A Movie Classic for Hallowen

The Stepfather Collector's Edition Blu-ray

was released in 4K Ultra HD

last September 2024

Shelley starred in the cult classic movie The Stepfather which was originally released in theaters in 1987. It was directed by Joseph Ruben and had Terry O'Quinn in the title role. Terry played Jerry Blake (the stepfather), a man who has a knack of marrying into the "perfect" family and then killing the family off when he deems that the family is not perfect after all. Shelley played Susan Maine, the woman who marries Jerry and is willing look past the cracks on Jerry's façade. Jill Schoelen played Stephanie, Susan's daughter by her first marriage. Stephanie doesn't like Jerry, finds him creepy and is determined to find out who he really is. The story was penned by Carolyn Lefcourt, Brian Garfield and Donald E. Westlake, who got screenplay credit. It was loosely based on on the story of John List, the New Jersey man who killed his own family in 1971 and then disappeared. The movie was a moderate success during its theatrical run but has since gained a cult following due to its unique plot, its pacing and the superb performances of its main cast (Terry, Jill and Shelley). The movie has since become a cult classic and has been mentioned on many internet sites as a definite must-see.

Shelley with Jill Schoelen and Terry O'Quinn

in promo pics for The Stepfather, 1987

Shelley was cast by the film's director Joseph Ruben who was impressed by her work in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy. "Shelley didn't have to test," said Ruben, "Shelley got it really off King of Comedy, because I thought she was just so believable and natural and easy. She doesn't strain on camera. And I was just knocked out by her in that movie." The film was shot on location in Canada and when it was released, Shelley told Channel Surfing: Charlie's Angels that she sneaked in alone when the film was being shown in theaters and got pretty scared with what she saw. Shelley received glowing reviews for her performance in this cult classic. A Collector's Edition Blu-ray of the film was released last September 2024 in 4K Ultra HD format. The two-disc edition includes special features such as: 

Audio Commentaries:

- with director Joseph Ruben

- with actor Jill Schoelen and filmmaker Jackson Stewart

- with film critic Meagan Navarro

- with film critic Kier Gomes

Phantom of the Family

- an interview with actor Jill Schoelen

The Stepfather Chronicles

- a retrospective featuring interviews with director Joseph Ruben, producer Jay Benson, actress Jill Schoelen, author Brian Garfield and others on the making of the film and its enduring legacy

Trailers for all 3 The Stepather films

 A Stills Gallery

Shelley with Jill Schoelen, Terry O'Quinn,

and Jeff Schulz (who played Stephanie's love interest Paul)

in promo pics for The Stepfather, 1987

An Angels Halloween Episode

Jaclyn Smith, Shelley Hack and Cheryl Ladd

during the filming of the Charlie's Angels

episode "Of Ghosts and Angels" in 1979

Shelley became Angel no. 5 in 1979 when she joined the cast of Charlie's Angels for its 4th season. Shelley was already a Supermodel when she joined the hit TV series and was known worldwide as THE Charlie Girl in those fabulous Revlon Charlie TV commercials and print ads. She auditioned, went though a screen test, and even a personality test; but what really got her the part, it seems, was the headline "THE Charlie Girl becomes Charlie's newest Angel" which was going through Angels executive producer Aaron Spelling's head as he was choosing TV's latest cherub. Also, Shelley had good rapport with her new co-Angels Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith; plus, the three photographed really well together. When Shelley's debut episode "Love Boat Angels" aired, it topped the Nielsen ratings.

screen captures from the Charlie's Angels

episode "Of Ghosts and Angels," 1980

In January of 1980, Charlie's Angels aired it's first ever supernatural/fantasy/horror episode called "Of Ghosts and Angels." Tiffany has been having the same nightmare for a week about an old mansion and a mysterious lady in a wheelchair being pushed down the stairs to her death. At the office, she mentions it in passing to Kelly, Kris and Bosley; but she's also excited about her vacation to see her newly-married heiress friend Erica, who recently married a clothing manufacturer named Clifford Burke. She also invited Kelly and Kris to join her so they could meet Erica and Cliff; the two will be flying over a day after Tiff leaves. And while the Angels are enjoying their time off (and even a costume party at Erica's), poor Bos has to stay at the office to finish a mountain of paperwork (just like he did in the season 1 episode 15 episode "Angels on a String"). When Tiffany arrives at Erica's house, she is surprised that it's exactly like the mansion in her nightmares. But upon seeing Erica, her mood changes; the two have a happy reunion. Later, Erica confides in Tiffany that she isn't comfortable in her house, which is actually owned by Cliff. She tells Tiff about the strange things she notices in the house... footsteps, voices, things moving around, drafts, and the smell of perfume. She feels like someone or something doesn't want her there. That night, Tiffany wakes up to a mansion filled with people, to a party, as well the mysterious lady in a wheelchair who's about to fall from the top of the stairs. But in an instant, the woman and everything else disappears; and Tiff finds herself alone. The next day, she fetches Kelly and Kris from the airport and tells them about what she saw the night before. They meet Erica; and over tea, Erica tells them about Tiff's interest in the occult and her psychic abilities; and Kelly and Kris tease Tiff about it. Later, the Angels have a serious conversation about what Tiff really thinks is happening at the house; and the three of them begin to notice the strange things for themselves. Everything culminates at the costume party where the truth about the house and the mysterious lady is finally revealed.

