Glenne Headly
A character actress of extraordinary charm and quirk, who stole scenes with a unique blend of offbeat wit and genuine warmth.
1955–2017 (age 62)·American actress·Birthday: March 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Glenne Headly possessed a singular screen presence—an everyday beauty with eyes that conveyed both mischief and deep feeling. A product of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, she carried that ensemble's raw, truthful energy to Hollywood, but never lost her theatrical daring. Her breakout in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' opposite Steve Martin and Michael Caine showcased her perfect comic timing and ability to be both the mark and the mastermind. She was never the typical leading lady; instead, she excelled at making supporting roles unforgettable, whether as the sweetly tragic moll Tess Trueheart in 'Dick Tracy' or the devoted principal in 'Mr. Holland's Opus.' On television, she brought a grounded complexity to roles in 'ER' and 'The Night Of.' Headly's art was in the details, crafting fully lived-in characters who felt plucked from real life, always leaving audiences wanting more.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Glenne was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Glenne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Glenne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 50
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 60
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Died at 62
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Won a Theatre World Award and four Joseph Jefferson Awards for her stage work in Chicago.
- Received Primetime Emmy nominations for her guest roles on 'ER' and 'The Night Of.'
- Delivered a standout film performance as Janet Colgate in the comedy 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.'
Did You Know?
She was married to actor John Malkovich from 1982 to 1988.
Headly was a trained ballet dancer before turning to acting.
She was originally cast as Vicki Vale in 'Batman' (1989) but was replaced by Kim Basinger.
“I'm drawn to characters who are a little off, a little strange.”
