Shelly Long

Shelley Lee Long was born on August 23, 1949, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She attended Northwestern University, studying drama, and later joined Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe. Her early career also included writing, producing, and co-hosting “Sorting It Out,” a Chicago magazine program that earned three Emmy Awards for Best Entertainment Show during its three-year run from 1975 to 1978. Long also gained early exposure through commercials for Homemakers furniture store, VO5 shampoo, and Camay soap, indicating her initial forays into the media landscape beyond live theater.

Long gained widespread recognition for her role as Diane Chambers in the NBC comedy series “Cheers,” which she joined in 1982. This role earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983, along with Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983 and Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 1985. During her tenure on “Cheers,” she also appeared in films such as “Irreconcilable Differences” (1984), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, “The Money Pit” (1986), and “Outrageous Fortune” (1987). After five seasons, Long left “Cheers” in 1987 to pursue a film career. Her subsequent film credits include “Hello Again” (1987) and “Troop Beverly Hills” (1989). She later reprised her role as Diane Chambers in the “Cheers” series finale in 1993 and made guest appearances on its spin-off, “Frasier.”

In the 1990s, Long continued to appear in television and film. She played Carol Brady in “The Brady Bunch Movie” (1995) and its sequel, “A Very Brady Sequel” (1996). Her television work includes a recurring role as DeDe Pritchett in the ABC comedy series “Modern Family” from 2009 to 2018. Long has maintained an active presence in the industry, taking on guest-starring roles and continuing to work in both acting and producing capacities, demonstrating a sustained career through various media.