(RepublicanNews.org) – Shelly Duvall, an actress best known for staring alongside Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,” died at the age of 75.
On Thursday, July 11, Duvall reportedly died in her sleep at her Texas residence. Duvall suffered from diabetes and her longtime partner Dan Gilroy said her death was due to “complications” from her illness.
Duvall was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 7, 1949, and recently celebrated her 75th birthday a few days before her death. She had no plans to be an actress and has spoken in past interviews about sort of stumbling into it. In 1970, Duvall met Robert Altman at a party and the director invited her to join the cast of his film “Brewster McCloud,” which was Duvall’s first appearance on screen. Recounting the experience, Duvall said she “simply got on a plane and did it” and was “swept away” afterward.
The actress went on to appear in other films by Altman, such as “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “Nashville,” and “3 Women.” In a 1977 interview, she praised Altman for giving her “damn good roles,” none of which she said were ever alike, and for having “great confidence” in her ability as an actress. Altman died in 2006.
In 1977, she starred in Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall.” Her two most famous roles came in 1980 as Olive Oyl in the live-action adaption of “Popeye,” directed by Altman and co-starring Robin Williams, and as Wendy Torrance in the horror thriller “The Shining,” directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-starring Nicholson. She took on a few more roles in the 80s before fleeing Hollywood and moving back to Texas, where she founded her only production company and worked on children’s programming, for which she gained two Emmy Award nominations.
Duvall suffered from mental health issues, which she discussed in a 2016 appearance on the Dr. Phil Show where she told the audience that she was “very sick” and needed help. Her mobility became limited after a foot injury, and she then was diagnosed with diabetes. Duvall did not divulge many details about her health to the public.
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