What Happened to Shelley Duvall Dr Phil? Why Did She Quit Acting?
by Janani
Updated Jun 05, 2023
Who is Shelley Duvall?
Shelley Alexis Duvall, born on July 7, 1949, is an American actress and producer renowned for her unique portrayals of often eccentric characters. Her talent has been recognized with various prestigious awards and nominations, including a Cannes Film Festival Award, a Peabody Award, and nominations for a British Academy Film Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Originally from Texas, Duvall's acting career took off when she was discovered by director Robert Altman, who was captivated by her positive energy and cast her in the dark comedy film "Brewster McCloud" (1970). Despite her initial reservations about pursuing acting, she continued collaborating with Altman, appearing in films such as "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971) and "Thieves Like Us" (1974). However, it was Altman's cult film "Nashville" (1975) that served as her breakthrough, propelling her to wider recognition.
Duvall received immense acclaim for her performance in the drama "3 Women" (1977), also directed by Altman. Her exceptional portrayal earned her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In the same year, she made a memorable appearance in Woody Allen's satirical romantic comedy "Annie Hall" (1977) as a writer for Rolling Stone and even had the opportunity to host "Saturday Night Live."
Shelley Duvall's career is marked by her distinctive and captivating performances, garnering critical acclaim and leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
What Happened to Shelley Duvall Dr Phil?
Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw has responded to the backlash he received for his controversial 2016 interview with actress Shelley Duvall, who was 73 at the time. In an interview with Chris Wallace on CNN's "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace," the 72-year-old TV host addressed the criticism but stood by his decision.
McGraw stated, "I don't regret what I did," while acknowledging that he regretted how the interview was promoted and understood that people found it unbecoming. Although he couldn't provide further details, he mentioned that he worked with Duvall's family for over a year off-camera, offering her opportunities for psychiatric care both as an inpatient and outpatient. McGraw emphasized the extensive efforts made to assist Duvall but refrained from discussing specific aspects of the story.
During the hour-long interview in 2016, Duvall, known for her role in "The Shining," struggled to articulate coherent sentences and was subjected to probing questions by McGraw. Clips released before the interview showed Duvall making unusual claims, such as believing her late co-star Robin Williams was still alive as a shapeshifter. She also mentioned having a "worrying disc" inside her.
At the end of the interview, McGraw stated that Duvall had declined medical help, but he assured viewers that the show was working with professionals in her home state to ensure she received the necessary care.
In response to critics who accused him of exploiting Duvall's vulnerable state, McGraw challenged them by asking what they had done to help her. He expressed his disappointment with those who had been critical but seemingly inactive in providing support.
One notable critic of the interview was Vivian Kubrick, daughter of "The Shining" director Stanley Kubrick. She condemned the interview as a form of lurid and exploitative entertainment, calling it cruel and heartless. Kubrick called for a boycott of the show and expressed her support for Duvall.
In 2021, Duvall revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that she agreed to the interview with McGraw but discovered what kind of person he was "the hard way." She mentioned that her partner and mother disapproved of the interview, and McGraw persistently attempted to contact her through her mother, despite being asked not to. Duvall shared that she learned about his repeated calls to her mother, stating, "He started calling my mother... She told him, 'Don't call my daughter anymore.' But he started calling my mother all the time trying to get her to let me talk to him again."
According to a spokesperson for McGraw's show, their goal was to document Duvall's struggle and provide resources to help her, as they have done for others over the years. However, Duvall initially declined their offer for inpatient treatment, which included comprehensive evaluations of her physical and mental well-being. The statement expressed disappointment with her ultimate refusal of assistance but emphasized that the offers for help remain open.
Despite the controversy surrounding the interview, Duvall is set to make a comeback on the silver screen with her upcoming horror film, "The Forest Hills."
Why Did She Quit Acting?
According to a famous source, the acting offers for Shelley Duvall started to decrease, and she had already relocated to Texas to be with her family. Her brother's diagnosis of spinal cancer became her priority, and she made the decision to be there for him. Duvall considered it the longest break she had ever taken but believed it was essential to reconnect with her family.
In addition to her family situation, Duvall has faced other challenges. In 2021, she granted an interview with a famous magazine source, where she discussed her controversial appearance on "Dr. Phil" in 2016, as well as her life and career. The profile revealed that there was a rumor suggesting that the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California, which caused damage to Duvall's home, played a role in her departure from Hollywood.
