Fashions of the Times D

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for Fashions of the Times, Aug 1972

In 1972, Shelley appeared in a spread for Fashions of the Times, a magazine that came with The New York Times which featured the latest in city fashion. She appeared in a spread called "Wear Sportswear. Be In Step With Today." and wore several looks that were the latest in autumn 1972 daywear. The outfits she wore could be found in retail stores around New York. In one pic, she wore a tailored suit which included a gray flannel jacket and vest, wide-legged tattersall pants and rayon crepe shirt - all by Victor Joris for V & J. Shelley was stunning and looked in step with the times.

Shelley from a spread

for Fashions of the Times, Aug 1972

A Great Addition

Shelley in a paparazzi pic, 1980

In 1979, Shelley became Charlie's Angel no. 5 during the 4th season of the popular series. Everyone was excited to see THE Charlie Girl bring her brand of beauty and glamour into the Townsend Detective Agency. The series experienced a significant drop in the ratings during its 3rd season (it dropped from #4 to #12 in the Nielsens) and Shelley, with her high-profile Supermodel image, brought just the right dose of publicity, attention and interest to get the series back within the TV's top ten shows. But then she was given little to do or say (especially in her first episodes). They said she couldn't act, but if you watch her performances on projects that aired at around that same time (Death Car on the Freeway and an episode of the Love Boat), she wasn't bad at all. They said she didn't integrate with her co-Angels, but moments of her rapport with Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd could be witnessed in the episode "Angels Go Truckin'" and some others. In some episodes, it can be noticed that her reactions and dialogue to her co-stars were either cut short or had no audio. So how was she supposed to save the show, by her mere presence alone? In the end, she was blamed for the further drop in the ratings; and she left the series. But after so many years and after re-watching that season, many fans have changed their minds about her. Many have realized that Shelley was such a great addition to the show after all.

Shelley in a paparazzi pic, 1980

Kenzo Clad

a closeup of Shelley in a pic

for Mademoiselle magazine, 1972

Shelley appeared on many magazines throughout her modeling career. One of them was Mademoiselle magazine. In 1972, she appeared on their pages photographed by Arthur Elgort and clad in fabulous fashions by Kenzo. The luxury brand Kenzo was founded in 1970 by Japanese designer Kenzo Takada; and he was known for using Asian and Japanese-influenced style in his designs with the construction of European fashion. Shelley wore his trendy separates with class and elan.

Shelley with designer Kenzo Takada

in a pic for Mademoiselle magazine, 1972

Diagnosis Murder Guesting 4

Diagnosis Murder Season 5 Part 1 DVD set, 

Diagnosis Murder Season 5 DVD set, 

Diagnosis Murder The Complete Collection, 

released in 2013, 2013 and 2016 respectively

Shelley guest-starred in the Dick Van Dyke TV series Diagnosis Murder in 1997. Diagnosis Murder was a TV series that aired from 1993 to 2001 and starred TV legend Dick Van Dyke. He played Dr. Mark Sloan, a former US Army doctor who served in a MASH unit and consequently became a renowned physician who consults with the local police as his son, Steve (played by Barry Van Dyke) is a homicide detective. Dr. Sloan's fellow doctors at Community General Hospital help him out as well. The series was a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman and was initially three TV movies before becoming a regular TV series.

screen captures of Shelley 

from the Diagnosis Murder episode 

"Looks Can Kill" 1997

Shelley appeared in the season 5 episode "Looks Can Kill" playing celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Elaine Denell. Dr. Denell's clinic was a profit-driven entity that specialized in quick surgical procedures with no questions asked. When a patient of the clinic suddenly dies at Community General Hospital, Dr. Sloan takes a closer look at Dr. Denell's practice and investigates for possible malpractice. Shelley's performance in the episode was stellar. She had become well-seasoned and it showed. The part fit her perfectly and she knew how to handle her character. Plus, her rapport with Dick Van Dyke (whom she starred with in the 1983 TV movie Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer) was very evident. Jill Whelan and Anthony Michael Hall appeared in the episode as well. If you can get it, watch it!

more screen captures of Shelley

from the Diagnosis Murder episode

"Looks Can Kill" 1997

Youthful Sophistication 2

a closeup of Shelley from Show magazine, 1964

Show publisher and A&P heir Huntington Hartford discovered Shelley at a debutante ball and urged her to try modeling. He liked her look so much, he put the 17-year-old high school student on the pages of his magazine. Shelley appeared on the pages of Show in a spread called "Shelley Hack, A Show First" on their September 1964 issue. Describing her as a perfect model of youthful sophistication, the mag said she had a whimsical look about her and had a long line of fashion magazines clamoring to immortalize her look. The mag had the first published pictures of Shelley. A month later, she appeared on the November 1964 covers of both Glamour and Seventeen magazines. Twelve years later, she was a Supermodel.

Shelley in a spread for Show magazine, 1964

PD Sullivan

a closeup of Shelley from a publicity pic

for Night Court, 1984

In 1984, Shelley joined the cast of the nighttime sitcom Night Court for its second season (replacing Paula Kelly). She was cast to play public defender Christine Sullivan and the character was going to be romantically involved with Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson). "I'll be doing my research at the New York court," Shelley said, "I always look forward to researching a role. It will be interesting." Publicity photos were taken, and the announcement was made. Shelley's first episode "Daddy for the Defense" was going to be the season opener.

Shelley with Harry Anderson

in a publicity pic for Night Court, 1984

But when the series started shooting, producer Reinhold Weege decided she wasn't right for the part. "I liked the show. They offered me the role. I went and met with them and liked them," Shelley said. "But what happened was the role was changed somewhere between that meeting and my first day on the set," she explained. So the actress and the producer mutually and amicably agreed to call the whole thing off. Ellen Foley was brought in for that season to replace Shelley - as a new character, public defender Billie Young. Markie Post took over the role of Miss Sullivan for the "Daddy for the Defense" episode, which was switched from the opener to the 2nd episode. A year later, Markie Post became a permanent part of the cast.

Romantic Tent Styles

closeup of Shelley from a spread

for Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog

Shelley did a lot of catalog work during her tenure as a full-time Supermodel in the 1970s. She appeared in many spreads throughout the Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog. In the spread called "Romantic... Tent Styles and Tiered Effects," she wore the Tent Dress. It was a pullover-style dress with a V-neckline and a spread collar. It had a square yoke in the front and the back with cream-color ribbon trims. It had soft gathers below the 3/4 length sleeves which were elasticized at the edges. It also came with a self tie-belt. A flower comb and a set of hoop earrings accessorized her look. Sandal-style footwear and a fashionable Jute Bag finished her look. Shelley looked sophisticated and sensational.

Shelley in a spread for Sears 1978 Spring Summer catalog