No Love Lost: The Untold Story of Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine’s Hollywood Feud

Three and a half decades after their iconic collaboration, the ongoing feud between Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine continues to captivate audiences.

During an appearance on Bravo's talk show hosted by Andy Cohen, Winger, now 63, dismissed a question about her relationship with the 84-year-old MacLaine, who won an Oscar for her role as Winger's mother in the 1983 film “Terms of Endearment.”

Winger corrected Cohen, stating that she did not write about MacLaine in her book “Undiscovered” published in 2008, but rather MacLaine had written about her.

When Cohen asked about rumors of Winger passing gas in MacLaine's direction and licking her leg during a love scene with Jack Nicholson, Winger responded with a smile, admitting that there was some truth to those claims.

It is well-documented that Winger and MacLaine had a tumultuous relationship while working on “Terms of Endearment,” which mirrored the dynamic between their characters, Emma Greenway and Aurora, respectively.

Both actresses were nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, but it was MacLaine who ultimately took home the coveted prize, proclaiming, “I deserve this!”

during her acceptance speech.

The drama began on set when MacLaine, an established Hollywood veteran with three Oscar nominations, met Winger, a rising star following the success of “Urban Cowboy” in 1980.

“I didn't know the name Debra Winger.

I didn't know who she was,” MacLaine admitted in a 1984 interview with PEOPLE magazine.

Director-screenwriter James L. Brooks recalled that they were all nervous when first introduced.

MacLaine described her initial impression of Winger, noting that she was dressed in combat boots and a miniskirt, while MacLaine herself was adorned in fur coats.

This stark contrast set the tone for their on-set clashes, as Winger's rebellious nature clashed with MacLaine's reserved demeanor.

“No one can truly understand the dynamics of their relationship, not even the two of them,” remarked Brooks.

The result was an incredibly complex and authentic mother-daughter bond portrayed onscreen, despite the tense atmosphere behind the scenes.

In her autobiography “My Lucky Stars” published in 1995, MacLaine recounted an incident where Winger shouted at her to hit her marks on set, to which MacLaine responded that she knew how to do so.

As a retaliation, Winger turned around, lifted her skirt slightly, and farted in MacLaine's face.

Winger admitted in a 1986 interview with the New York Times that they did indeed fight and were not on friendly terms outside of work.

However, she emphasized that there was always a level of respect between them.

Over the years, both Winger and MacLaine have moved on from their feud, but the public remains fascinated by their legendary clashes, reminiscent of the infamous rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Winger expressed her indifference towards their conflicts, stating in a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly that she focused more on the quality of their work rather than the personal disputes that fueled them.

Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the feud generated considerable attention and media coverage.

She recalled advice given to her by Jack Nicholson, another renowned co-star from “Terms of Endearment,” who told her not to deny anything because the first thing denied is automatically believed.

The ongoing feud between Winger and MacLaine has become a part of Hollywood lore, forever etched in the annals of the entertainment industry.