Dr Phil Interview with Shelley Duvall
Dr. Phil McGraw has addressed the backlash surrounding his controversial interview with Shelley Duvall in 2016. The talk show host responded to criticism during an interview with journalist Chris Wallace on CNN's "Who's Talking to Chris Wallace." When asked if he regretted how he conducted the episode, where Duvall revealed her struggles with mental illness, Dr. Phil stated, "I don't regret what I did. I regret that it was promoted in a way that people thought was unbecoming."
Dr. Phil further explained that there were aspects of the story he hadn't discussed and wouldn't disclose specifics, but he mentioned that they worked with Duvall's family and herself for over a year off-camera, providing opportunities for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. He emphasized the extensive efforts they made but didn't go into further detail.
In response to viewers who criticized the episode and accused Dr. Phil of exploiting Duvall's condition, he said, "And the people that were critical of it, nobody ever asked them what they ever did to try and help her. And the answer is not a damn thing."
Duvall's interview with Dr. Phil involved her making several unusual claims, including asserting that her co-star Robin Williams was still alive as a shape-shifter and mentioning a "whirring disc" inside her. The episode faced swift condemnation from Duvall's fanbase. Vivian Kubrick, daughter of "The Shining" director Stanley Kubrick, expressed her disappointment with the lack of compassionate healing in a statement on Twitter at the time.
In 2021, Duvall revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that she agreed to the interview with Dr. Phil and discovered his true character "the hard way." She mentioned that her mother also disapproved of him, and others, like her partner Dan Gilroy, advised against doing the interview.
After the episode aired, Duvall claimed that Dr. Phil attempted to contact her multiple times, even calling her mother when she asked him not to. A spokesperson for Dr. Phil's show stated that they view each episode as an opportunity to provide relatable and useful information to their audience. They emphasized that they aim to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and that their goal was to document Duvall's struggle and offer resources to improve her situation. They expressed disappointment when Duvall declined their initial offer for treatment but noted that their offers for help remain open.
Shelley Duvall Now
Shelley Duvall, known for her role in "The Shining," has revealed that she stepped away from Hollywood to focus on her family. After her brother was diagnosed with spinal cancer and acting opportunities became scarce, she moved back to Texas in 2002. Duvall expressed that reconnecting with her family was the main reason for her extended break from the industry.
Duvall's acting career began after being discovered by director Robert Altman, who cast her in the 1970 film "Brewster McCloud." She went on to work in several more Altman movies, earning critical acclaim for her performances. She also had notable roles in Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" and played Olive Oyl in the live-action adaptation of "Popeye."
As her acting opportunities dwindled, Duvall made the decision to return to Texas and lead a more private life. However, she briefly resurfaced in 2016 for an appearance on the "Dr. Phil" show, which received criticism for exploiting her fragile mental state at the time. During the interview, Duvall made some unusual statements, including believing that her late co-star Robin Williams was still alive.
In 2021, Duvall expressed her dissatisfaction with Dr. Phil, accusing him of taking advantage of her mental state during the show. Despite these challenges, she is now making a comeback in the upcoming horror film "The Forest Hills" and remains hopeful about her career. Duvall even joked that she could still win an Oscar like Jessica Tandy did at the age of 80.
What Happened to Shelley Duvall Dr Phil - FAQ
Shelley Duvall is an American actress and producer known for her unique portrayals of eccentric characters. She has received various awards and nominations for her talent, including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Peabody Award.
Shelley Duvall's controversial interview with Dr. Phil in 2016 received backlash. Dr. Phil has addressed the criticism but stands by his decision. He mentioned working with Duvall's family off-camera to provide psychiatric care, although specific details were not disclosed. Duvall's interview showed her struggling with coherent speech and making unusual claims.
Shelley Duvall's acting offers started to decline, and she moved to Texas to be with her family. Her brother's spinal cancer diagnosis became her priority, leading her to take a break from acting. The 1994 Northridge earthquake in California, which damaged her home, has also been rumored to have influenced her departure from Hollywood.
Shelley Duvall's interview with Dr. Phil involved her discussing her struggles with mental illness. Dr. Phil faced criticism for the way the episode was promoted but stood by his actions. Duvall made unusual claims during the interview, and Vivian Kubrick, daughter of "The Shining" director Stanley Kubrick, condemned the show as exploitative.
Shelley Duvall stepped away from Hollywood to focus on her family after her brother's cancer diagnosis and the decline in acting opportunities. She returned to Texas in 2002. Despite a controversial interview in 2016, Duvall is making a comeback in the upcoming horror film "The Forest Hills" and remains optimistic about her career.