Shelley Duvall of 'The Shining' is dead
**A scene makes Shelley Duvall famous. In the psychological thriller "The Shining" by director Stanley Kubrick, she plays the wife of Jack Nicholson, who threatens her with an axe in a scene that remains etched in the memory of many viewers. Her expressive, large eyes are particularly memorable. The American actress and "The Shining" star Shelley Duvall is dead. According to US magazines "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter," citing her long-time husband Dan Gilroy, Duvall died in her sleep at the age of 75 in her house in the US state of Texas. "My beloved, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend has left us. She suffered too much lately, now she is free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley," Gilroy told "The Hollywood Reporter."
Worldwide, Duvall became known in 1980 with her role in the horror film "The Shining" by director Stanley Kubrick. In a scene that is likely to remain in the memory of many viewers, she escaped the axe of Jack Nicholson. According to "Variety," the spindly woman with the large, dark eyes was awarded best actress for her role in "3 Women" at the Cannes Film Festival.
Robert Altman's Muse
Duvall first appeared as an actress in the early 1970s. Legendary US filmmaker Robert Altman discovered her and cast her in the experimental comedy "Brewster McCloud" (original title: "Only Angels Have Wings"). Further appearances in Altman films such as "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," "Nashville," and "Three Women" followed throughout the decade. For the latter title, she received the Best Actress award at the 30th Cannes Film Festival in 1977.
However, Duvall was also successful as an actress beyond the Altman universe in the 1970s. Her unforgettable cameo appearance was in Woody Allen's comedy "Annie Hall." Her most famous role came in 1980 in the Stephen King adaptation "The Shining" by master director Kubrick.
The horror film, in which Duvall's character is tormented by her film husband Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), consistently ranks in polls of the best horror films of all time. With her expressive, large eyes, which could convey the entire terror of the story, Duvall was a perfect fit for the elevated horror genre.
Following her success in the horror film "The Shining," Shelley Duvall continued to explore the genre, starring in several Hollywood horror productions. Her captivating performance in these films helped solidify her reputation as a horror cinema legend.
Furthermore, Hollywood's horror film industry recognized Duvall's talent, nominating her for multiple awards in the horror category, demonstrating her significant contributions to the genre.
