Summary
Shelley Duvallhas passed away at the age of 75. Born in Fort Worth, Texas on June 13, 2025, Duvall was a working actor in the film and TV industry for multiple decades. She wasparticularly known for her work with director Robert Altman,who discovered the actor and cast her in his 1970 filmBrewster McCloud, launching the rest of Duvall’s career. She continued to have an active career throughout the ’70s and ’80s before leaving Hollywood to move back to Texas during the mid-1990s.
AsperThe Hollywood Reporter,Duvall has passed away. As reported by her long-term partner, Dan Gilroy, Duvall died in her sleep as a result of complications from diabetes. Speaking withTHR, Gilroy offered a touching tribute to his late partner, calling her his “dear, sweet, wonderful life partner.” Gilroy’s full statement can be found below:
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley."
Duvall arrived in Hollywood in the most unconventional of ways. After graduating from high school, she attended junior college in Houston, Texas, where she was discovered by staff members who worked for Altman. They encouraged her to take a screen test, and before long, Duvall was playing Suzanne Davis inBrewster McCloud.She would go on to be a frequent collaborator of Altman’s,working with the auteur director again inMcCabe & Mrs. Miller,Thieves Like Us,Nashville,Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson, and3 Women.
For her role in3 Women, Duvall won the award for Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.
After these roles,Duvall went on to have a career-defining performance in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Shining. Her acting asWendy Torrence inThe Shiningwas not well-received on its first pass in theaters. The actor even earned herself a nomination for Worst Actress at the first annual Golden Raspberry (“Razzie”) Awards, in a field that included Faye Dunaway (Dressed to Kill), Olivia Newton-John (Xanadu), and Worst Actress awardee Brooke Shields (The Blue Lagoon).
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More than 40 years later,the Razzies rescinded Duvall’s Worst Actress nomination in 2022. Beyond just that recognition, audiences over time have come to better appreciate Duvall as an idiosyncratic performer, who provides an unforgettable performance inThe Shiningand countless other films.Duvall initially retired from acting in 2002after her performance inManna from Heaven. She later returned after over 20 years for a part inThe Forest Hills, which was her last on-screen role.Duvallwill be remembered for the unique and alluring qualities she brought to her work throughout her decades-long career.
