Shelley Duvall was a talented actress known for her remarkable contributions to Hollywood. Sadly, the beloved star has passed away at the age of 75.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 7, 1949, Shelley initially aimed to become a research scientist and even attended South Texas Junior College to pursue that dream. Interestingly, she also had a keen interest in food.
Her big move to Hollywood, California, in the mid-1990s marked the beginning of what would become a successful acting career. Alongside acting, Shelley operated her own production company, Think Entertainment, which produced innovative children’s programming for cable television. Her work with the company even earned her two Emmy Award nominations.
Shelley’s acting prowess didn’t go unnoticed. She won several prestigious awards, including the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1977 for her performance in “3 Women,” as well as the LAFCA Award for Best Actress in the same year. In 1984, she was honored with a Peabody Award for her TV show Faerie Tale Theatre.
In November 2016, Shelley opened up about her struggles with mental illness on the popular talk show Dr. Phil. During the show, she confessed to Dr. Phil McGraw, “I am very sick. Help me please.” However, this particular episode drew criticism, notably from Vivian Kubrick, daughter of the late director Stanley Kubrick. Vivian expressed that showing Shelley in such a vulnerable state was exploitative and cruel.
Sadly, Shelley Duvall passed away due to complications from diabetes. Her partner, Dan Gilroy, shared the heartbreaking news, revealing that she died peacefully in her sleep at home in Blanco, Texas. He tenderly said, “My sweet, wonderful, dear life partner and friend left us. Too much pain lately, she’s free now. Fly away, pretty Shelley.”
Shelley Duvall’s contribution to cinema is cherished by fans around the world. She is perhaps best known for her role alongside Jack Nicholson in the iconic 1980 horror/mystery film, The Shining. Besides that, she starred in Popeye (1980), a family comedy with Robin Williams; Annie Hall (1977); 3 Women (1977), a thriller/mystery; and Nashville (1975), a musical/comedy, to name a few.
In terms of her personal life, Shelley married artist Bernard Sampson in 1970, but the marriage ended in 1974. They tied the knot during the filming of Brewster McCloud, but their relationship ended shortly after moving to Los Angeles. In 1989, Shelley found a new love in Dan Gilroy, with whom she remained until her passing.