Jaclyn Smith, Shelley Hack and Cheryl Ladd

during the filming of the Charlie's Angels

episode "Of Ghosts and Angels" in 1979

Fashionable Capes in 1967

closeups of Shelley from a fashion pic used

in a spread on Seventeen magazine,

October 1967

Shelley appeared on many issues of Seventeen magazine from 1964 to the 1970s. In 1967, she appeared in the magazine's October issue, in a spread called "Capes Put The Fling In Fashion," which featured fashionable capes that would keep every girl warm and stylish during the cold months. Shelley wore a hip-stop cape in rosy-hued Glen plaid and which was lined in red fabric. She wore it over a flannel shirt and a wrap skirt (also in the same rosy-hued Glen plaid) that was reversible (red fabric was on the reverse side). All by Lynn Stuart for Pantsville. She finished her look with a pair of knee socks by Bonnie Doon and hip footwear by Golo. She accessorized her look with a tie (also in the same rosy-hued Glen plaid) by Lynn Stuart for Pantsville. And Shelley looked stylish and fab.

Shelley, above center-right, in a spread

for Seventeen magazine, October 1967

(note: Lucy Angle is the model

on the center-left and lower right)

Me, Myself & I Movie G

screen captures from the film feature

Me, Myself and I, 1992

Shelley starred alongside JoBeth Williams and George Segal in the 1992 comedy Me, Myself & I. JoBeth Williams played Diane, a woman living in a New York apartment building suffering from paranoia and nymphomania. She has two personalities the growling, howling "Crazy Diane" and the normal, level-headed "Sane Diane" - and they're constantly arguing and bickering. Her next-door neighbor, Hollywood TV-writer Buddy Arnett (George Segal) is "Crazy Diane's" peeve; he's constantly the subject of her commentaries on sex, violence and invisible persecutors. But when "Crazy Diane" manages to seduce Buddy, "Sane Diane" takes over and the two fall in love. But Buddy's estranged lesbian wife, Hollywood superstar Jennifer (Shelley Hack), reappears in Buddy's life and comes over from California, which rattles "Sane Diane" and so "Crazy Diane" makes a comeback. Don Calfa, Betsy Lynn George, Bill Macy and Sharon McNight round out the rest of the cast. The movie was the directorial debut of Cuban-American visual designer Pablo Ferro.

screen captures from the film feature

Me, Myself & I, 1992

The movie is quite a fun ride. JoBeth Williams' Diane is a kooky character prone to paranoid outbursts and hilarious guttural sounds that she can't seem to control. George Segal is amusing as Buddy, an everyman who finds himself in love with a woman with multiple personalities and is trying to make sense of what he has gotten himself into... aside from trying to get over his marriage to a wife who clearly prefers the same sex. Shelley Hack is funny as the narcissistic Hollywood star Jennifer, who will do anything to get what she wants (her reactions to Diane's growls are hilarious). The chemistry between the three main characters is terrific. The scene where the two women finally meet and all three main characters come together is hysterical. There is a comfortable rapport between JoBeth and George; and a comfortable rapport between Shelley and George as well (They were co-stars in the TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer in 1983). Me, Myself & I was released in the United States in May of 1992; and it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival that same year. The movie was released in VHS format in 1993.

screen captures from the film feature

Me, Myself & I, 1992

Super Skin by Natural Wonder

a closeup of Shelley

from the ad for Super Skin, 1973

Shelley appeared in many ad campaigns during her Supermodel tenure. One of them was for Super Skin from the Revlon's Natural Wonder beauty line. In 1972 and 1973, she appeared in ads for Super Skin, a double-action skin cleanser under the Revlon beauty line Natural Wonder. It was a facial cleanser that cleaned the face and kept it looking super all day. Not only did it clean the skin, it kept it in great shape as well. It came in two variants, for normal to dry skin and for oily skin. The normal to dry skin variant cleaned and moisturized the face. The oily skin variant cleaned and normalized oily skin. Clad in a pink Cacharel by Mallory outfit, Shelley showed how Super Skin could keep every girl looking super gorgeous all day long. For more, check out: Super Skin '72, Super Skin '73 and Natural Wonder, 1973

