American actress Shelley Duvall has died. The 75-year-old was most famous for her role in Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’.
The actress’s long-time partner Dan Gilroy confirmed the death of Duvall to The Hollywood Reporter yesterday. He told the publication that Duvall passed away in her sleep due to complications with diabetes in her home in Blanco, Texas.
“Fly away, beautiful Shelley”
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free.” Gilroy said in his statement. “Fly away, beautiful Shelley,”
Duvall was born in Texas in 1949. She was discovered by director Altman who gave her her breakout role as L. A Joan in ‘Nashville’. She went on to star in films such as ‘3 Women’, ‘Brewster McCloud’ and ‘Popeye’ while also scoring herself the award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1977.
“He [Altman] has a great confidence in me, and a trust and respect for me, and he doesn’t put any restrictions on me or intimidate me, and I love him.” She said in a 1977 interview with The New York Times.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Duvall is best known for her thrilling role as Wendy Torrance in horror film ‘The Shining’. She starred alongside Jack Nicholson. Both actors have since spoken of her mistreatment by director Stanley Kubrick.
Kubrick was a methodical director and was often ruthless with Duvall on set. She spoke about how the last nine months of shooting involved her crying in hysterics for 12 hours a day, five or six days a week. Kubrick continuously attempted to isolate Duvall and antagonised her by re-shooting the same scene over and over again (over 120 times in some cases). At the end of shooting Duvall showed Kubrick the clumps of hair she had lost due to the intense stress she had been put under that year.
“I will never give that much again. If you want to get into pain and call it art, go ahead, but not with me,” she said in an interview with People.
In 2002, Duvall took an extended break from acting and moved back to Texas with her partner. After a 20 year break, she finally returned to acting and starred in 2023’s ‘The Forest Hills’, this would be her final film role.
“What an incredible screen presence she was”
Celebrities have come out to express their sympathies for Duvall’s passing.
“RIP to the truly iconic Shelley Duvall, who burned up the screen in many funny, intense and idiosyncratic roles,” director Edgar Wright said. “Her fierce, unforgettable performance as Wendy Torrance in ‘The Shining’. Whatever horrors are conjured up in that film, its power stands and falls on Duvall’s terrified reactions. What an incredible screen presence she was.”
Actress Mia Farrow wrote “Very very sad to hear that the unique and truly wonderful actor- Shelley Duvall has died. She leaves us many unforgettable performances.”
