Born Shirley MacLean Beaty in Richmond, VA; trained at the Washington School for the Ballet. Discovered by talent scouts after being pulled from the chorus to replace lead Carol Haney in the hit Broadway musical Pajama Game (1954), MacLaine made her screen debut in Alfred Hitchcock's whimsical THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (1955) and gave memorable performances in such films as SOME CAME RUNNING (1958), THE APARTMENT (1960) and IRMA LA DOUCE (1963). MacLaine, who was earlier associated with the Hollywood "Rat Pack" (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., et al.), displayed a more serious side of her character in the late 1960s when she became actively involved in liberal politics. She also began working extensively in TV and on stage and published the first of several best-selling autobiographical works, Don't Fall Off the Mountain, in 1970. MacLaine received renewed attention as a film actress in the 1980s, earning an Oscar for her role in James Brooks' tearjerker, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983). Other subsequent credits include MADAME SOUSATZKA (1988), STEEL MAGNOLIAS (1989), POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE (1990), USED PEOPLE (1992), WRESTLING ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1993), GUARDING TESS (1994), THE EVENING STAR (1996), BRUNO (2000), CAROLINA (2003), BEWITCHED, IN HER SHOES and RUMOR HAS IT (all 2005), CLOSING THE RING (2007), and POOR THINGS (2008). Her continuing autobiographical installments (e.g, 1983's Out on a Limb) have provoked some amusement for their theories of "out-of-body" experiences and reincarnation. MacLaine is the sister of Warren Beatty and is divorced from producer Steve Parker. Their daughter Sachi Parker (b. 1956) is an actress.  Nominated for Actress 1958: SOME CAME RUNNING  Nominated for Actress 1960: THE APARTMENT  Nominated for Actress 1963: IRMA LA DOUCE  Nominated for Documentary (Features) 1975: THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR - Producer  Nominated for Actress 1977: THE TURNING POINT  Actress 1983: TERMS OF ENDEARMENT 6 nominations, 1 Award