Famous from 'The Shining': Actress Shelley Duvall dies at 75
"My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend has left us," Gilroy was quoted as saying. "She endured too much suffering lately, now she is free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley."
The voluptuous and delicate Duvall had already gained fame before her appearance next to Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining." Discovered by the director Robert Altman, who specialized in complex narrative forms, satire, and social criticism, they made seven films together, including "Nashville" (1975) and "Three Women" (1977).
Duvall told the "New York Times" in 1977, "I've worked with Altman so often because he offers me damn good roles, none of which are alike." However, her most famous role was in the work of another legendary director - Kubrick's "The Shining" from 1980.
In it, she plays the wife of a writer, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, who withdraws to a hotel in the Rocky Mountains for the winter months and gradually succumbs to madness. His madness goes so far that he eventually chases after his wife and their young son with an ax. They can escape while the man dies of hypothermia.
In one of the most memorable scenes of the film, Duvall's character frantically swings a baseball bat at her enraged husband to keep him away from her body. The scene was reportedly shot 127 times until director Kubrick was satisfied.
Duvall paid tribute to Kubrick but also described the making of "The Shining" as a grueling experience. Kubrick had made her "cry for twelve hours a day for weeks on end." She vowed never to put that much into a film role again.
Duvall also had a brief appearance in Woody Allen's famous comedy "Annie Hall" (1977) and played Olive Oyl, the friend of the sailor, alongside Robin Williams in a cinema adaptation of the Popeye comics from 1980.
Later, Duvall focused on producing children's programming for television. Her last film role was in the horror-thriller "The Forest Hills" in 2023, marking the end of her acting career with a return to the genre that brought her greatest success.
- The news of Shelley Duvall's passing was shared in The Hollywood Reporter, mourned by her industry peers and fans alike.
- Despite her difficult experience on "The Shining," Duvall remained respectful towards director Stanley Kubrick in her subsequent interviews with publications like the New York Times.
- As a tribute to her legacy, women in Hollywood, including actresses like Ms. Duvall's co-star in "The Shining," Lily Tomlin, have acknowledged her impact on their careers.
- Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Duvall's family encouraged her to pursue her dreams in Hollywood, where she would eventually meet and collaborate with legends like Jack Nicholson.
- Amidst Hollywood's glitz and glamour, Shelley Duvall maintained a reserved and private persona, choosing to focus on her craft rather than becoming a household name like some of her famous co-stars.
- In her later years, Duvall returned to the genre that first brought her success with a role in the horror-thriller "The Forest Hills."
- Although critically acclaimed films like "Nashville" and "The Shining" put her on the map, Duvall remained humble and grateful for opportunities, often crediting the New York Times for helping expose her talent to a wider audience.8.writers and filmmakers like Dan Gilroy, who admired her resilience and talent, continue to honor Shelley Duvall's memory and impact on the film industry as a whole.
- In a touching tribute to her friend and collaborator, Robert Altman once said of Duvall, "She's a true artist, always pushing boundaries and never settling for anything less than the absolute best in her performances."
- Shelley Duvall's impact on cinema will continue to be celebrated for years to come, as her powerful performances in movies like "The Shining" and "Three Women" inspire future generations of actresses and filmmakers.
