Shelley in a publicity pic from 1982
Shelley was determined to make the most of the good opportunities that came her way after she left Charlie's Angels in 1980. She immediately worked on the Jack Heifner play Vanities with Meredith Baxter Birney and Annette O'Toole. It was aired as part of the HBO series Standing Room Only in 1981. She got great reviews for her efforts. Then, Shelley landed a role in the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy which had Robert De Niro and Jerry Lewis as lead stars. "I couldn't work because I read for The King of Comedy and got the part," she said, "The picture was delayed and I couldn't take a chance of doing anything else." Her gamble payed off. Not only did she receive glowing reviews for her performance in it, the film - although not a hit when it was released - has slowly gained a following and is now considered one of Scorsese's finest work.
Shelley in a TV Guide ad for her ET interview, 1982
