Carole Shelley

Carole Augusta Shelley (16 August 1939 – 31 August 2018) was an English actress who had a successful career in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She was best known for her stage performances, including originating the roles of Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple and Madame Morrible in Wicked. Shelley received critical acclaim for her portrayal in The Elephant Man (1979), winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She also received nominations for her work in Absurd Person Singular (1975), Stepping Out (1987), and Billy Elliot (2009). Born in London, Shelley was the daughter of an opera singer and a composer, both of Jewish descent.