Introducing Shelley Hack

Shelley at a Charlie's Angels

cocktail party, June 1979

"Who is going to be Charlie's newest Angel?" That was the question in everyone's mind in 1979. And in late-May of 1979, it was finally answered; the new Angel had been cast. THE effervescent Charlie Girl Shelley Hack was officially joining Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd to complete Charlie's newest Angel triumvirate. Shelley was hounded by the paparazzi from then on. She was Hollywood's newest "it girl" and she appeared in virtually every newspaper and magazine around the world. Shelley said, "It has been quite a whirl." Jaclyn Smith said, "I feel good about her. I think the three of us are going to get along great." Cheryl Ladd said, "Shelley seems like a terrific girl. I think she's good and I'll do everything I can to make her feel at home." Everything was going along well with the new Angel team; yet rumors of catfights and jealousy (which unfairly plagued the series since its debut) still persisted and was being written about in the press.

Shelley at a Charlie's Angels

cocktail party, June 1979

To address the rumors, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd talked to Charlie's Angels executive producer Aaron Spelling and convinced him to throw a cocktail party for the TV critics of America. The party would formally introduce Shelley Hack to the press and hopefully put an end to all the talks of discord among the new Angel team. It was held at ABC's West Coast offices at the ABC Entertainment Center in Century City, Los Angeles. Jaclyn, Cheryl and Shelley attended the party as well as their other cast member David Doyle who played John Bosley in the series. Aaron Spelling, his business partner Leonard Goldberg and the ABC network (where Charlie's Angels was aired) corporate brass were all in attendance as well. The Angels cast had just returned from filming at the U.S. Virgin Islands and they all raved about how much fun they had shooting the season's first episode.

E4: Race for Life

screen captures of the opening credits

of Cutter To Houston, 1983

Shelley's second TV series was 1983's Cutter to Houston. The show was about three young doctors recruited to run a small hospital in the fictional rural town of Cutter, Texas. Shelley played Dr. Beth Gilbert, an ambitious surgeon on temporary assignment in Cutter. Jim Metzler played GP Dr. Andy Fenton, who grew up in Cutter and was glad to be back in the town that financed his medical education. Alec Baldwin played internist/ladies man Dr. Hal Wexler, who was getting through his probation. Other regular cast members included K Callan as Nurse Connie Buford, Susan Styles as Nurse Patty Alvarez and Noble Willingham as Mayor Warren Jarvis.

promo mats and screen caps

for the Cutter to Houston episode

"Race for Life," October 1983

Episode 4 was called "Race for Life" and was first aired on October 22, 1983. The guest stars included Arliss Howard as Q.T. Stoneham and Georgann Johnson as Mayor Warren’s wife Dorothy Jarvis. The plot went as follows:

Hal and the highway patrol pursue cross-country race driver Q.T. Stoneham who has put his life on the line by competing in a wild road race. He is seriously ill and may not live to reach the finish line. Meanwhile, the 30th wedding anniversary of Mayor Warren Jarvis and his wife Dorothy is overshadowed by her refusal to face her medical problem. She learns she has a tumor and ignores the diagnosis. Afraid to face the disease her mother eventually died of; she initially resists any surgery.

screen captures from the Cutter to Houston

episode "Race for Life,"

October 1983

Fabulous Coats 2

a closeup of Shelley from a fashion pic

used in a spread on Simpsons-Sears

Fall and Winter 1975 catalog

Shelley appeared on numerous catalogs during her Supermodel days. One of them was the Simpsons-Sears catalogs. Simpsons-Sears was a joint venture between the Canadian retailer Simpsons and the American retailer Sears. Simpsons-Sears was Canadian catalog and department store chain that sold various goods. Shelley appeared in the Simpsons-Sears Fall and Winter 1975 catalog. In the spread that featured fabulous coats for the cold season, Shelley wore the extra-special coat that was so simple yet so sophisticated. It came in both tweed-patterned and solid color wool-nylon fabrics. The top of the sleeves as well as the collar were overlaid with genuine natural rabbit fur. It had two slash pockets, two breast pockets, and a belt. Shelley wore both versions and accessorized them with a matching scarf tied around her neck. And Shelley looked simple yet fabulous and sophisticated.

