Shelley Duvall, best known for her roles in “The Shining” and “Popeye,” passed away on Thursday at her home in Blanco, Texas. She was 75. Her partner, Dan Gilroy, confirmed her death, stating that Duvall had been in hospice care for several months due to complications from diabetes. She died peacefully in her sleep.
“Shelley’s gone after much suffering,” said Gilroy, her partner since 1989. “I can’t tell you how much I miss her.”
Duvall, who rose to fame for her role in the 1980 horror classic “The Shining” alongside Jack Nicholson, also starred in the 1980 comedy “Popeye” with Robin Williams. She was a frequent collaborator with director Robert Altman, beginning her career with his 1970 comedy “Brewster McCloud.”
Her other notable works included “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” “Thieves Like Us,” “Nashville,” “Buffalo Bill and the Indians,” and “Annie Hall.” In 1977, she received the Cannes Film Festival award for best actress for her performance in “3 Women,” a role that eventually led to her being cast in “The Shining.”
In a 1981 interview with People magazine, Duvall discussed the challenges of filming “The Shining,” mentioning that director Stanley Kubrick had her “crying 12 hours a day for weeks on end.” She expressed that she would never endure such pain for art again.
In the 1990s, Duvall started to step away from acting. After a two-decade hiatus, she appeared in “The Forest Hills” in 2023. Scott Goldberg, the film’s director, described her as “radiant, very kind and witty,” and noted that working with her was a “big accomplishment.”
“The news of her death came with automatic sadness and shock,” Goldberg said. “She was sweet, nice, sharp, and I will really miss her.”
Shelley Duvall’s legacy in the film industry is marked by her memorable performances and her impact on those who had the privilege of working with her.