1. Overview
Shelley Marie Hack is an American actress, model, producer, and political activist, best known for her prominent role as the face of Revlon's "Charlie" perfume campaign from the mid-1970s and for her portrayal of Tiffany Welles in the fourth season of the television series Charlie's Angels. Beyond her iconic contributions to advertising and entertainment, Hack has dedicated a significant portion of her later career to promoting democratic processes and developing independent media in post-conflict regions, notably in Bosnia and Herzegovina, advocating for social progress and empowerment.
2. Early Life and Background
Shelley Hack was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, on July 6, 1947, as the eldest of six children. She was raised in Greenwich. Her father worked as a financial analyst on Wall Street, and her mother had a career as a model for the Conover Modeling Agency.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Hack's early education took place at Greenwich Academy. She then pursued higher education at Smith College, where she earned a degree in history. During her junior year at Smith College, she furthered her studies by focusing on archaeology at the University of Sydney in Australia.
3. Career
Shelley Hack's professional journey spans a diverse range of fields, from her early success as a fashion model and the unforgettable face of a major fragrance brand, to her extensive acting career across film, television, and theatre. Later in her life, she transitioned into production and leveraged her expertise in media for significant political activism, ultimately establishing a production company.
3.1. Modeling Career
Hack embarked on her career as a fashion model during her teenage years, securing her first major assignment on the cover of Glamour magazine. She gained widespread recognition and became an iconic figure as the face of Revlon's "Charlie" perfume, a role she held from the mid-1970s until the early 1980s. During this period, "Charlie" perfume rose to become the world's top-selling fragrance. Her success led Life magazine to identify her as one of the "million-dollar faces" in the beauty industry, referring to a select group of models who could negotiate highly lucrative and exclusive contracts with large cosmetics companies. These models were instantly recognizable, and their names became known to the general public. Hack was counted among the handful of "supermodels" of the 1970s. She later reflected on her roles in the Revlon Charlie commercials and Charlie's Angels, stating that they were instrumental in making women feel "a little more empowered."
3.2. Acting Career
Shelley Hack established herself as an actress across various media, securing breakthrough roles in film and television and making notable contributions to the stage.
3.2.1. Film
Hack's feature film debut was a small part as a "Street Stranger" in Woody Allen's Academy Award-winning film Annie Hall (1977). She then took on a leading role as Jennifer Corly in the Joe Brooks romance drama, If Ever I See You Again (1978), a film she later described as "a bomb." In 1979, she appeared as a Docent and Narrator in Time After Time. She received positive reviews for her portrayal of Cathy Long in Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy (1983). Hack also held leading roles in two cult films: the comedy-horror movie Troll (1986), where she played Anne Potter, and the horror film The Stepfather (1987), in which she starred as Susan Maine. Her other film credits include Blind Fear (1991) as Erika, The Finishing Touch (1992) as Hannah, Me Myself & I (1992) as Jennifer, and an uncredited role as Dr. Erica Gilliland, Ph.D., in House Arrest (1996).
3.2.2. Television
Hack's television career began with a main role in Married: The First Year (1979), appearing in the episode "An Old Friend." Later that year, she starred as Janette Clausen in the television film Death Car on the Freeway.
Her most prominent television role came when she was cast as Kate Jackson's replacement on the series Charlie's Angels, where she played the sophisticated character Tiffany Welles for one season (1979-1980). Despite beating out numerous contenders for the role, including Michelle Pfeiffer and Barbara Bach, and an initial surge in ratings (her debut episode was the number one show in the weekly Nielsen ratings), the show's ratings eventually began to decline. In February 1980, ABC released Hack from her contract. A statement from Spelling-Goldberg, the show's producers, suggested that Hack had a personal agreement to review her continuation with the show after her first season due to the significant change in her career and lifestyle that series television represented. However, Hack offered her own perspective on her departure, stating, "They can say I didn't work out, but it isn't true. What happened was a network war. A business decision was made. Change the timeslot or bring on some new publicity. How to get publicity? A new Angel hunt. Who is the obvious person to replace? I am - the new kid on the block." She later clarified that she "never expected to be there more than a year and I wasn't. I did my year and I moved on."
Following Charlie's Angels, Hack took on a variety of starring and supporting roles in television. She appeared in an episode of The Love Boat in 1980, and starred as Mary in Vanities (1981), a television production of the comedy-drama stage play, which aired as part of Standing Room Only on HBO. She also appeared as herself in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1981) and The American Sportsman (1982).
In 1983, Hack was a regular on the short-lived TV series Cutter to Houston, playing Dr. Beth Gilbert across nine episodes. She also appeared in several television films that year, including Found Money (also known as My Secret Angel) as Leslie, Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer as Logan Gay, and Close Ties as Anna. The next year, she was Frankie in the TV film Single Bars, Single Women (1984), and Maggie Pierson in Kicks (also known as Destination Alcatraz) in 1985. She was also a regular on another short-lived 1980s TV series, Jack and Mike (1986-87), playing Jackie Shea in 16 episodes.
