Shirley Beavis[1] is an unseen character in Beavis and Butt-Head. She is Beavis' debauched mother, who has almost never been seen on-screen, but mentioned several times throughout the series.
Biography[]
At some point in 1978[2], she and Butt-Head's mother hooked up with a couple of Motley Crue roadies for a one-night stand. The following day, the roadie duo left the women and continued their drifting, unaware that they were pregnant with their future children, Beavis and Butt-Head.
Shirley gave birth to and brought up Beavis. However, she wasn't very attentive to him at all, constantly "coming down with the liquor flu" and sleeping with various men rather than trying to keep her son on the right path. She also tried to abandon him on many occasions, such as leaving him at an IKEA so she can escape to Las Vegas with a couple of bikers. She also didn't seem to care whenever her son got into trouble with authorities or aggressive thugs, and didn't bat an eye at her son's and his best friend's reckless antics, damaging to both her house and themselves. Shirley often disappeared for weeks at a time, leaving her son home alone with his terrible influence of a best friend Butt-Head.
In 1998, when her son was sentenced to space camp after burning his school's gymnasium down, he was sent on an extravagant space mission with NASA and was supposedly left for dead after botching it (although he was actually sucked into a black hole and teleported 24 years into the future). Upon hearing this news, Shirley was devastated, showing that she did love him after all, and sued NASA for a generous settlement, which she apparently squandered quickly.[1]
It is unknown where Shirley is now in the present day, since she doesn't seem to be aware that her son is still alive and well (and the same age due to time travel) and doesn't live in her old house anymore, leaving him and Butt-Head without proper parental supervision for good (as implied in "Hunting Trip" and dialogue by Mr. Van Driessen in "Needle Dicks").
Personality[]
Shirley is a very mysterious character, but it is a well-known fact that she is promiscuous, which Butt-Head frequently brings up to annoy Beavis. Although she was extremely negligent, she did seem to geniunely love her son deep down, as she was heartbroken to hear about his "death" in outer space in 1998, and sued NASA for it.
Trivia[]
- It has been theorised by fans that the blonde woman seen seated behind the duo during their 1998 trial in Do the Universe is Shirley, because of her slight resemblance to Beavis. However, it hasn't been confirmed if that was actually her.
- Her only physical appearance on-screen so far was during a flashback of her son's third birthday party in "The Special One". However, it was only her arm. She was shown to have pink nails.
Gallery[]
Protagonists: Beavis / Cornholio / Old · Butt-Head / Old
Recurring Characters: Tom Anderson · Stewart Stevenson · Todd · Burger World Manager (2022) · Mrs. Stevenson · Mr. Stevenson · Lolita and Tanqueray · Maxi-Mart Clerk
Highland High School: David Van Driessen · Daria Morgendorffer · Principal McVicker · Coach Buzzcut · Spanish Teacher · Ms. Tress · School Nurse · Kimberly · Cassandra · Earl · Martin (thin) · Mrs. Dickey · Gina · Dreama · Dean Zunker · Punk Girl · Wilbur · Martin (gifted student) · JD · Glennis · Cody · Audrey · Mrs. Ortiz · Security Guard · Gym Teacher · Tommy · "Spare Me" Girls · Amy Asskowitz · Audrey's Friend · Dick Gaylord · School Psychologist · Ms. Jenkins · Jim the Substitute · Woodshop Teacher · Ryan · Librarian · Unnamed Female Teacher (Citizen Butt-Head)
Minor Characters: Marcie Anderson · Clark Cobb · Dave · Harry Sachz · Homeless Man · Madame Blavatsky · Redneck Lady · Crazy Farmer · Billy Bob · Slade · Psycho · Principal Brown · President Bill Clinton · Concert Girls · Hamid · Sterculius, the Roman God of Feces · St. Peter · Unnamed Police Officers · Mr. Manners · Frog · Harry Buddisker · Hiro · Mistress Cora Anthrax · Biker Lady · Fork Injury Guy · Peter Small · Killer · Second Killer · Ross and Harlan · Ellen · Keith · Case Worker · Rabid Ron · Lydia · Katya · Hairdresser · McVicker's Family · Beavis' Imaginary Children · Butt-Head's Imaginary Children · Gus Baker · Leroy · Fire · Jesus Christ · Ganesha · Buddha · Zeus · Bill Gates · Bill (Steamroller) · Linda · Joan · Mall Girls · Elevator Chick · Joe Adler · Suspicious Chick · Maya Kanigher · Megan · Old Woman (Couch-Fishing) · Cop (Couch-Fishing) · Cop (Pipe of Doom) · Cop (Screamers) · Mechanic · Slob · Priest · Rabbi · Jasmine · Captain Dick Jackman · Charlie the Angel · Misty Lou · Lucas · Dennis · Female Judge · Screaming Guy · Black Female Cop · Corvair Owner · Jim Baxley · Snake Woman · Urologist · Dr. Fisk · Dr. Leibowitz · Vet Receptionist · Wrong Mr. Anderson · Crystal · Sapphire · Gary · Shawna · Suspicious Chick · Debra Shea · Trish Burbee · Tiffany the Rubber Band Lady · Max Graham · Veterinarian · Victoria's Dad · Ric Aaron Joseph · Receptionist (Pumping Iron)
Movie Characters: Muddy Grimes · Dallas Grimes · ATF Agent Bork · ATF Agent Flemming · FBI Agent Hurly · Old Woman · Motley Crue Roadies · Judge · Serena Ryan · Jim Hartson · Mattison · Empress Beavis · Emperor Butt-Head
Smart Characters: Smart Beavis · Smart Butt-Head · Smart Daria · Smart McVicker · Smart Buzzcut · Smart Van Driessen · Smart Todd · Smart Judge · Smart Mrs. Stevenson
Mentioned Characters: Shirley Beavis · Tom Anderson's Son · Tom Anderson's Father
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe
- ↑ Butt-Head's birth certificate in "Safe Driving" shows the year 1978. Beavis was likely born the same year since he and Butt-Head appear to be roughly the same age.