Shirley Stoler was a renowned character actress born on March 30, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, to Polish-Jewish immigrants. She was the eldest of four children and began her stage career in 1955, gaining experience with experimental theater companies such as La Mama, Caffe Cino, and Living Theatre.
Stoler's early film career was marked by her portrayal of real-life homicidal maniac Martha Beck in the 1970 film "The Honeymoon Killers," opposite Tony Lo Bianco. This performance earned her a cult following and recognition as a talented actress.
In the years that followed, Stoler appeared in a range of films, including the Academy Award-winning "Klute" and the TV series "Kojak." However, it was her role as a concentration camp commandant in Lina Wertmüller's "Seven Beauties" that cemented her status as a master of playing grotesque and terrifying characters.
Throughout her career, Stoler was often typecast as Eastern European housewives or hardcore urban types, including prostitutes, bartenders, and prison matrons. She appeared in films such as "Desperately Seeking Susan," "Frankenhooker," and "Miami Blues," as well as the Oscar-winning "The Deer Hunter."
Stoler also had a successful stage career, including a national tour of "The Music Man" and a Broadway production of "Lolita." On TV, she made recurring appearances on shows such as "The Edge of Night," "Pee-wee's Playhouse," and "One Life to Live."
Stoler's later film roles included "Malcolm X," "Grumpier Old Men," and "The Deli." She died on February 17, 1999, at the age of 69, due to heart failure. She was survived by her two brothers, Ira and David, and a sister, Miriam.
