Shelley Duvall in ‘3 Women.’
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy of Everett Collection
Shelley Duvall, one of the most iconic movie stars of the 1970s and 1980s, died Thursday from complications related to diabetes. She was 75.
Duvall began her career working with the late Robert Altman, with her first acting role in his 1970 film Brewer McCloudThis led to a long-term collaboration and friendship, with Duvall starring in Altman’s films, including Nashville, 3 Women And Popeye.
Her work with Altman led to a role in Stanley Kubrick’s The shining as Wendy Torrance, her most recognizable role. In addition to her film work, Duvall has hosted children’s series Fairytale theatre and Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime stories.
In 2002, Duvall decided to retire from acting. After the attention of The Hollywood Reporter‘s 2021 cover story about her reclusive life in the Texas Hill Country after Hollywood, the actress returned to the screen in the 2023 independent horror film, The Forest Hills.
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend has left us. Suffered too much lately, now she is free. Fly away beautiful Shelley,” her partner Dan Gilroy said in a statement.
“RIP to the truly iconic Shelley Duvall, who set the screen on fire in many funny, intense and idiosyncratic roles,” wrote director Edgar Wright. “I especially loved her in McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Thieves like us, Nashvillethe extraordinary Three women, Annie Hall, Time Bandits, Roxanneher Olive in Popeye (best casting in a comic book ever?) and of course her fierce, unforgettable performance as Wendy Torrance in The shining. Whatever horrors are conjured up in that film, its power stands or falls with Duvall’s terrified reactions. What an incredible screen presence she was.”
In the meantime, Mia Farrow wrote“Very saddened to hear of the passing of the unique and truly wonderful actress- Shelley Duvall. She leaves us with many unforgettable performances.”
“She was a brilliant actress. May this amazing woman RIP,” Yvette Nicole Brown tweeted.
“When I was a boy I went to the movies to see POPEYE with Robin Williams. A wonderfully strange film. The moment Shelley Duvall sang ‘He’s Large’ I fell in love with “Olive Oil”, tweeted Wendell Pierce. “A moment I cherish to this day as part of my innocent childhood. Today Shelley Duvall died and that little boy shed a tear with a heavy heart for “Olive Oil”. RIP.”
“She was simply an amazing actress and I bow to her talent,” Vincent D’Onofrio tweeted.
“Shelley was a dear friend and wonderful actress who played quirky/unconventional characters in some of Bob Altman’s great films. And of course her wonderful performance in Kubrick’s The shining“It was a pleasure to work with her on Faerie Tale Theatre,” wrote Malcolm McDowell.