a closeup of Shelley
in her iconic white suspenders
in a promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979
Shelley became Charlie's newest Angel in 1979, and she jumped from being Revlon Charlie's Supermodel to becoming TV's latest Superstar Angel. Charlie's Angels was Shelley's very 1st TV series and her casting made news around the world. It was a huge deal. "I still have not really recovered from the surprise of landing the part," Shelley said at the time. "It has been quite a whirl," she added. By the time of her casting, she had already finished work on her very 1st TV movie - Death Car on the Freeway. Death Car was released September 25, 1979 - around two weeks after her September 12, 1979 debut episode on Charlie's Angels. Promos for Death Car on the Freeway would often mention her as being the newest Angel in the hit series.
Shelley in a promo ad
for Death Car on the Freeway, 1979
Death Car on the Freeway was an action thriller where Shelley played a television reporter/news anchor (Janette Clausen) investigating a series of vehicular accidents and murders - involving female motorists- caused by a psychopathic driver who became to be known as "The Freeway Fiddler". It was directed by stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham who also directed Smokey and the Bandit and later, The Cannonball Run. The film also starred George Hamilton. In minor roles were Peter Graves, Frank Gorshin, Barbara Rush, Dinah Shore, Abe Vigoda, Morgan Brittany and Hal Needham himself. The movie is gripping, suspenseful and had great action scenes. It was one of the most impressive teleflicks to come out during that TV season.
Shelley in her iconic white suspenders
in a promo pic for Charlie's Angels, 1979
