The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime

by Shirley MacLaine

Academy Award-winning actress and New York Times bestselling author Shirley MacLaine shares a dazzling memoir in photographs, chronicling her extraordinary life with 150+ images from her personal archive

With over seventy years on the silver screen, Shirley MacLaine has, as she says, seen it all, done it all, been everywhere, and met everyone. In 1955, she debuted in Hollywood as the lead role in The Trouble with Harry, winning her the first of many Golden Globes, and from there, her popularity only grew as she amassed a stunning collection of awards, stories, and experiences.

Now, at nearly ninety years old, MacLaine has more stories to tell and the pictures to bring them to life. By introducing readers to her extensive photo collection, MacLaine shares both intimate family memories and images from some of the most significant figures from film, entertainment, and politics. With her natural wit and charm, she reveals the stories behind each photo, exploring ambition, love, friendship, motherhood, art, political activism, and more.

By doing so, MacLaine charts the course of her remarkable life and career, sharing both early memories (her childhood with her brother Warren Beatty, her decision to leave for New York City at age sixteen, her early work on Broadway, and becoming a mother) as well as remembrances of her days in the public eye (campaigning for George McGovern, traveling to meet political luminaries, starring in legendary film roles, and developing an interest in spirituality).

Along the way, readers gain greater insight into figures such Frank Sinatra, Bob Fosse, Bette Davis, Jack Nicholson, the Dalai Lama, Fidel Castro, Mikhael Baryshnikov, and many more. And whether she's sharing what advice Elvis Presley asked her for, how she consoled close friend Elizabeth Taylor after the death of her husband, or which prime minister she discussed UFOs with, MacLaine offers her most visual and candid book yet, giving readers an unprecedented glance into a life like no other.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Photography, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Audiobook

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Shirley MacLaine is an actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed, and eccentric women, she has received numerous accolades over her seven-decade career, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, six Golden Globes, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Apart from acting, MacLaine has written numerous books regarding the subjects of metaphysics, spirituality, and reincarnation, as well as a New York Times bestselling memoir, Out On a Limb.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't make a top 5 list for Shirley MacLaine movies because I've only seen 4 of them but 3 are fantastic...so here's my Top 3 List

1. Steel Magnolias
2. The Apartment
3. What A Way To Go

The other movie is Cannonball Run 2..it's hot garbage.

It's ironic how much I love coffee table picture books because I hate having my picture taken. I even get mad when my sister posts pictures of me on social media. I hate hate taking pictures...but I love looking at other people's pics.

Shirley MacLaine is a legend. She's 90 years old and she's honest in the way only old people are. I read a book about her brother Warren Beatty a few years ago...I wasn't a fan of him but I'm definitely a fan of Shirley and I plan on reading more about her. I know she has at least one other autobiography and I'm excited to dig deeper into her life.

A must read for my Classic Hollywood lovers.

[Jim Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the back cover of THE WALL OF LIFE: PICTURES AND STORIES FROM THIS MARVELOUS LIFETIME, a section from Shirley MacLaine's introduction is featured:

"About forty-five years ago, I put ten or so framed photographs of friends and family and people I've worked with all grouped together on a living room wall in my Malibu home. Everyone who came over loved to look at this montage, and so the "Wall of Life" was born .... The Wall of Life has been a stage for asking questions, and not just for visitors to ask me things, but for me to ask myself to get at a deeper truth, and to question my visitors to understand them more .... It's still an engaging project."

It is also an intriguing read. The book consists of a collection of pictures from Shirley MacLaine's life, along with her comments, observations and asides. Through them, I'm sure that I gained some insight into the writer's perspective, although this is definitely not an autobiography. The gaps are extensive and often assume that the Reader has a lot of background knowledge going in.

Still, although it was a very brisk read, I know that I gained two things. First, there were some behind-the-scenes observations that intrigued me (two brief appearances by Bob Fosse immediately come to mind). Secondly, I am fascinated by using one's walls not only for fashionable or pleasing displays, but also for the purpose of opening communication and gaining insight. Many of us have used "magnets on the refrigerator" to capture important moments, be it a child's inspired drawing or a memory from a very special journey. Shirley MacLaine has multiplied that concept in a wonderful way.

Bonus: A very close friend has been preparing herself to walk the Camino de Santiago across Spain. Well, it turns out that Shirley MacLaine spent 30-days doing that all by herself. Two pictures are provided and an insightful commentary. I'll be sharing that with my friend.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a Shirley MacLaine fan like me, you'll enjoy her coffee table book chock full of many pictures from Shirley's public and private life. She's had a remarkable life, also both publicly and privately. Some pictures are posed, some candid, all of them tell a story of the actress's long and celebrated life.

