Shelley Winters, born Shirley Schrift on August 18, 1920, in St. Louis, Missouri, was an American film actress whose career spanned seven decades. She won Academy Awards for her roles in "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1959) and "A Patch of Blue" (1965), and received nominations for "A Place in the Sun" (1951) and "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972).

Her career included notable films such as "A Double Life" (1947), "The Night of the Hunter" (1955), "Lolita" (1962), "Alfie" (1966), "Next Stop, Greenwich Village" (1976), and "Pete's Dragon" (1977).

Shelley Winters was known for her outspoken nature and colorful personal life. She was married four times, to Mack Paul Mayer (1943-1948), Vittorio Gassman (1952-1954), Anthony Franciosa (1957-1960), and Gerry DeFord (2006).

In her early life, Shelley Winters moved to Brooklyn, New York, with her family when she was nine years old. She worked as a model and took acting classes at The New School in New York. Her Broadway debut came in "The Night Before Christmas" (1941), and she gained acclaim for her role in "Oklahoma!" as Ado Annie. She later moved to Los Angeles and signed a long-term contract with Columbia Pictures.

Shelley Winters was a dedicated actress who continued to study her craft throughout her career. She attended Charles Laughton's Shakespeare classes and worked at the Actors Studio, both as a student and a teacher.

She shared an apartment with Marilyn Monroe in her early days in Hollywood. Winters was an early proponent of method acting and took and taught classes through the Actors Studio in Los Angeles and New York.

Her best movies include "A Place in the Sun" (1951), "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1959), "A Patch of Blue" (1965), "Lolita" (1962), "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), and "Alfie" (1966). Her awards include two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress, an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

Shelley Winters passed away on January 14, 2006, in Beverly Hills, California, leaving behind a legacy of versatile and memorable performances.