Her childhood dinner for many years consisted of tabasco and saltine crackers (which often resulted in bad dreams--her missing the bus to ballet class).

Measurements: 34B-24-34.

Father was a professor, then a real estate agent. Mother was a teacher.

Columbia originally wanted to cast her as Fanny Brice in _Funny Girl (1968)_, however Ray Stark who produced the Broadway show and was Brice's son-in-law, insisted on `Barbra Streisand' repeating her Broadway role.

Turned down the role of Diane Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) to play the Oscar-winning role of Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment (1983).

Attended the same high school as Sandra Bullock. Both were also cheerleaders at the school.

Is a horse lover.

Dropped out of the The Blue Bird (1976) before shooting began.

Born at 3:57 PM EST.

When writing The Exorcist (1973), William Peter Blatty based the character of "Chris O'Neil" on MacLaine, who was a friend of his.

Her father was Ira O. Beatty, an orchestra conductor. Her mother was Kathlyn MacLean, a dancer.

About 1975, while starring in a special musical show that played at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, VA, she walked out on the show because of the poor acoustics and sound system. Chrysler Hall was well known for this problem at the time, and Miss MacLaine was not the only performer to complain about it. Years later, the theatre closed for a while and underwent extensive renovations to improve the acoustics, thanks in part to the star`s vigorously vocal objections.

Father was a professor, then a real estate agent. Mother was a teacher.

Dropped out of the The Blue Bird (1976) before shooting began.

When writing The Exorcist (1973), William Peter Blatty based the character of "Chris O`Neil" on MacLaine, who was a friend of his.

Attended the same high school as Sandra Bullock. Both were also cheerleaders at the school.

She and Barbra Streisand celebrate their joint birthday together every year.

Her performance as Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment (1983) is ranked #81 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Columbia originally wanted to cast her as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (1968). However, producer Ray Stark--who produced the Broadway show and was Brice`s son-in-law--insisted on Barbra Streisand repeating her Broadway role.

Close friends with actress Julie Christie, who lived with Shirley`s brother Warren Beatty for over a decade.

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1967.

Was close friends with the members of the Rat Pack. She starred with all of them in Ocean`s Eleven (1960). Other works with Rat Pack members include: Some Came Running (1958), Cannonball Run II (1984) and Can-Can (1960).

Right before a performance of "Cinderella" with the Washington School of Ballet (she was dancing the role of the Fairy Godmother), she was warming up backstage when she broke her ankle. Instead of bowing out, she simply tied the ribbon on her toe shoes tighter and danced the role through. After the show was over, she called for an ambulance.

As of 2004, she is the only actress to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress (Drama) without getting an Oscar nomination for the same performance (for Madame Sousatzka (1988)).

Took ballet as a child and always played the boy`s role due to being the tallest in her class.

Her childhood dinner for many years consisted of tabasco and saltine crackers (which often resulted in bad dreams--her missing the bus to ballet class).

Turned down the role of Diane Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) to play the Oscar-winning role of Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment (1983).

Is a horse lover.

Sister-in-law of actress Annette Bening.

A frequent visitor to Houston, Texas, where she starred in Terms of Endearment (1983) and The Evening Star (1996). At each visit, she goes to Tony`s Restaurant, where she orders a complete soufflé just for herself.

Mother of Sachi Parker.

Sister of Warren Beatty.

Attended Washington-Lee H.S. in Arlington, VA.

Led a series of weekend-long higher-self seminars in the late 1980s teaching people about her views on many aspects of New Age practices and techniques.

Named after Shirley Temple.