Glenn Close

Glenn Close
Max Surprenant · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Glenn Close
Caption	Close at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival
Birth date	19 March 1947
Birth place	Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma mater	The College of William & Mary
Occupation	Actress, producer
Years active	1974–present

Glenn Close is an American actress and producer renowned for her versatile performances across film, television, and theatre. With a career spanning five decades, she has received numerous accolades, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, alongside eight Academy Award nominations. Often celebrated for her portrayals of complex, formidable women, she is considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation.

Early life and education

Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, she is the daughter of William Close, a prominent surgeon who worked for Mobutu Sese Seko in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bettine Moore Close. She spent part of her childhood in Belgium and Switzerland before her family settled in Chappaqua, New York. Her early exposure to performance came through her family's involvement with the Moral Re-Armament movement, a religious organization. She later attended The College of William & Mary, graduating with a degree in anthropology and drama. During her time there, she performed with the student-run group Phi Beta Kappa and developed a strong foundation in classical theatre.

Career

Close began her professional career on the Broadway stage, earning critical acclaim and her first Tony Award for her role in *The Real Thing* in 1984. Her film breakthrough came with her debut in George Roy Hill's *The World According to Garp* (1982), which earned her the first of many Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominations. She solidified her status as a leading actress with iconic performances in films such as *Fatal Attraction* (1987), *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), and *Reversal of Fortune* (1990). On television, she achieved widespread fame for her portrayal of Patty Hewes on the legal drama *Damages*, winning two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She later garnered further acclaim for her role in *The Wife* (2017) and as Cruella de Vil in the *101 Dalmatians* franchise.

Personal life

Close has been married three times, to Cabot Wade, James Marlas, and producer David Shaw. She has one daughter, Annie Starke, who is also an actress. A longtime advocate for mental health awareness, she co-founded the nonprofit Bring Change to Mind to combat stigma. She resides primarily in New York City and is known for her support of various charitable causes, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Alzheimer's Association.

Filmography

Select film credits include *The Big Chill* (1983), *The Natural* (1984), *Jagged Edge* (1985), *Hamlet* (1990), *Mars Attacks!* (1996), *Air Force One* (1997), *Cookie's Fortune* (1999), *Albert Nobbs* (2011), and *Hillbilly Elegy* (2020). Her television work spans series such as *The Shield*, *The Simpsons*, and *Sunset Boulevard*.

Awards and nominations

Close holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations (eight) without a win for acting, a distinction that underscores her consistent excellence. She has won three Tony Awards for her work in *The Real Thing*, *Death and the Maiden*, and *Sunset Boulevard*. Her television accolades include three Primetime Emmy Awards, and she has received three Golden Globe Awards from fifteen nominations. She has also been honored with a Cecil B. DeMille Award and an American Museum of Natural History's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Legacy and influence

Glenn Close is widely regarded as a preeminent dramatic actress whose work has influenced generations of performers. Her ability to embody psychologically intricate characters, from Alex Forrest in *Fatal Attraction* to Norma Desmond in *Sunset Boulevard*, has set a high benchmark in the industry. Scholars and critics often cite her performances in studies of feminist film theory and character acting. Her advocacy through Bring Change to Mind has had a significant impact on public discourse surrounding mental health, cementing her legacy as both an artistic and humanitarian force.

Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:1947 births Category:Living people