Shelley Duvall, an actor known for her haunting performance in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" and for her titular role in "Popeye," died at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of varied and acclaimed performances under the mentorship of director Robert Altman, as reported by CBS News. Her partner, Dan Gilroy, confirmed her passing and expressed that after suffering greatly in the last year of her life, she is now "free to fly away."
Beginning her screen presence with a role in "Brewster McCloud" in 1970, Duvall became a fixture in Altman's repertoire with films such as "Thieves Like Us" and "Nashville," her career taking flight after bagging the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for the 1977 film "3 Women," as later noted by NBC News, that particular role was a pivotal point leading her to be cast in the iconic horror film "The Shining."
Aside from her film endeavors, Duvall was also a creative force behind the scenes as a writer, producer, and director of several children's entertainment series including "Faerie Tale Theatre" and "Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories," with the latter two earning her Emmy nominations in 1988 and 1992, respectively, according to Deadline. She also garnered a Peabody Award and several CableACE Awards, reinforcing her accolade-laden career beyond the screen.
Duvall, who had stepped away from the limelight, made a notable return to acting after two decades with the indie horror film "The Forest Hills." Her performance as the protagonist's mother was her final bow on the silver screen. In a tragic twist, she became embroiled in a controversial 2016 interview with Phil McGraw, where her mental health was put disturbingly on display, leading to an outcry among the Hollywood community. Though she had declined follow-up assistance offered by McGraw's show, Duvall remained a representative of both triumph and tribulation within the film industry.
