The Life & Unthinkable Death of Adrienne Shelly | Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

"Every horrible day in history has a much happier day before it." --Andy Ostroy

On Halloween night in 2006, Adrienne Shelly was having a blast chatting with friends and helping little kids try to bust open the ghost-shaped piñata hanging in her NYC apartment. She and her husband Andy were hosting a party and enjoying the trick-or-treat holiday with their toddler, Sophie.

Adrienne was also waiting to hear if her most recent film, "Waitress," which she not only wrote and directed but also acted in, had been accepted into Sundance. Sadly, she would never find out. The next day...Adrienne was dead.

The Adrienne Shelly Foundation

DONATE HERE to The Adrienne Shelly Foundation

View photos from the episode

Episode Sources:

“Adrienne” on HBO Max

“Greenwich Village Mystery” Oxygen True Crime: New York Homicide, Season 2, Ep. 15

“The mysterious killing of indie actress Adrienne Shelly: How a suicide turned into a murder” by Eva Guimil, February 22, 2022

“Who Was… Adrienne Shelly?” by Vanessa Zimmer, November 30, 2022

"Remembering Adrienne Shelly, the Feminist Filmmaker Murdered in Her New York City Apartment” by Nick Schager, November 15, 2021

“Actress’s Death Is Ruled Murder, and Worker in Building Is Charged” by Thomas J. Lueck, November 7, 2006

“Who is Adrienne Shelly’s daughter Sophie Ostroy?” by Amber Peake, December 2, 2021

“Indie Film Sweetheart Adrienne Shelly” by Timothy Rhys, August 1, 1996