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Aug 6, 2007 4:19 pm US/Pacific
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Pfeiffer Gets Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (CBS) ―
Michelle Pfeiffer, who abandoned a possible career as a court reporter to become a three-time Academy Award nominee, received the 2,345th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday, four days before the release of her latest film "Stardust."
After not making a live-action film since "White Oleander" in 2002, Pfeiffer -- who won a Golden Globe for her work in "The Fabulous Baker Boys" -- is in three films this summer.
"There are so many people that go into the making of an actor's career, and first and foremost I want to thank my mother, who isn't here right now," Pfeiffer said. "But she ... forcefully preached to me every day the importance of having a career."
Pfeiffer said her mother would tell her, "You need to have a career before you get married."
In "Stardust" Pfeiffer plays a chillingly powerful evil witch who hopes to use a fallen star to achieve eternal youth and beauty. Pfeiffer can be currently seen in theaters as the racist former beauty queen Velma Von Tussle in "Hairspray."
In the romantic comedy "I Could Never Be Your Woman," set for release Sept. 15, Pfeiffer plays a mother who falls for a younger man (Paul Rudd) while her daughter (Saoirse Ronan) falls in love for the first time.
Born April 29, 1958, in Santa Ana, and raised in the unincorporated Orange County community of Midway City, Pfeiffer graduated from Fountain Valley High School in 1976, then briefly studied court reporting at Golden West College before dropping out to pursue an acting career.
In 1978, Pfeiffer won the Miss Orange County pageant, enabling her to get an agent. She made her debut in "Delta House," the short-lived 1979 ABC adaptation of "Animal House," playing a character simply known as "The Bombshell."
Pfeiffer next co-starred in the Aaron Spelling-produced ABC police drama "B.A.D. Cats," which ran for five episodes in early 1980.
Pfeiffer then turned to films. Her first was the 1980 comedy "Hollywood Knights." Her first high-profile role was as the wife of drug baron Tony Montana (Al Pacino) in the 1983 crime drama "Scarface."
She received her first Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of the long-suffering Madame de Tourvel in the 1988 period drama "Dangerous Liaisons," but the Oscar went to Geena Davis for "The Accidental Tourist."
Pfeiffer was a best actress nominee a year later for her role as sexy singer Suzie Diamond in "The Fabulous
BakerBoys," for which she won a Golden Globe as best actress in a drama, but lost out to Jessica Tandy for the Oscar.
The 1992 independent film "Love Field" brought Pfeiffer another best actress Academy Award nomination as Dallas
housewife Lurene Hallett, who is stymied in her attempt to see President John F. Kennedy during his fateful trip
to Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, then is determined to go to Washington for his funeral. Emma Thompson was the Oscar winner that year for "Howards End."
Pfeiffer also received Golden Globe nominations for her roles in "The Age of Innocence"; "Frankie and Johnnie"; "The Russia House" and "Married to the Mob," in addition to the three roles that also brought her Oscar nominations.
Pfeiffer's other film credits include "Batman Returns" as Catwoman; "Dangerous Minds"; "One Fine Day"; "To Gillian on
her 37th Birthday"; "The Witches of Eastwick"; "Tequila Sunrise"; "What Lies Beneath" and "I am Sam."
She is married to TV producer David E. Kelley, whose small screen credits include "The Practice," "Ally McBeal" and "Boston Legal."
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)