962), as Heavenly Finley - *The Couch* (1962), as Terry Ames - *Target: The Corruptors!* (1961), series, Actor - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Bethany Windell - *The Roaring 20's* (1960), series, Actor - *Surfside 6* (1960), series, Actor - *The Dark at the Top of the Stairs* (1960), as Reenie Flood - *The Shape of the River* (1960), as Susy Clemens - *Ice Palace* (1960), as Grace Kennedy - *Hawaiian Eye* (1959), series, Actor - *Bourbon Street Beat* (1959), series, Actor - *Five Gates to Hell* (1959), as Sister Maria - *Johnny Staccato* (1959), series, Actor - *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Jennie Cooper - *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, as Mari Ellen Taylor - *Lawman* (1958), series, as Tendis Weston - *Naked City* (1958), series, as Kathy Meigs - *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor - *Bronco* (1958), series, as Molly Durrock - *Buckskin* (1958), series, as Mrs. Newcomb - *The Restless Gun* (1957), series, as Heide Ritter - *Maverick* (1957), series, as Nancy Powers - *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, Actor - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Georgie Elgin, Mrs. Potter ## Gallery - ![Shirley Knight](https://film.one/media/person/87519/gallery-9381320e0430.jpg) Shirley Knight — Frank Driggs Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Shirley_Knight_1960s.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity photo of Alan Arkin as Simas Kudirka & Shirley Knight as his wife. TV special, "Defection of Simas Kudirka" (1978). Copyright found for film only,](https://film.one/media/person/87519/gallery-be41c2bca608.jpg) Publicity photo of Alan Arkin as Simas Kudirka & Shirley Knight as his wife. TV special, "Defection of Simas Kudirka" (1978). Copyright found for film only, — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Alan_Arkin_-_Kudirka_-_1978.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Shirley Knight](https://film.one/media/person/87519/gallery-29dcdd898b65.jpg) Shirley Knight — Image via TMDB - ![Shirley Knight](https://film.one/media/person/87519/gallery-70347556cf83.jpg) Shirley Knight — Image via TMDB - ![Shirley Knight](https://film.one/media/person/87519/gallery-360471df598b.jpg) Shirley Knight — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated - 1963: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Sweet Bird of Youth* - 1961: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Dark at the Top of the Stairs* ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won - 1995: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *NYPD Blue* - 1988: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Thirtysomething* ### Other awards — 0 won, 3 nominated - Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1997: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated) - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 1982: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Endless Love* - Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 1976: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/shirley-knight