At 89 years old, Shirley MacLaine is showing no signs of slowing down.
Despite her age, the Academy Award-winning actress keeps busy and is often seen enjoying martinis while dining out in Hollywood.
During her seven-decade career, the star of *Steel Magnolias* has experienced a lot. Her life stories are truly unique compared to those of her peers.
Shirley MacLaine has been around for a very long time and has made many great films during her career. Movies like *The Apartment*, *The Trouble with Harry*, *Two Mules for Sister Sara*, and *Guarding Tess* are just a few examples.
Her role in the classic 1989 film *Steel Magnolias* is still talked about today, but in real life, Shirley is very different from the short-tempered character she played, Ouiser Boudreaux.
“Not much bothers me,” she said in 2019.
“I think attitudes are a choice. Anger is a choice, peace is a choice, and sarcasm—which I’m good at—is also a choice.”
According to Shirley MacLaine, her life today is “perfect.” She loves eating and sleeping whenever she wants and spends much of her time at her ranch in New Mexico, surrounded by her beloved rat terriers.
Born on April 24, 1934, Shirley began her successful career on Broadway in New York and captivated audiences worldwide with her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s black comedy *The Trouble with Harry* in 1955.
“He was a lot of fun,” Shirley, then 21, said about Hitchcock.
“I’m glad I wasn’t tall, thin, and mysterious, or I probably would have disliked him.”
With more than 50 films to her name, she is truly one of the giants of Hollywood history. Even in her late 80s, she continues to pursue her passion for acting and recently appeared in the television series *Only Murders in the Building*.
“I’ve stayed in the business and never thought about quitting because I wanted to pay for plane tickets to travel. I didn’t socialize Hollywood style,” Shirley MacLaine explained. “I’d rather travel to a country I hadn’t been to. So when I think about my life, I might put the travels a bit above show business.”
Though she occasionally visits Hollywood, Shirley finds her greatest comfort in nature. Her secret to happiness is not about staying busy, but embracing the wilderness around her New Mexico ranch. Being close to nature gives her strength and energy, even though she enjoys spending time at her house in Malibu as well.
Shirley encourages others to “give it up and learn to connect with nature,” pointing out the benefits of living in harmony with the natural world. What a powerful reminder to take time for ourselves and appreciate the beauty around us!
Shirley MacLaine’s love life has also been a topic of much speculation over the years. She was married to producer and businessman Steve Parker for nearly 30 years, and in 1956, they had a daughter together. Shirley has been open about having other relationships during their marriage, showing how life can be full of complexities.
A few years ago, her daughter, Sachi Parker, made a surprising claim in her memoir. Sachi wrote that Shirley told her Steve wasn’t her real father, but that her biological father was an astronaut named Paul.
Shirley denied this, responding, “It’s a painful moment for me as a mother and as someone who values the truth. I’m shocked and heartbroken that my daughter would say things about me that are almost all fiction. I’ve praised her lovingly and truthfully in my autobiographies. I’ve always wanted the best for her.”
Life has its ups and downs, but Shirley MacLaine’s journey shows that staying true to yourself and appreciating the world around you is the key to lasting happiness. Keep embracing life’s adventures like she does!
Despite Shirley’s denial, Sachi still believes that her biological father is an astronaut named Paul. Because of this, their relationship has reportedly become strained, and they no longer speak to each other.
Shirley has also been open about her unique views on relationships and sexuality. In a 2011 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the 89-year-old talked about her relationship with her ex-husband, Steve Parker. In 2012, Shirley made headlines again when she revealed to the *Daily Mirror* that she had slept with not just one, but two prime ministers in her lifetime.
3 Stories of People Who Became Homeless During Hard Times
“We’re going to live inside that house, silly! Right, Dad?” my daughter Kelly chimed in.
As I nodded, the reality of our new life began to sink in. Yet, the moment I opened the doors, something was wrong. The house was in disarray — someone had been there.
“We’ve examined the entire perimeter of the house and found no sign of forced entry, sir,” the officer reported after I called 911.