Shelley in a fashion pic

featured in a spread on Simpsons-Sears

Fall and Winter 1975 catalog

Angels and Art 6

an artwork of Shelley Hack, Jaclyn Smith,

and Cheryl Ladd on the cover

of Look-In magazine, 1980

a promo pic of Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack,

and Jaclyn Smith for the Charlie's Angels

episode "Love Boat Angels," 1979

Look-In magazine was a kiddie/teen UK magazine that featured two-page comic/picture strips of the most popular television shows of the era. Subtitled as "The Junior TV Times," its first issue came out in 1971 and its final issue came out in 1994. Many popular American TV series were featured in the mag including Kung Fu, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, CHiPs, Battlestar Galactica, Mork and Mindy... and, of course Charlie's Angels.

Shelley as Tiffany Welles in Look-In mag's

Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip, 1980

From 1979 to 1980, during the airing of the 4th season of Charlie's Angels, Shelley's Tiffany Welles character was featured in the mag's Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip. Along with her co-Angels Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith) and Kris Munroe (Cheryl Ladd), Tiffany solved cases for Charlie for several issues, two pages a week. Her first case debuted on November of 1979 and her final case ended on October of 1980. The mag also featured occasional writeups about Shelley as well as posters of her and the Angel team of that season.

Shelley Hack with Jaclyn Smith

and Cheryl Ladd in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

a closeup of Shelley from a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

The 1980 Olympics

a closeup of Shelley

from a Charlie perfume ad

promoting the 1980 Winter Olympics

Shelley was The Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982; and she appeared on many promotional pics for the Revlon brand. In 1980, a commercial promoting the 1980 Olympic Games, which was held in Moscow in the Soviet Union, was released (For more, check out: Charlie and the 1980 Olympics) Also in 1980, Shelley appeared in a Charlie perfume ad promoting the 1980 Winter Olympics which was held in Lake Placid, New York, from Feb 13 to 24 of that year. The Revlon Charlie fragrance was an official selection of the United States Olympic Committee.

Shelley in a Charlie perfume ad

promoting the 1980 Winter Olympics

Forsyth Presents

Shelley in a publicity pic

for Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

Shelley appeared in the TV movie series Frederick Forsyth Presents. It was a set of six telefilms by internationally acclaimed author Frederick Forsyth, all original spy thrillers. The first, aired in December of 1989, was called A Casualty of War. Shelley played Monica Browne, an enigmatic and very wealthy horse breeder who becomes the love interest of retired British secret service agent Tom Rowse (played by David Threlfall) who is recruited to intercept an arms shipment from Libya to the IRA. The telefilm was shot in England, Germany and Yugoslavia.

Shelley in a publicity pic

for Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

1970s Supermodel

a closeup of Shelley

from a pic that appeared

on a Seventeen magazine spread, 1976

While still in school, as a teen, Shelley was spotted by A&P heir Huntington Hartford at a debutante ball and he immediately urged her to try modeling. So her mom took her to see model agent Eileen Ford and she began to model part-time, during her summer breaks. Subsequently, after graduating from Smith College, she signed on full-time at Ford Models Inc., and became one of the top models in the United States. In 1976, she jumped to Supermodel status when she began endorsing Revlon Charlie perfume, cosmetics and various beauty products. She was one of first batch of models who were able to negotiate previously unheard of, lucrative and exclusive million-dollar deals with giant cosmetics companies.

a pic of Shelley

from a Seventeen magazine spread, 1976

Simplicity Catalog 1971 C

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

on Simplicity School Catalog,

Spring/Summer 1971

Shelley appeared in many sewing catalogs when she was a model. In 1971, she appeared on the cover and pages of the Simplicity School Catalog Spring/Summer catalog. In one spread, she wore pattern no. 9277, a tunic, maxi-skirt and bell-bottom pants set. The top-stitched sleeveless tunic had a low "U" neckline. The maxi-skirt had no waistband, had a front button closing, and had a self fabric ruffle at the lower edge. The pants had an elastic waistline casing. Shelley wore a plain version of the tunic over a printed version of the maxi-skirt. She finished her look with a pair of sling-back sandals. She accessorized her look with a matching belt, a fun bracelet, and a clip on her hair. And Shelley looked so adorable and ready to go off to school. And Shelley looked young, fresh and up-to-the-minute. (For more, check out: Simplicity Catalog 1971 A and Simplicity Catalog 1971 B)

