At the age of 75, acclaimed actress Shelley Duvall—whose unique wide-eyed appeal made her stand-out in Robert Altman’s films and Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining—has passed away. Confirmed by her long-time partner, Dan Gilroy, Duvall died away quietly in her sleep at her Blanco, Texas home from diabetes-related issues.
Gilroy said, “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us last night. I am sad.” Too much suffering recently; now she is free. Fly away, exquisite Shelley.
Duvall’s career started by chance when she was attending junior college in Texas and found by Altman’s crew at a party in Houston in 1970. Altman included her in ” Brewster McCloud,” then numerous of his other films, including “Thieves Like Us, “Nashville, “Popeye, “Three Women,” and “McCabe & Mrs. Miller.” Critics and viewers soon came to love her for her unusual look and honest acting approach. Once the movie writer Pauline Kael called her the “female Buster Keaton.”
Duvall most famously portrayed the troubled wife of Jack Nicholson’s character in Kubrick’s 1980 horror masterpiece “The Shining,” Wendy Torrance. Her performance—which was marked by real terror and great passion—remains among the most unforgettable in horror film history.
Duvall started to fade from public view in the 1990s, despite her success; her last film performance before a protracted absence was in “Manna From Heaven” in 2002. Living a peaceful life away from the Hollywood buzz, she grew more withdrawn. She conducted a rare interview earlier this year reflecting on her career and film industry experience.
Her early career consisted in a number of important parts in well-known films, but health problems dogged her latter years. She returned briefly to the cinema in the 2023 movie “The Forest Hills,” marking her first performance in more than twenty years despite these obstacles.
Shelley Duvall leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable performances and a unique presence that has permanently changed the movie business. Fans and reviewers will both remember and honour her contributions to films, particularly her working relationships with Altman and Kubrick. Dan Gilroy, Duvall’s partner, laments the death of a great actress and dear friend.