That evening, I got an anonymous call. In a robotic yet menacing tone, the voice told me I had 24 hours to decline all that Mr. Grives’ left me, leave the house, or else I would lose everything I love.
The mansion came with Mr. Grives’ loyal staff, and one of them warned me that this could be the doing of Mr. Grives’ eldest son, Christopher. I resolved to go to the cops in the morning.
But in the morning, my kids were vanished! Although the clever perpetrator had managed to hide his face from most of the CCTVs in and around the house, there was one he didn’t know about.
Mr. Grives’ staff watched in horror as they recognized the leader of three thugs drugging my children. It was Christopher.
From there on, the cops put everyone on the task of tracking Christopher, and didn’t rest until later that afternoon, when Christopher were spotted on the border of the state with my kids in the back of an old van.
Christopher was arrested, and my children were safe. But their fear had set in deep, and I had a choice to make: to heal and embrace the gift that kind soul left us, or to walk away, rebuilding from the start.
“Daddy, are we going to leave our home again?” Kelly’s question broke my heart.
I wrapped my arms around them. “We’re going to be okay. You want to know why?”
“IBecause the most valuable thing we have is right here, in my arms. So long as we stick together, we’ll always be rich in the most important way: love.”
While Brandon was blessed with children who understand the value of kindness and love, Mr. Greg wasn’t. Coming up next is his story.
3. Mr. Greg: My Teen Daughter Humiliated the Homeless, I Had to Teach Her a Lesson
I always thought I was doing right things for my daughter, Jane. I made sure she had everything she needed, but I missed teaching her something crucial — compassion for others. This hit me hard a few days ago when I lost my wallet.
After a fruitless search, I returned home to find Jane mocking a homeless man and his daughter at our doorstep. The shock set in when the man handed me my wallet, untouched. I was moved by that man’s gesture.
But Jane dismissively called them “trash,” and spoke to them with so much disgust…it broke my heart. I knew I had to fix this.
That evening, I invited the man, Mark, and his daughter for dinner. It was my chance to teach Jane about generosity.
“Dad, check the money! He probably stole it!” Jane said as I checked my wallet. Everything was there.
“All the money is here, sweetie. You’re mistaken,” I told her.
Seeing Mark’s and Lolita’s discomfort, I invited them to stay for dinner.
“Why don’t you guys join us?” I said. “It’s the least I can do to thank you.”
During dinner, Jane gave them paper plates instead of proper dishes.
“Why not use the nice dishes I got you for your birthday?” I suggested.
As we ate, I encouraged Mark to share his story, but Jane kept interrupting with rude comments. Eventually, I lost my patience.
“Shut your mouth, Jane!” I snapped. “You don’t know nothing. Misfortune could strike anyone.”
I then revealed a painful truth to Jane. “It’s my fault. I worked too much, especially after your mother passed. We were the same once,” I confessed. “Do you remember our ‘camping trips’? We were actually homeless.”
Jane was stunned. “How did we get back on our feet?”
“A kind man gave me a job. That changed our lives,” I said with a sigh.
Then, I looked at Mark. “And now, it’s my turn to pay it forward,” I told him.
Mark nodded. “All I did was what a decent human should do,” he said.
“I had no idea, Dad. I’m sorry,” Jane said after a pause.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s not too late to learn from this,” I told her.
When it was time for Mark and Lolita to go, I suggested, “Why don’t you both stay the night? We have plenty of room, and it’s getting late.”
Mark hesitated, then gratefully accepted. “Thank you, Greg. This means a lot.”
But I knew I wasn’t done helping them. Offering them a night’s shelter would not alleviate their problems. So I made a decision.
A little kindness costs nothing, guys, and I was ready to make sure that little Lolita and her dad had a good life.
The next day, I offered Mark a job as a driver and arranged a temporary home for them. “And I’ll help you until you’re back on your feet,” I promised.
“Oh, Really?” Mark gasped. “Nobody is this kind nowadays! I won’t let you down, sir,” Mark told me in tears. “Thank you so much!”
The smile on Lolita’s face that day made me realize I’d done the right thing. As for Jane…my Janie changed. She became a better person, and I’m so glad for that.
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