Shelley in a spread

for Simplicity School Catalog,

Spring/Summer 1971

1986 Event

a pic of Shelley at an event

in West Hollywood, March 1986

In the mid 1980s, Shelley was often seen and captured by the paparazzi in numerous events around Hollywood. In March of 1986, she was spotted in a couple of events. In March 19, she was spotted in West Hollywood at the premiere party of The Temptations' music video "A Fine Mess." In March 21, she was again spotted in West Hollywood (on Sunset and Queens) giving a talk under the "Shoot Los Angeles: World's Film and TV Capital" billboard. The billboard was meant to encourage filmmakers to stay home, to film their work in Los Angeles.

pics of Shelley at an event

in West Hollywood, March 1986

Fabulous Coats 1

a closeup of Shelley from a fashion pic

featured in a spread on Simpsons-Sears

Fall and Winter 1975 catalog

Shelley appeared on numerous catalogs during her Supermodel days. One of them was the Simpsons-Sears catalogs. Simpsons-Sears was a joint venture between the Canadian retailer Simpsons and the American retailer Sears. Simpsons-Sears was Canadian catalog and department store chain that sold various goods. Shelley appeared in the Simpsons-Sears Fall and Winter 1975 catalog. In the spread that featured fabulous coats for the cold season, Shelley wore the extra-special coat that was so simple yet so sophisticated. It came in both tweed-patterned and solid color wool-nylon fabrics. The top of the sleeves as well as the collar were overlaid with genuine natural rabbit fur. It had two slash pockets, two breast pockets, and a belt. Shelley wore both versions and accessorized them with a matching scarf tied around her neck. And Shelley looked simple yet fabulous and sophisticated.

Shelley in a fashion pic featured

in a spread on Simpsons-Sears

Fall and Winter 1975 catalog

Angels and Art 5

a closeup of Shelley from a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Look-In magazine was a kiddie/teen UK magazine that featured two-page comic/picture strips of the most popular television shows of the era. Subtitled as "The Junior TV Times," its first issue came out in 1971 and its final issue came out in 1994. Many popular American TV series were featured in the mag including Kung Fu, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, CHiPs, Battlestar Galactica, Mork and Mindy... and, of course Charlie's Angels.

Shelley as Tiffany Welles in Look-In mag's

Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip, 1980

From 1979 to 1980, during the airing of the 4th season of Charlie's Angels, Shelley's Tiffany Welles character was featured in the mag's Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip. Along with her co-Angels Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith) and Kris Munroe (Cheryl Ladd), Tiffany solved cases for Charlie for several issues, two pages a week. Her first case debuted on November of 1979 and her final case ended on October of 1980. The mag also featured occasional writeups about Shelley as well as posters of her and the Angel team of that season.

Shelley Hack with Jaclyn Smith

and Cheryl Ladd in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

The Sporting Life 8

Shelley and Tom Selleck

in a newspaper ad promoting

The Sporting Life Kit, 1980

Shelley was The Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982; and she appeared on many promotional pics for the Revlon brand. In February of 1980, Charlie and it's male perfume counterpart Chaz (also by Revlon) teamed up to promote the 1980 Winter Olympics... which was held in Lake Placid, New York from Feb 13 to 24 of that year. Pics of Shelley together with the then current Chaz Man Tom Selleck were taken and used to promote The Sporting Life Kit, a promotional gift set containing both Revlon Charlie and Chaz products (Charlie perfume, Charlie Body Silk, Charlie After Bath Tonic, Chaz perfume and Chaz Moisturizing After Shave Balm). It was available to all Charlie and Chaz fans for just $10.00. By 1980, Shelley wasn't just a Supermodel; she was already a big TV star due to Charlie's Angels. Tom Selleck, on the other hand, would become famous later that very year when his own TV series Magnum, P.I. premiered.

Shelley with Chaz Man Tom Selleck

in promotional pics for Charlie and Chaz

The Sporting Life Kit, 1980

A Forstyth Thriller

Shelley in a publicity pic

for Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

Shelley appeared in the first installment of the telefilm series Frederick Forsyth Presents. It was a set of six telefilms by internationally acclaimed author Frederick Forsyth; and they were all original spy thrillers. The first of them, A Casualty of War, was aired in December of 1989. The film was about the efforts of the British Intelligence to uncover an arms smuggling operation in Europe. In the film, Shelley played Monica Browne, the love interest of retired British secret service agent Tom Rowse (played by English actor David Threlfall) who was recruited to intercept an arms shipment from Libya to the IRA. But Monica had her secrets.

