Shelley Duvall died on Thursday at her home in Blanco, Texas, her family and longtime partner Dan Gilroy reported. Her family said the cause of death was complications due to diabetes. Duvall was 75 years old.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1949, Duvall was one of the most celebrated actresses of the 1970s, particularly for taking on eccentric roles. While Duvall wasn’t pursuing a career in acting, she fortuitously met director Robert Altman while attending a party in Texas. Altman was shooting his film Brewster McCloud nearby and tapped Duvall to play Suzanne Davis, the love interest to the protagonist.
The actress went on to star in more of Altman’s movies, 1971’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller and 1974’s Thieves Like Us. She rose to fame for her portrayal of Martha in 1975’s Nashville, a film centered on people in the city’s country music scene.
Duvall is best known for her starring roles as Olive in Altman’s Popeye and Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, both of which were released in 1980. Duvall continued to work consistently throughout the 1980s but took on fewer roles in the 90s.
After the release of 2002’s religious comedy Manna from Heaven, Duvall retired from acting, returning after a 21-year hiatus with a final on-screen appearance in the 2023 horror film The Forest Hills.
Duvall is survived by partner Gilroy and her three brothers Stewart, Shane and Scott.