[Laurel Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photo Album Fun

It was like looking through photo albums with a dear old friend. I have always understood, admired and respected Shirley. I would love to spend hours talking with her. But, as that is not likely, this will do nicely. For those of us of a certain age, it is a warm and wonderful walk through the good times.

[Paul LaGreca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Shirley MacLaine fans! Fun and easy read.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are witnessing Shirley McLean at the pinnacle of her life. Unmatched experiences as a mom, dancer, actor, relatable friend and spiritual alien communicatress and she still has more to go in the meantime. The pictures in this book are beautiful as well as the meaningful text she writes that goes along with it. Shirley has so many books she’s written over her lifetime, documenting her profound insights as well as her wacky quirky personality and passionate open secret love affairs. This book Wall of Life is definitely one of her best heretofore imagined come to light. She brings to everyone her “Wall of Life” in pictures in this book. There are a lot of very rare photos in here that no one has ever seen and I totally love that. I don’t know if I’ve ever known anyone so interesting and truly magnetizing with just everything that she’s all about. I hope you get to view and read this book. Claps and snaps all around. If you have a past life regression in your next life, I’m sure you will recall reading this book.. that’s how great it is!

[Carol N · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong fan of Shirley MacLaine, I enjoy her book, The Wall of Life. It was chock full of pictures, both public and private, along with comments from her long and celebrated life. She's led a remarkable life. Her book's pictures are beautiful, along with her meaningful text she shares her lifetime of adventures.

[Tena Edlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick listen. I wish SM would have played Ouiser in Steel Magnolias at this age!

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can say I’m somewhat of a fan of Shirley MacLaine. She acted in some of my favorite movies including, Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias. Of course, I also loved her small role in Downton Abbey. In her latest book, (she’s written several) this particular memoir style is slightly different. MacLaine shares photographs from her wall of life. The wall of life is a wall of photos in her home that chronicles some of the most important moments of her life as well as photographs of the people that mean the most to her. On the opposing page of the photo, MacLaine shares a paragraph or two about the photo, who is in it, what was happening at the time, or a story related to the person in the photo. It mostly moves chronologically through her life, but she does jump around a bit based on the pictures on the page.

You’ll find photos of when Shirley was a child with her parents and brother. Did you know her brother is Warren Beatty? I feel dumb for not knowing that. Much of the book includes photos of her with her daughter, Sachi. In snippets, Shirley reveals parts of her life like how she chose her stage name. Her given name is Shirley MacLean Beaty, but she struggled with people knowing how to pronounce Beaty. So, she switched to MacLean but then tweaked the spelling so people would pronounce it correctly. I noticed that Warren added an extra “t” to his last name, possibly to also help with pronunciation.

Shirley began her career as a dancer on Broadway, moving to New York City at just sixteen. (After recently reading Kelly Bishop’s memoir, I wonder if they knew each other since they had similar starts in the business.) Then she moved into acting in movies, known early for Around the World in 80 Days and The Pajama Game.

In the beginning, she worked with actors and directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis. Later, she became dear friends with Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Streisand, and Liza Minnelli. MacLaine’s marriage to Steve Parker was unconventional but loving. He spent most of his time in Japan and she was often on set. She raised Sachi practically as a single mom and took her everywhere including numerous trips to Japan where she became immersed in the culture there.

MacLaine writes in the Introduction that she looks at her wall of life “as a stage for asking questions, not just for visitors to ask me things, but for me to ask myself to get at a deeper truth.” We also have a wall of life in our home, full of our favorite pictures and memories together as a family. You’ll often find me reminiscing as I’m looking at the photos and thinking about how fast time flies. At 90, I’m sure MacLaine is also feeling that life has flown by and this book allows her to share intimate pieces of her life story one more time along with some cherished photos for her fans. Fans of celebrity memoirs will enjoy adding this coffee-table style of book to their collection.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I think of Shirley MacLaine, a lyric describing Maria from The Sound of Music comes to mind: How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
I recommend reading this book in print (for all the pictures) while listening to the audio, especially since MacLaine reads it herself. Note: the audio from Libby stated it was unabridged, but it was not so; no worries, however — whenever there was a gap, I paused the audio and read until it was back in sync. Like the title says, these are pictures and stories…not a lot of detail here. It felt like spending time with an eccentric aunt going through her photo albums and sharing bits of her amazing life and career. A fun evening’s entertainment.
What’s your favorite Shirley MacLaine film? Mine is The Turning Point.

[Ketti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little gem. It’s one of those sit down and read from start to finish in one sitting books. The photographs are so delightful.