In 1984, Hack was initially hired for the sitcom Night Court to replace Paula Kelly and portray the new public defender Christine Sullivan, who was intended to have a romantic involvement with Judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson). However, during shooting, Hack and producer Reinhold Weege recognized a fundamental issue. The role had been altered from a humorous character to a "straight woman," which was not effective. Hack noted, "It wasn't working, The concept just didn't work and that's what I told them...what's the point if it's not working?" She and the producer mutually and amicably agreed that she would not continue with the series. Ellen Foley was subsequently cast for season two as a new character, public defender Billie Young, and in season three, Markie Post was hired to portray Christine Sullivan.
Hack continued her television work with guest appearances on shows like Celebrity Chefs (1988), and roles in TV films such as Bridesmaids (1989) as Kimberly, Frederick Forsyth Presents (1990) as Monica Browne in "A Casualty of War," Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story (1992) as Nan Horvat, Not in My Family (1993) as Becky Worth, and A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives (1993) as Abby Walters-Morrison. She also appeared as Captain Marilyn Stark in the pilot episode of seaQuest DSV (1993). In 1994, she made guest appearances on L.A. Law and Tales from the Crypt. Her later TV film roles included Lynn Brown in Falling from the Sky: Flight 174 (1995, also known as Freefall: Flight 174) and JoBeth Rawlings in Frequent Flyer (1996).
In 1997, she guest-starred as Dr. Elaine Denell in an episode of Diagnosis Murder and appeared as herself in a TheraCel (Skin Care) infomercial. Hack returned to television as herself for "Hello Angels Week" on Biography in October 2000, guest-hosting and featuring profiles of several Charlie's Angels stars. She also appeared in Time and Again: Charlie's Angels, a retrospective. In 2002, she was featured in the documentary TV Tales: Charlie's Angels. In January 2008, Hack appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in an episode titled "Classic Americana," where a 1976 television advertisement for Revlon's Charlie perfume featuring Hack and Bobby Short at the piano was highlighted. She reflected on the ad, stating, "It was a time when women were changing. Women looked at [the ad] and said, 'I want to be like that'." She also appeared in an episode of Whatever Happened To...? in 2008, titled "Alpha Females." Her most recent television appearance was in The Real Mad Men of Advertising (2017), in the episode titled The 1970s.
3.2.3. Theatre
Shelley Hack has also had a notable career in live theatre. In 1981, she performed as Mary in Vanities. She took on the role of Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday in 1982. In 1983, she appeared as Anna in Close Ties. Her stage work continued with the role of Luisa Baccara in Tamara in 1989.
3.3. Production and Other Ventures
Beyond her acting roles, Shelley Hack has ventured into production, pursuing further education, and narrating audiobooks. She narrated the audiobook The Lord of Hawkfell Island (Viking Era, Book 2), for which AudioFile praised her, stating, "Shelley Hack's mellifluous voice brings this Viking tale alive." She also narrated The Big Book for Our Planet in 1993. In 1981, she lent her voice to "A voice on the phone" in The First Family Rides Again album.
Hack obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the New York Institute of Technology. Following this, she unofficially retired from acting to focus on other endeavors. She appeared as herself in home videos such as The Celebrity Guide to Wine (1990) and The Celebrity Guide to Entertaining (1993).
Currently, Shelley Hack and her husband, Harry Winer, serve as co-presidents of Smash Media, a production company dedicated to developing and producing content for motion pictures, television, and new media. As a producer, Hack has been involved in several television films, including Lucky Christmas (2011), Perfect Match (2015), Summer of Dreams (2016), Christmas in Evergreen (2017), A Bramble House Christmas (2017), and Falling for You (2018).
4. Social and Political Activism
Shelley Hack has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and social causes, particularly in the areas of public health and international democratic development.
In 1987, as a former smoker herself, Hack was named the national chairperson for a joint campaign by the National Lung Association and the American Medical Association. This campaign aimed to educate young women about the dangers associated with cigarette smoking, advocating for public health.
Her dedication to international affairs became profoundly evident in her work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1997, she served as a voting registration and polling station supervisor during the Bosnian elections. Demonstrating a significant commitment to fostering transparent democratic processes, she was instrumental in producing the first-ever televised presidential debates in the country. She further extended this effort by producing debates in key cities such as Sarajevo, Mostar, and two in Banja Luka. In the same year, Hack founded the Shelley Hack Media Consultancy (SHMC). Over a decade, through SHMC, she collaborated with the largest media conglomerate in Eastern Europe, primarily focusing on the television sector. Her work involved creating ethnically diverse television programs, showcasing her commitment to cultural inclusivity in media. She became a recognized media consultant for countries in pre- and post-conflict states. A crucial aspect of her duties was to help establish and expand independent media outlets, including newspapers, radio, and television. Hack emphasized that in autocratic governments, state-controlled television often provides biased content, making independent media vital for an informed populace. Additionally, she became a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy (PCIP), an independent, non-partisan, membership-based organization dedicated to promoting global engagement and understanding.
