Born August 23, 1949 in Fort Wayne, daughter of Ivadine Wiliams, a school teacher, and Leland Long, who worked in the rubber industry before becoming a teacher. She attended Kekionga Junior High and was active on her South Side high school speech team. She competed in the Indiana High School Forensic Association, and in 1967 she won the National Forensic League National Championship in Original Oratory. She studied drama at Northwestern University, but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and modelling. She became a member of the celebrated Second City troupe in Chicago. She starred in 142 episodes on the TV sitcom Cheers (1982-1993) for five years
, winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (1983) and two Golden Globe Awards in 1983 & 1985. She went on to star in several movies such as Money Pit (1986). She appears periodically in the ABC television show Modern Family. She married second husband Bruce Tyson in October 1981 and daughter Juliana was born March 27, 1985. Paraphrased from The History Center Facebook posts shown below, Wikipedia, and IMDb biography. See photo on Five Fort Wayne Actresses Who Made it on the Big Screen by the The News-Sentinel newspaper now archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
February 5, 2013 post by the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook:
1967 South Side Archers Shelley Long (Tv Series CHEER'S) Willie Long
Shelley Long was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1949. She was active on her high school speech team competing in the...
Posted by Indiana Bicentennial Commission on Tuesday, March 8, 2016Tuesday, March 8, 2016 post by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission on Facebook:
Shelley Long was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1949. She was active on her high school speech team competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association. In 1967, she even won the National Forensic League's Championship in Original Oratory.
After graduating from South Side High School, she studied drama at Northwestern University but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and modeling. Her first break as an actress occurred when she began doing commercials in the Chicago area.
Long is best known for her role as Diane Chambers in the popular sitcom Cheers, for which she received five Emmy nominations, winning in 1983 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She won two Golden Globe Awards for the role. Long has starred in various other roles including the hit TV show, Modern Family.
Shelley Lee Long was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1949. She is the daughter of Ivadine, a school teacher, and Leland...
Posted by Only Indiana on Monday, March 21, 2016Monday, March 21, 2016 post on Only Indiana on Facebook:
Shelley Lee Long was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1949. She is the daughter of Ivadine, a school teacher, and Leland Long, who worked in the rubber industry before becoming a teacher. She was active on her high school speech team, competing in the Indiana High School Forensic Association. In 1967, she won the National Forensic League's National Championship in Original Oratory.
After graduating from South Side High School in Fort Wayne, she studied drama at Northwestern University, but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting and modeling. Her first break as an actress occurred when she began doing commercials in the Chicago area.
Long post continues...
The sitcom Cheers, which highlighted the Boston bar “where everybody knows your name,” debuted thirty-six years ago...
Posted by The History Center on Sunday, September 30, 2018Sunday, September 30, 2018 post by The History Center on Facebook:
The sitcom Cheers highlighted the Boston bar “where everybody knows your name.” Do you know the name of the actress with Fort Wayne roots who played the popular female lead Diane Chambers? The sophisticated love interest of Ted Danson’s character was played by Fort Wayne native Shelley Long. Long was born in Fort Wayne in 1949 and graduated from South Side High School in 1967, where she was active in speech and theatre. Long has enjoyed a successful career in show business, but she is best known for her role on Cheers, winning two Golden Globes and an Emmy. Featured are photos from Long’s time as a student at South Side and articles from local newspapers. #sociallyhistory #ArtStartsHere
April 30, 2020 post by The History Center on Facebook with the same photos:
The sitcom Cheers, which highlighted the Boston bar “where everybody knows your name,” debuted thirty-six years ago today. Do you know the name of the actress with Fort Wayne roots who played the popular female lead Diane Chambers? The sophisticated love interest of Ted Danson’s character was played by Fort Wayne native Shelley Long. Long was born in Fort Wayne in 1949 and graduated from South Side High School in 1967, where she was active in speech and theatre. Long has enjoyed a successful career in show business, but she is best known for her role on Cheers, winning two Golden Globes and an Emmy. Featured are photos from Long’s time as a student at South Side and articles from local newspapers. #sociallyhistory
Did you know these four people were born in Fort Wayne? DaMarcus Beasley (US men's national soccer team), Dick York...
Posted by Visit Fort Wayne on Thursday, October 8, 2015Thursday, October 8, 2015 post by Visit Fort Wayne on Facebook:
Did you know these four people were born in Fort Wayne?
DaMarcus Beasley (US men's national soccer team), Dick York (Bewitched), Shelley Long (Cheers), Jenna Fischer (The Office).
Can you name more famous Fort Wayne natives? #tbt