My favorite – photo with Maggie Smith - Shirley writes –
“I had known Maggie Smith for about twenty years before we did Downton Abbey together, and I always reminded her, “I’m older than you.” We sat around in our period costumes, hair, and makeup, and talked about life. Sometimes in between scenes, I would watch her in a tiny rehearsal room playing cards by herself. It was an entertainment for me just to watch how this brilliant actress reacted to winning, to losing, to luck. More than anybody else, she doesn’t cover up. She’s something else.

[Rebecca Wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for Xmas and read and looked at the photos and finished in one day. Shirley is an interesting person and this is a review in photos of her life. She has entertained me in many of her movies. I will always remember Weiser, the mother in Terms of Endearment and her first film The Trouble with Harry. A talented actress.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting audiobook with companion PDF featuring selected pictures. Shirley MacLaine has led a very full and successful life and shares some stories. Pretty good; I might go back and read some of her other books.

[Maz Zahariadis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read as she gives a short story about photographs taken throughout her life. I like her, so enjoyed reading her stories.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick read and photos, took me
About an hour and I couldn’t put it down. All new to me.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime is an enjoyable photo album with anecdotes from author/actress/dancer Shirley MacLaine. One surprising element (no spoilers) is how much she candidly expresses-- but often quite obliquely. She does not spell everything out, but MacLaine is comfortable in her own skin. She is capable and a master of simply being herself.

I read her memoirs and reincarnation books decades ago. It's definitely time to refresh my memory and re-read Out on a Limb.

This is a fast but delightful change of pace.

[Ann M. Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short on stories…calling it a book is a real stretch

A picture book with captions. Very disappointing. I would not recommend purchasing unless you read the sample first. I wish I had.

[Rama Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life in pictures

In this remarkable book of pictures, author Shirly MacLaine shares over 150 images (B&W) from her personal archive accompanied by a brief narrative. There are numerous pictures from her childhood with parents and brother Warren Beatty, several pictures with members of “Rat Pack,” Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davies, Jr. with whom she had lasting friendship, in addition, Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Sydney Poitier, and many others including Morgan Freeman to whom she once propositioned. She also met many American presidents like Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and Geroge McGovern. She led a life of political and personal activism.

There is a photograph on page 242 depicting a woman dancing on the top of a cliff. This image is a self-portrait capturing MacLaine herself in a moment of expressive dance against a dramatic natural backdrop. It reflects her lifelong dedication to dance, performing arts, and her adventurous spirit that is deeply connected to Oneness with nature. It is a visual representation of her artistic journey and personal philosophy, a harmonious blend of art with the natural world. Shirley MacLaine explored Vedanta philosophy of Hinduism, and profoundly impacted by the themes of interconnectedness, self-realization, and the nature of Pure Consciousness, Paramātmā, the Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul where all personality/individuality, spacetime, matter and energy vanishes. MacLaine was deeply immersed in this metaphysical thought in which a universal consciousness gives rise to everything that exists in the cosmos. Reincarnation, a concept of Hindu philosophy fascinated MacLaine and she reflects her thoughts about past lives, dharma, karma, and attainment of Jnana yoga.

MacLaine was married to producer Steve Parker from 1954 to 1982 with an unconventional relationship, an open marriage, allowing both partners to explore other relationships. She admits to affairs with her costars Robert Mitchum, French actor Yves Montand, comedian and actor Danny Kaye, George Huvos, her first love, and Andrew Peacock, her last love. There were also relationships with journalists, Pete Hamill, and Sander Vanocur, and of course she also admits that she once propositioned actor Morgan Freeman, but he declined her advance.

In one section of the book, she discusses being nominated for best actress for the film Apartment, but on Oscar night, she was in Japan filming Geisha. She believes that Elizabeth Taylor won the award in best actress category for Butterfield 8 because the award was a sympathy vote for Taylor who was dying of pneumonia that year. MacLaine felt disappointed but agrees that her best friend Elizabeth Taylor was a brilliant actress, The Apartment is still one of her favorite films.

There are pictures from India she visited; she flew to New Delhi, rented a car, and drove south to Chennai (Madras) by herself ended up on the west coast of India. She was exhilarated by the spirituality and culture. In 1994, she walked the Camino de Santiago, a five-hundred-mile trek across Spain in thirty days by herself, and her meeting with Stephen Hawking at Cambridge discussing cosmology. She speaks warmly of her friendship with members of the Ratpack, especially Sammy Davis Jr. This is a wonderful book which I very much enjoyed, and I strongly recommend this to readers interested in her life.

[Jarrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars (come ON, Goodreads!) First off, this is a review of the downloadable audiobook, which I found to be a delight. Shirley MacLaine narrates her life story, from her early ambitions to some of the insights she's made up to last year. While her voice has been impacted by the wear and tear of decades in the entertainment industry, she still has a peppy spirit and it's fairly easy to hear her words of wisdom. While much of her life has been on the stage and screen, she's also and author and avid traveler, which is inspirational in and of itself. This book would be a good fit for another interested in "show business," the relationships between actors and actresses (romantically or otherwise), staying curious as you age, or the benefits of traveling the world and exploring new places and meeting new people. #IndyPLAdult

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too much text here, mostly one of a kind black and white photographs that I have not seen anyplace. What text is included is sparse but intriguing.

