Cybill Shepherd

About Cybill Shepherd

Cybill Lynne Shepherd is an American actress and former model whose career spans several decades. She made her film debut in the coming-of-age classic The Last Picture Show (1971), directed by Peter Bogdanovich, where she portrayed Jacy Farrow, a role that marked her breakout in the industry alongside Jeff Bridges. Shepherd continued to make her mark with performances in Elaine May's The Heartbreak Kid (1972) as Kelly, Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976) as Betsy, and Woody Allen's Alice (1990) as Nancy.

On television, her first significant role was as Colleen Champion in the single season of the nighttime drama The Yellow Rose (1983). She rose to fame playing Madeline Hayes in the detective comedy-drama Moonlighting (1985–1989), sharing the screen with Bruce Willis. This role earned her two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical TV Series from three nominations. Shepherd went on to star as Cybill Sheridan in the sitcom Cybill (1995–1998), where she secured her third Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical TV Series. Her subsequent TV roles featured Phyllis Kroll in The L Word (2007–2009), Madeleine Spencer in Psych (2008–2013), Cassie in the TV film The Client List (2010), and Linette Montgomery in The Client List (2012–2013).

During her time at East High School in Memphis, Tennessee, Shepherd earned the title of "Miss Teenage Memphis" and competed at the 1966 Miss Teenage America pageant at just 16, where she won the congeniality award. At 18, she participated in the 1968 "Model of the Year" contest, paving the way for fashion modeling opportunities during and after her high school years. In her autobiography, Cybill Disobedience: How I Survived Beauty Pageants, Elvis, Sex, Bruce Willis, Lies, Marriage, Motherhood, Hollywood, and the Irrepressible Urge to Say What I Think, she recalled a moment in 1978 when, feeling discontented with her life and career, she called her mother for comfort. Her mother advised her to return home.

Upon her return to Memphis, Shepherd met David M. Ford, a local auto parts dealer and nightclub performer, and the two began a relationship that soon led to marriage after she became pregnant. Their daughter, Clementine Ford, was born in 1979, but the couple divorced in 1982. In 1987, she became pregnant by chiropractor Bruce Oppenheim, leading to their marriage. They welcomed twins, Ariel and Zachariah Shepherd Oppenheim, during the fourth season of Moonlighting, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1990. Shepherd also had a significant personal connection with author Larry McMurtry, whom she described as the love of her