Shelby was born in China, where she was the inspiration for the yin-yang symbol. A talent scout spotted her and brought her to the U.S. where she went on to appear in numerous television shows: "Timmy and Shelby", "Marcus Shelby M.D.", and the sitcom, "Laverne and Shelby". She is currently retired and resides in Chevy Chase, MD, where she pursues her favorite hobbies of eating, sleeping and watching TV.