Shelley Duvall, the intrepid Texas-born movie star known for her wide-eyed, winsome presence in Robert Altman’s films, has passed away at the age of 75. She co-starred in Stanley Kubrick’s iconic horror film “The Shining.” Duvall died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Blanco, Texas, due to complications from diabetes. Her longtime partner, Dan Gilroy, announced her passing, expressing relief that she is now free from suffering.
Duvall’s journey began when Altman’s crew members discovered her at a party in Houston in 1970 while preparing to film “Brewster McCloud.” Impressed by her talent, Altman cast her in the movie and became her mentor .
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| Shelley Duvall in Robert Altman’s Brewster McCloud (1970). Photo: Glasshouse Images/Alamy Stock Photo |
Shelley Duvall went on to appear in several Robert Altman films, including “Thieves Like Us,” “Nashville,” “Popeye,” “Three Women,” and “McCabe & Mrs. Miller.” In a 1977 interview with The New York Times, she praised Altman for offering her diverse roles, each distinct from the others. Altman’s confidence, trust, and lack of restrictions allowed her to thrive. She fondly remembered his first advice: “Don’t take yourself seriously.”
Duvall, with her gaunt and gawky appearance, defied the conventional Hollywood starlet mold. Her beguiling frankness and naturalistic acting style earned her acclaim. Film critic Pauline Kael even likened her to the “female Buster Keaton.”
During her peak, Shelley Duvall was a prominent star in several defining movies of the 1970s and 1980s. In “The Shining,” she portrayed Wendy Torrance, who witnesses her husband, Jack (played by Jack Nicholson), descend into madness while their family is isolated at the eerie Overlook Hotel. Duvall’s terrified expression became an integral part of the film’s iconic imagery, alongside Jack’s menacing axe breaking through the door.
However, Duvall’s presence in movies was fleeting. By the 1990s, she began to step back from acting, and her final film role was in the 2002 movie “Manna From Heaven.” She gradually withdrew from public life. Earlier this year, she granted her first interview in years, reflecting on the impact of sudden shifts in people’s behavior: “How would you feel if people were really nice, and then, suddenly, on a dime… they turn on you? You would never believe it unless it happens to you. That’s why you get hurt, because you can’t really believe it’s true.”