Whatever Happened to Marley Shelton?
If you grew up in the ’90s, you probably recognize Marley Shelton. Maybe you first spotted her as Wendy Peffercorn in The Sandlot, the lifeguard who launched a thousand summer crushes, or later in teen favorites like Never Been Kissed and Sugar & Spice. She was one of those faces that seemed to be everywhere for a while, then quietly slipped out of the spotlight. So, where did she go?
The answer is that she never really left—and in recent years, she’s had something of a comeback, reprising her franchise role of Judy Hicks in 2022’s Scream and appearing on the 2022 Yellowstone prequel 1923, as well as several 2025 episode of Matlock.
How did Marley Shelton begin her career?
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection
Shelton, now 51 years old now, was born in Los Angeles in 1974, and has been working in film and television since 1990. She grew up as the daughter of Carol, a teacher and former singer, and Christopher Shelton, a director and producer. One of four daughters, she eventually followed her dad into the industry, and her sister Samantha also became an actress and musician.
Shelton attended Eagle Rock High School, then studied film and theater at UCLA while taking acting lessons with respected coaches Larry Moss and Robert Carnegie. She began getting minor roles in the early ’90s, and when she landed a leading role in the fantasy-adventure Warriors of Virtue, she left UCLA to focus entirely on acting.
20th Century-Fox Film Corporation/Everett Collection
She appeared in Grand Canyon in 1991, then in TV projects such as Up to No Good, Family Matters, Camp Wilder and Crossroads. Things changed in 1993, when she played Wendy Peffercorn in The Sandlot. The film became a cult favorite over time, and her brief but unforgettable turn as the lifeguard at the local pool turned her into an icon.
By the late ’90s, Shelton had firmly moved into the teen and young adult film space. In Pleasantville, she played 1950s teen Margaret and later joined Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed as part of the polished high school clique that Barrymore’s Josie longs to join. She also appeared in The Bachelor opposite Renée Zellweger.
In the early 2000s, Shelton seemed to be everywhere. In 2001 alone, Shelton starred in Sugar & Spice as Diane Weston, the slasher film Valentine as Kate Davies and became Chloe, the love interest of Jake Gyllenhaal‘s character, in Bubble Boy. She then drifted into more independent fare, such as the dark comedy Just a Kiss, the drama Dallas 362, and the offbeat projects Moving Alan, Grand Theft Parsons and Uptown Girls, in which she took on supporting roles.
Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection
As many film actors did around that time, she shifted more into television while still making movies. In 2008, she had a small role in Oliver Stone‘s W. and landed her first central series role in CBS’s Eleventh Hour as FBI Special Agent Rachel Young. The show only ran for one season, but it was a big step. Around this time, she also appeared in the thriller A Perfect Getaway.
Where is Marley Shelton now?
Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection
More recently, her career has remained steady and varied. She appeared in the second season of Manhunt as Hannah Gray. She then returned to the Scream universe in 2022, as Sheriff Judy Hicks, after first portraying the character in Scream 4. From 2022 to 2023, she took on Emma Dutton in 1923, part of the Yellowstone universe, appeared in Tracker in 2024, and took on a three-episode role as Lydia Reed in Matlock in 2025.
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Away from the cameras, Shelton has kept her life fairly grounded. She met producer Beau Flynn while working on Bubble Boy in 2000, and the two married in July 2001. They have two children together, and she has largely stayed out of the tabloid spotlight.
Remind 
February 2021
1990s Rom-Coms
Pop some popcorn and cozy up to feel-good movies and TV shows from a generation ago.
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