Shelley with David Threlfall in a promo ad

for Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

"I used to read his books (Frederick Forsyth) when I was a kid," Shelley said, "and when I got the script, it was like I was getting a good novel to read." Shelley said she found Forsyth's books to be "very macho, exciting Cold War stuff." She added, "This is the kind of story everyone likes to watch, and he does them so well." And being the only American among the predominantly British cast, she laughed and said, "Yes, I'm the token." She enjoyed working with her British co-stars and found their approach to their craft very interesting.

Shelley in a publicity pic

for Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

Chic-Sational 1975 D

a closeup of Shelley from a pic used

in a spread for Simplicity Fashion News,

November 1975

Simplicity Fashion News was a monthly pamphlet Simplicity came out with to showcase their latest patterns. The Simplicity Pattern Company had been manufacturing sewing patterns since 1927 and had allowed fashionistas on a budget and sewing aficionados to create clothes in a reliable manner. Aside from the pamphlets, they came out with books, magazines and pattern packages. Shelley appeared on the pages of Simplicity Fashion News, on their November 1975 issue. In the spread called "A Wrap, A Zip, A Tie - For Jiffy Dresses", she modeled the Jiffy reversible skirt, pattern number 7699.  It had no zippers and was simply wrapped and tied around the waist - perfect for women on the go. With it she wore a stretch knit sweater, pattern number 6624. A pair of matching boots and a pair of matching opera-length necklaces finished her outfit. And Shelley looked chic-sational in it. (For more, check out: Chic-Sational 1975 C and Jiffy Fashions)

Shelley in a pic used in a spread

for Simplicity Fashion News,

November 1975

Headliner Shelley

Shelley in 1978

Shelley once sat down for a talk with David Frost, the renowned English journalist who became famous for interviewing political figures, among them Richard Nixon whom he interviewed in 1977 - post his presidential resignation (which was the basis of the 2006 play Frost/Nixon and became a feature film in 2008). It was probably aired as part of Headliners with David Frost, a six-week miniseries which was aired in 1978. Other guests, it seems, included Truman Capote, John Travolta and ex-CIA director Richard Helms.

Shelley with David Frost,1978

The Only American

Shelley in a poster for the TV movie

Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

Shelley appeared in the TV movie series Frederick Forsyth Presents. It was a set of six TV movies by internationally acclaimed author Frederick Forsyth, all original spy thrillers. The first, aired in December of 1989, was called A Casualty of War. In it, Shelley played Monica Browne, an enigmatic and very wealthy horse breeder who becomes the love interest of retired British secret service agent Tom Rowse (played by David Threlfall) who is recruited to intercept an arms shipment from Libya to the IRA. The TV movie was produced by the British production company FremantleMedia and was shot in England, Germany and Yugoslavia. Shelley, who was the only American among the predominantly British cast, said she enjoyed working with her British co-stars and found their approach to their craft very interesting. She said, "They have a different approach toward working and in approaching their roles, which was very interesting for me." She added, "English actors are educated in a different system than (American actors) are, and they've done a lot more theater."

Shelley with David Threlfall in a promo pic

for Frederick Forsyth Presents:

A Casualty of War, 1989

Jumpers 1970

a closeup of Shelley from a spread

for McCall's pattern catalog,

October 1970

Shelley appeared on many magazines and catalogs during her tenure as Supermodel in the 1970s. She appeared on many covers, fashion spreads, and sewing patterns for McCall's... for their magazines, catalogs, and pattern covers. In October of 1970, she appeared on the McCall's pattern catalog. In the spread called "Jumpers Go to All Lengths," she modeled McCall's pattern number 2479... a misses' jumper that could be made in three lengths. It had a center back zipper and buttoned side openings below the high-cut armholes. It also had a buttoned back belt and lined pockets. Shelley wore the mini-skirt version over a short-sleeved sweater with a high neck and finished it with a pair of low-heeled Derby footwear for women. And Shelley looked fabulous.

