Shelley Duvall

Birth Name: Shelley Alexis Duvall

Date of Birth: July 7, 1949

Place of Birth: Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, U.S.

Date of Death: July 11, 2024

Place of Death: Blanco, Texas, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, some German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, distant Welsh and French Huguenot

Shelley Duvall was an American actress, producer, writer, singer, and comedian. She featured in the films Brewster McCloud, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Thieves Like Us, Nashville, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson; 3 Women, Annie Hall, The Shining, Popeye, Time Bandits, Roxanne (1987), The Underneath, The Portrait of a Lady, Twilight of the Ice Nymphs, Casper Meets Wendy, Home Fries, The 4th Floor, Manna from Heaven, and The Forest Hills, and the short Frankenweenie, and created and hosted television’s Faerie Tale Theatre, Tall Tales & Legends, Nightmare Classics, and Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories. Known for playing eccentric characters, she often worked with director Robert Altman, who discovered her.

Shelley was the daughter of Ruth, a real estate broker, and Robert Duvall, a cattle auctioneer and lawyer. She was raised mostly in Houston. Her surname traces back to a distant French Huguenot ancestor.

Shelley’s paternal grandfather was Robert Earle Duvall (the son of James Dumont Duvall and Mary Olivia Whitsett). Robert was born in Mississippi. James likely was the son of John Sylvester Duvall and Guisie Nancy Ann Jane Ginsey Young. Mary Olivia was the daughter of John Glenn Whitsett and Octavia Chaney Williamson.

Shelley’s paternal grandmother was Leah Lois Richardson (the daughter of John William Richardson and Annie Ardis Moore). Leah was born in Texas. John was the son of John Wesley/Westley Richardson and Mary Melvina/Mavina Smith. Annie was the daughter of William James Moore and Sarah Elizabeth Shamburger.

Shelley’s maternal grandfather was Benjamin Franklin/Frank Massengale (the son of Ned Rufus John Massengale and Lula Mae Beatrice/Bee Caldwell). Benjamin was born in Texas. Ned was the son of William Alan/Alen/Allen Massengale and Nancy M./A. Champion.

Shelley’s maternal grandmother was Sally/Sallie Pauline Merrell (the daughter of Walter Bruce Merrell and Lemma Mae Merrell). Sally was born in Texas. Walter and Lemma were both born with the same surname. Walter was the son of William Lemuel Merrell and Ellinore B. “Noda” Bruce. Lemma was the daughter of Alexander Andrew Merrell and Sarah Elizabeth Black.

Sources: Shelley’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of Shelley’s paternal grandmother, Leah Lois (Richardson) Duvall (focusing on her own mother’s side) – http://www.findagrave.com

Genealogies of Shelley’s maternal grandparents, Benjamin Franklin/Frank Massengale and Sally/Sallie Pauline (Merrell) Massengale Hall – http://findagrave.com