Shelley in an ad for Super Skin, 1973

A Great Chicago Dramady

Shelley with Tom Mason in a promo pic

for their 1986 TV series Jack and Mike

Shelley's third foray into series television was Jack and Mike in 1986. The show explored the life of journalist Jackie Shea (played by Shelley) and restauranteur Mike Brennan (played Tom Mason), a married couple with busy careers trying to make their marriage work. The yuppie phenomenon exploded in the 1980s when more and more women began entering the workforce, climbing up the corporate ladder and holding positions previously held exclusively by men in past generations. The other cast members were: Nora Adler (Jacqueline Brookes), Jackie’s editor; Anthony Kubecek (Kevin Dunn), Jackie's assistant; Carol (Holly Fulger), the head waitress at Mike's restaurant, Brennan's Grill; and Rick Scotti (Vincent Baggetta), an attorney who appeared occasionally. The series was filmed on location in Chicago, Illinois.

Cracked listed Jack and Mike as one

of the Great Chicago Dramadies in 2023

Following the resounding success of the TV series The Bear, which was aired on FX on Hulu starting in 2022, the Cracked website (an American website based on Cracked magazine) came up with a list of the "10 Great Chicago Sitcoms And Dramedies That Aren't 'The Bear'" in July of 2023. It listed down some of best shows that have been set in Chicago aside from the very popular comedy-drama The Bear. The shows in the list are as follows: 

1. Shameless (2011-2021)

2. Sirens (2014-2015)

3. Happy Endings (2011–2013)

4. South Side (2019–2022)

5. The League (2009–2015)

6. Good Times (1974–1979)

7. The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978)

8. Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)

9. My Boys (2006–2010)

10. Andy Richter Controls the Universe (2002–2003)

Honorable Mentions:

Jack and Mike (1986-1987)

Anything but Love (1989-1992)

It said that following the success of the TV series Moonlighting, the ABC network greenlit the hour-long dramady Jack and Mike which was about another blonde woman (Shelley Hack as Jack/Jackie) and her brown-haired husband (Tom Mason as Mike), but with a twist.. they liked each other. The idea of having a show that showcased a happy couple was revolutionary for the time, for that pre-Mad About You time. In an interview, Shelley said, "It's about a modern woman who is doing something her contemporaries are doing - holding down a job and keeping a relationship." She added, "This is a couple with a growing relationship that becomes an adventure. And that's not easy." Tom Mason said that the focus of the show is "on the marriage and how two people who work cope and how their professional entanglements affect them." Let's hope Jack and Mike is finally streamed somewhere.

Young Contemporary Fashions 1972 B

a closeup of Shelley from a pic used

on the Simplicity Home Catalog

Fall/Winter 1972 catalog

Shelley has appeared in many spreads for many catalogs from the late '60s to the mid-'70s. Many Supermodels at the time regularly appeared in the most popular catalogs during the era. Shelley appeared in a number of spreads throughout the Simplicity Home Catalog Fall/Winter 1972 issue. She appeared in the spread called "Sure Bet: The Dress" where she modeled unbeatable little dresses that were great for fall and winter that season. (For more, check out: Sure Bet 1972). She also appeared in the spread called "Add 'Em All Up" where she modeled great looking get-ons that added up to a totally smashing look for fall that season. (For more, check out: Add 'Em All Up 1972 A, Add 'Em All Up 1972 B and Add 'Em All Up 1972 C).

Shelley in a spread

for the Simplicity Home Catalog

Fall/Winter 1972 catalog

She also appeared in the spread that featured Young Contemporary Fashions for 1972. It featured patterns for crocheted accessories that catered to the younger set. Shelley wore pieces from Simplicity pattern number 5228. It contained step-by-step crochet instructions for a beret, a scarf, a tie, and a turtleneck dickey - accessories for the fashionista in the early '70s. The beret had a ribbed band and an optional pom-pom. The scarf was 6-feet long and had a fringe trim. The tie could be made in a solid color or with stripes. The dickey had a ribbed turtleneck. Shelley wore a version of all the patterns and looked fab in all of them.

closeups of Shelley from pics used

on the Simplicity Home Catalog

Fall/Winter 1972 catalog