Shelley in a spread

for McCall's pattern catalog,

October 1970

Angels and Art 4

a closeup of Shelley from a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

Look-In magazine was a kiddie/teen UK magazine that featured two-page comic/picture strips of the most popular television shows of the era. Subtitled as "The Junior TV Times," its first issue came out in 1971 and its final issue came out in 1994. Many popular American TV series were featured in the mag including Kung Fu, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, CHiPs, Battlestar Galactica, Mork and Mindy... and, of course Charlie's Angels.

Shelley as Tiffany Welles in Look-In mag's

Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip, 1980

From 1979 to 1980, during the airing of the 4th season of Charlie's Angels, Shelley's Tiffany Welles character was featured in the mag's Charlie's Angels comic/picture strip. Along with her co-Angels Kelly Garrett (Jaclyn Smith) and Kris Munroe (Cheryl Ladd), Tiffany solved cases for Charlie for several issues, two pages a week. Her first case debuted on November of 1979 and her final case ended on October of 1980. The mag also featured occasional writeups about Shelley as well as posters of her and the Angel team of that season.

Shelley Hack with Jaclyn Smith

and Cheryl Ladd in a promo pic

for Charlie's Angels, 1979

The Sporting Life 7

Shelley with Chaz Man Tom Selleck

in a promotional pic for the Charlie

and Chaz brands, 1980

Shelley was The Charlie Girl from 1976 to 1982; and she appeared on many promotional pics for the Revlon brand. In February of 1980, Charlie and it's male perfume counterpart Chaz (also by Revlon) teamed up to promote the 1980 Winter Olympics... which was held in Lake Placid, New York from Feb 13 to 24 of that year. Pics of Shelley together with the then current Chaz Man Tom Selleck were taken and used to promote The Sporting Life Kit, a promotional gift set containing both Revlon Charlie and Chaz products (Charlie perfume, Charlie Body Silk, Charlie After Bath Tonic, Chaz perfume and Chaz Moisturizing After Shave Balm). It was available to all Charlie and Chaz fans for just $10.00. By 1980, Shelley wasn't just a Supermodel; she was already a big TV star due to Charlie's Angels. Tom Selleck, on the other hand, would become famous later that very year when his own TV series Magnum, P.I. premiered.

artwork of Shelley and Tom Selleck

in a newspaper ad promoting

the Charlie and Chaz brands, 1980

In the East Coast

a paparazzi pic of Shelley

attending a Broadway show

in New York City, Dec 1981

In 1980, after a year in the hit TV series Charlie's Angels, Shelley was ready to move on and was determined to make the most of the opportunities that fell on her lap as a result of her instant Angels superstardom. She first tackled stage (via the plays Vanities and Close Ties) and won critical praise for her efforts. Then she got the part of a lifetime... a supporting role in a Martin Scorsese film (The King of Comedy) opposite Robert De Niro. Four months after auditioning for the part, her agent called and told her she got the part. The movie was going to be shot on location in New York and New Jersey; but then production was delayed. Shelley said, "I couldn't work because I read for The King of Comedy, and got the part. The picture was delayed and I couldn't take a chance on doing anything else." So in 1981, Shelley was frequently spotted by the paparazzi in the East Coast, in New York City. In October of 1981, Shelley was spotted with constant companion, Bruce Nivens, at Jack Martin's Restaurant at the private party for the Yankees. In December of the same year, She was again spotted with Bruce Nivens attending a Broadway show in NYC.

Shelley with Bruce Nivens

attending a Broadway show

in New York City, Dec 1981

Chic-Sational 1975 C

a closeup of Shelley from a pic used

in a spread for Simplicity Fashion News,

November 1975

Simplicity Fashion News was a monthly pamphlet Simplicity came out with to showcase their latest patterns. The Simplicity Pattern Company had been manufacturing sewing patterns since 1927 and had allowed fashionistas on a budget and sewing aficionados to create clothes in a reliable manner. Aside from the pamphlets, they came out with books, magazines and pattern packages. Shelley appeared on the pages of Simplicity Fashion News, on their November 1975 issue. In the spread called "A Wrap, A Zip, A Tie - For Jiffy Dresses", she modeled the Jiffy tucked-bodice dress with obi tie... Simplicity pattern number 7617. The bright scarlet red dress was a standout and could be worn from day to night. A fabulous scarf, an envelope clutch and a pair of ankle strap pumps - all in varying shades of tan - finished her outfit. And Shelley looked chic-sational in it.

Shelley (on the right side)

in a pic used in a spread

for Simplicity Fashion News,

November 1975