American actress Shelley Duvall, best known for her roles in iconic films such as The Shining, Annie Hall and Nashville, has died at the age of 75. Her partner Dan Gilroy confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.
Duvall’s career includes several notable performances, including her acclaimed role in Robert Altman’s 1977 drama 3 Women, for which she earned a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award and a BAFTA nomination. She later played Olive Oyl opposite Robin Williams in Altman’s adaptation of Popeye.
After a two-decade hiatus from Hollywood, Duvall returned to screens in 2023 with the film The Forest Hills.
Shelley Duvall created a distinctive presence in Hollywood with her charming big brown eyes and unique charisma. He began his career and formed a lasting partnership with Robert Altman in the 1970 dark comedy Brewster McCloud. Their collaboration continued with the acclaimed satire Nashville (1975), an in-depth exploration of American society, politics, and country music.
In 1977, Duvall played Pam, a Rolling Stone reporter who meets Woody Allen’s Elvie in Annie Hall. However, her most iconic role remains that of Wendy, the wife of Jack Nicholson’s chilling hotel caretaker in Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece The Shining (1980).
Reflecting on the difficult experience of filming The Shining, Duvall once revealed, “I had to cry 12 hours a day, five or six days a week, nonstop for the last nine months.” His ability to convey intense emotions on screen and his unconventional charm cemented his place in cinema history.
Following her notable roles, Shelley Duvall continued her career with starring roles in Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits and the romantic comedy Roxanne opposite Steve Martin. In addition to acting, he founded his own production companies and created the favorite 1980s children’s TV series Fairy Tale Theatre, where he also served as host.
During the 1990s, Duvall’s on-screen presence diminished, although her role in Jane Campion’s The Portrait of a Lady was notable. By 2002, she had largely disappeared from public view. The New York Times linked his retreat from Hollywood to the 1994 earthquake, which damaged his Los Angeles home, and the emotional stress of his brother’s battle with cancer.
In a candid interview with the newspaper in May, Duvall discussed her absence, attributing it to the harsh realities of the film industry: “I was a star. I had major roles. People think it’s just aging, But it’s not. This is violence,” she commented. Explaining further, he shared his disbelief at how quickly public opinion can change, leading to someone being seriously injured.
Ultimate Flim Star
Shelley Duvall’s health became a matter of concern after her appearance on the TV talk show Dr. Phil in 2016, where she candidly said, “I’m very sick. I need help.” Following his demise, reports surfaced of him receiving messages from “shape-shifter” Robin Williams and discussing his fears of malevolent forces conspiring against him.
According to The New York Times, during this challenging period, his partner Dan Gilroy described him as “crazy and kind of confused.” Despite these difficulties, Duvall told the newspaper why she decided to return to acting in The Forest Hills: “I wanted to act again. And then this guy kept calling, and so I stopped doing it. “
Novelist Nicole Flattery highlighted Duvall’s enduring allure in a 2023 Financial Times article, declaring her “the ultimate movie star”. Flattery praised Duvall’s ability to portray characters who hide sadness with cheerfulness, saying, “She is a master of playing characters who act happy when they are sad, hiding their sad depths. Takes it.”
Shelley Duvall/Shelley Duvall
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