The Life of 70s Hollywood Icon Cybill Shepherd

On The L Word, Shepherd played Phyllis Kroll, a university administrator whose personal life changes after she begins exploring her sexuality. The role gave her a memorable place in a series centered on LGBTQ characters, relationships, and community.

For Shepherd, the part connected her to a newer generation of viewers who knew her less from The Last Picture Show or Moonlighting. It also showed her willingness to take on roles tied to identity, reinvention, and later-life self-discovery. And as her screen work continued, her public support for LGBTQ causes became more visible.