Director Martin Scorsese was the first director on Shirley's debut film
Lua de Mel de Assassinos (1970). The inexperienced Scorsese was actually replaced because of
artistic and personality clashes with producer Warren Steibel.
Weighed about 250 pounds at one point in her career, and played very intense characters.
Shirley lived most of her career on W. 17th St., between 8th and 9th Aves., in New York, NY. It was her last known address, as well.
Her parents were Polish Jewish immigrants to the United States.