5. Personal Life
Shelley Hack married film director and university professor Harry Winer in 1990. The couple has one child, a daughter named Devon Rose Winer, who was also born in 1990.
6. Filmography
Shelley Hack's extensive career in entertainment includes a wide range of roles across film, television, theatre, and voice work, as well as her recent ventures into media production.
6.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Annie Hall | Street Stranger | |
| 1978 | If Ever I See You Again | Jennifer Corly | |
| 1979 | Time After Time | Docent | Narrator |
| 1983 | The King of Comedy | Cathy Long | |
| 1986 | Troll | Anne Potter | |
| 1987 | The Stepfather | Susan Maine | |
| 1991 | Blind Fear | Erika | |
| 1992 | The Finishing Touch | Hannah | |
| Me Myself & I | Jennifer | ||
| 1996 | House Arrest | Dr. Erica Gilliland, Ph.D. | Uncredited |
6.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Married: The First Year | Linda | Episode: "An Old Friend" |
| Death Car on the Freeway | Janette Clausen | Television film | |
| 1979-1980 | Charlie's Angels | Tiffany Welles | Main role, 26 episodes |
| 1980 | The Love Boat | Carol Ketay | Segment: "Dumb Luck" |
| 1981 | HBO Standing Room Only (SRO) | Mary | Episode: "Vanities" |
| 1981 | Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade | Herself | Float: "Charlie and the Nutcracker" |
| 1982 | The American Sportsman | Herself | Episode dated July 4, 1982 |
| 1983 | Cutter to Houston | Dr. Beth Gilbert | 9 episodes |
| Found Money (aka My Secret Angel) | Leslie | Television film | |
| Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer | Logan Gay | ||
| Close Ties | Anna | ||
| 1984 | Single Bars, Single Women | Frankie | |
| 1985 | Kicks (aka Destination Alcatraz) | Maggie Pierson | |
| 1986-1987 | Jack and Mike | Jackie Shea | 16 episodes |
| 1988 | Celebrity Chefs | Herself | Guest |
| 1989 | Bridesmaids | Kimberly | Television film |
| 1990 | Frederick Forsyth Presents | Monica Browne | Episode: "A Casualty of War" |
| 1992 | Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story | Nan Horvat | Television film |
| 1993 | seaQuest DSV | Capt. Marilyn Stark | Pilot/Episode: "To Be or Not to Be" |
| Not in My Family | Becky Worth | Television film | |
| A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives | Abby Walters-Morrison | ||
| 1994 | L.A. Law | Lynn Barnett | Episode: "Whose San Andreas Fault is it, Anyway?" |
| Tales from the Crypt | Janet McKay | Episode: "The Assassin" | |
| 1995 | Falling from the Sky: Flight 174 | Lynn Brown | Television film |
| 1996 | Frequent Flyer | JoBeth Rawlings | Television film |
| 1997 | Diagnosis Murder | Dr. Elaine Denell | Episode: "Looks Can Kill" |
| TheraCel (Skin Care) | Herself | Infomercial | |
| 2000 | Biography | 5 Episodes: "Hello Angels Week" | |
| Time and Again: Charlie's Angels | Retrospective | ||
| 2002 | TV Tales: Charlie's Angels | Documentary | |
| 2008 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Episode: "Classic Americana" | |
| Whatever Happened To...? | Episode: "Alpha Females" | ||
| 2017 | The Real Mad Men of Advertising | Episode: The 1970s |
6.3. Theatre
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Vanities | Mary |
| 1982 | Born Yesterday | Billie Dawn |
| 1983 | Close Ties | Anna |
| 1989 | Tamara | Luisa Baccara |
6.4. Discography/Audiobook
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The First Family Rides Again | A voice on the phone |
| 1993 | The Big Book for Our Planet | Narrator |
| 1993 | Lord of Hawkfell Island (Viking Era, Book 2) | Narrator |
6.5. Home video
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Celebrity Guide to Wine | Herself |
| 1993 | The Celebrity Guide to Entertaining | Herself |
6.6. Production
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Lucky Christmas | Producer | Television film |
| 2015 | Perfect Match | Producer | Television film |
| 2016 | Summer of Dreams | Producer | Television film |
| 2017 | Christmas in Evergreen | Producer | Television film |
| 2017 | A Bramble House Christmas | Producer | Television film |
| 2018 | Falling for You | Producer | Television film |