Adrienne Shelly

Adrienne Shelly, born Adrienne Levine, became a face of American independent cinema in Hal Hartley's 'The Unbelievable Truth' and 'Trust', then wrote, directed and starred in 'Waitress', which premiered at Sundance months after she was murdered in her Manhattan office at forty. The film became a hit and later a Broadway musical, and the foundation in her name funds women film-makers. She was born in Queens to Jewish parents, Sheldon Levine and Elaine Langbaum, and took her screen surname from her father's given name.