<P> Shelby successfully delivers a baby boy, Jackson Jr., but begins showing signs of kidney failure and starts dialysis . She celebrates July Fourth, around the time Jackson Jr. turns one, by successfully receiving a donated kidney from M'Lynn, allowing Shelby to seemingly resume a normal life . Four months later, on Halloween, Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and M'Lynn throw Annelle a surprise wedding shower, as she is now engaged to Sammy . Shelby is unavailable to attend due to a conflicting schedule with her nursing job, and is later found by Jackson unconscious on the porch of her house . Shelby is rushed to the hospital, where it is determined that her body rejected the new kidney, and she is now in a coma . The doctors inform the family that Shelby is likely to remain comatose indefinitely, and they all jointly decide to take her off life support . At the funeral, after the other mourners have left, M'Lynn breaks down in hysterics in front of Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and Annelle, but is comforted by them . </P> <P> Later, at the wake, M'Lynn begins to accept her daughter's decision to end her life in return for a few months of motherhood . Annelle, now married and pregnant, asks M'Lynn if she could name her own baby after Shelby, since Shelby was the reason Annelle and Sammy met . M'Lynn gives her blessings and assures Annelle that Shelby would have loved it . Months later, on Easter morning, Annelle goes into labor during an Easter egg hunt, is rushed to the hospital by Truvy and her husband Spud, and another life begins . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th> Relationship </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sally Field </Td> <Td> Mary Lynn "M'Lynn" Eatenton </Td> <Td> Social Worker; Wife to Drum Eatenton; Mother to Shelby, Jonathan and Tommy; Jackson's mother - in - law; Jack Jr.'s maternal grandmother </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dolly Parton </Td> <Td> Truvy Jones </Td> <Td> Beautician; Wife to Spud Jones; Mother to Louie; town gossip </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Shirley MacLaine </Td> <Td> Louisa "Ouiser" Boudreaux </Td> <Td> Clairee Belcher's best friend and confidant; Eatenton Family's next - door neighbor; town curmudgeon, and Drum Eatenton's nemesis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Daryl Hannah </Td> <Td> Annelle Dupuy Desoto </Td> <Td> Newcomer to town; Apprentice Beautician hired by Truvy Jones; first married to Bunkie Dupuy; later marries Sammy Desoto </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Olympia Dukakis </Td> <Td> Clairee Belcher </Td> <Td> Former town first lady; sister to Drew Marmillion, sister - in - law to Belle Marmillion; aunt to Marshall and Nancy Beth Marmillion; best friend and confidant of Ouiser Boudreaux; friend of the Eatentons and Joneses </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Julia Roberts </Td> <Td> Shelby Eatenton Latcherie </Td> <Td> Eldest child and only daughter of Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton; sister to Jonathan and Tommy; marries Jackson Latcherie and gives birth to Jackson "Jack" Latcherie, Jr.; suffers from type one diabetes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tom Skerritt </Td> <Td> Thomas Drummond "Drum" Eatenton </Td> <Td> Husband of M'Lynn Eatenton, Father to Shelby, Jonathan and Tommy; Jackson Latcherie's father - in - law; Jack Jr.'s maternal grandfather </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sam Shepard </Td> <Td> Spud Jones </Td> <Td> Sporadically employed laborer; Truvy Jones's husband and Louie's father </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dylan McDermott </Td> <Td> Jackson Latcherie </Td> <Td> Lawyer; Shelby Eatenton's husband; Jack Jr.'s father; Drum and M'Lynn's son - in - law and Jonathan and Tommy's brother - in - law </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kevin J. O'Connor </Td> <Td> Sammy Desoto </Td> <Td> Annelle Dupuy's eventual husband, who met her at Shelby and Jackson's wedding reception </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bill McCutcheon </Td> <Td> Owen Jenkins </Td> <Td> Ouiser Boudreaux's former boyfriend who has returned to town </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ann Wedgeworth </Td> <Td> Aunt Fern Thornton </Td> <Td> Jackson Latcherie's aunt; her specialty is baking animal - shaped cakes </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Knowl Johnson </Td> <Td> Tommy Eatenton </Td> <Td> Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton's first - born son and middle child; Shelby and Jonathan's brother; Jackson's brother - in - law; Jack Jr.'s maternal uncle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jonathan Ward </Td> <Td> Jonathan Eatenton </Td> <Td> Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton's second - born son and youngest child; Shelby and Tommy's brother; Jackson's brother - in - law; Jack Jr.'s maternal uncle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ronald Young </Td> <Td> Drew Marmillion </Td> <Td> Clairee Belcher's brother; Husband to Belle Marmillion; Father to Marshall and Nancy Beth </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bibi Besch </Td> <Td> Belle Marmillion </Td> <Td> Drew Marmillion's wife; Mother to Marshall and Nancy Beth; Clairee Belcher's sister - in - law </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Janine Turner </Td> <Td> Nancy - Beth Marmillion </Td> <Td> Drew and Belle Marmillion's daughter; Marshall's sister; Clairee Belcher's niece; town's dethroned "Miss Merry Christmas" </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> James Wlcek </Td> <Td> Marshall Marmillion </Td> <Td> Drew and Belle Marmillion's son; Nancy Beth's brother; Clairee Belcher's nephew; announces to his parents he is gay </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tom Hodges </Td> <Td> Louie Jones </Td> <Td> Truvy and Spud Jones's rebellious son </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> C. Houser </Td> <Td> Jackson Latcherie, Jr. (1 year old) </Td> <Td> Jackson and Shelby Latcherie's son; Drum and M'Lynn Eatenton's grandson; Jonathan and Tommy Eatenton's nephew </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Daniel Camp </Td> <Td> Jackson Latcherie, Jr. (3 years old) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th> Relationship </Th> </Tr>

Who plays shelby's husband in steel magnolias