There are quite a few photographs of Ms. MacLaine and husband Steve Parker's daughter Sachi, which suggest that over the years they have reconciled. Ms. MacLaine suggests that the way she and her spouse handled Sachi's childhood and the inter-continental separations was not in the best interests of all. Included with the photographs of Sachi are those of Sachi's and her ex-spouse's children

Ms. MacLaine states that she loved Robert Mitchum, but not enough to marry him.

Fairly quick read in a relatively large format book (not a coffee table book however).

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fascination with Shirley MacLaine started years ago, probably over 30 years ago now, when I happen to see a copy of her book, Out On A Limb. Oh boy was that an opening of my mind. How could she write what I felt? She tapped into my own truths. I've read other books by her and they were all very interesting. The one on walking the Camino was really good.
This book is interesting because it is a walk through the photos on her walls at her homes, about the people and lives that mixed with hers. What an extraordinary life she has led.
Not only is she one of the top movie stars, she is an extraordinary writer also.
I gave this a 5 because with photos she takes you on a journey of not just her life, but the lives she has touched.

[Lynn Lok-Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirley MacLaine has always been fearless about telling the truth of her life, and in The Wall of Life she does it again—with photos, stories, and reflections that are as unfiltered as they are moving.

She's lived a lifetime of courage, curiosity, travel, reinvention, and love. Some moments made me laugh out loud—like her boldness in asking Morgan Freeman on a date—while others caught me off guard with their raw honesty.

This isn’t just a book about Hollywood glamour or famous friends. It’s a reminder that every life, when looked at honestly, is a mosaic of beauty, mess, love, and growth. Shirley’s wall reflects her unique path, but it also encourages each of us to honor our own and never apologize for living our truth.

[Sophia Luu]

This is like a micro dose before getting to a full blown memoir. A lot of fun pics and little stories. I always like hearing about how the stars' childhood and how they got their start, as well as hearing about the old Hollywood/Broadway going-ons. It was fun to learn about her being the "mascot" of the Rat Pack. I also liked learning about Danny Kaye. I was not expecting to learn about MacLaine's belief in UFO's and the extra terrestial. Her shot to stardom was so fast! What one twisted ankle can do to change the trajectory of someone else's life..

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the photos and life history of Ms. MacLaine. I probably would have enjoyed it more if she had been one of my all time favorite actresses. She is not though I loved these films: The Children's Hour with Audrey Hepburn, The Turning Point with Anne Bancroft, Steel Magnolias, The Apartment, and Terms of Endearment. If you are a fan, you will like the book. Kristi & Abby Tabby Childless Cat Lady

[Janine Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swallowed this book whole. In a couple of hours on an icy February Sunday I cuddled up and let the photographs and stories wash over me. What a delight. What an amazing life Shirley has lived and continues to live. I have always loved her brashness and honesty. But not just that … her fearlessness and desire to love and experience. I have read a number of her books and seen some movies … she is a force. Well done Ms. MacLaine. Thank you.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirley MacLaine has written many books. some memoirs of her life. This one she writes of moments of her life through the pictures she has on her wall. They start from her childhood in Virginia {including pictures of her younger brother Warren Beatty} Many are pictures from her career as an actress. she writes about the pictures, family members, beloved pets. fellow actors and many other people who have been a part of her life. a nice memoir with lots of pictures.

[Ali Searer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read with some neat previews into the fascinating life of Shirley MacLaine and some of the others she has encountered along the way. Nothing profound, but enjoyable I also have had a wall of life (photos taped to the wall) in most of my spaces over the years, so I enjoyed this glimpse into another person's thoughts while viewing theirs.

[Ron Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Shirley early in her career. Heck, I even married a gal that had her devastating eyes!
This memoir takes you through her life but in photos and comments. What a treat! No tales of woe. Her brother Warren Beaty we know of. I just started this book but so far an easy and interesting read.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

VERY short...I listened to it during my workout at the gym, this memoir is more a list of people Shirley MacLaine knew than stories about them. A few interesting stories about her early life and the beginning of her career, then a lot of name dropping. The stories weren't in any kind of order. She mentioned a movie she was in in the 80's, and the next sentence a party for John Kennedy.

[Jennifer Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still an Enigma!

I’ve read all of Shirley’s books and still feel as if I don’t know her! But I still love the books and this one was perfect. I love photographs and these are so fun to see. At 90, Shirley is still going strong. I just love her.