A magnificent actress, Shelley Duvall's story has come to an end:
Shelley Duvall, the big-eyed, waifish performer who won the Cannes actress award for Robert Altman‘s '3 Women' and endured Stanley Kubrick's intense directing techniques to star in 'The Shining,' died Thursday in Blanco, Texas, Variety confirmed with her partner Dan Gilroy. She was 75.
The description of "big-eyed" and "waifish" is not inapt. Duvall had a trademark look that made her memorable for decades:
Born in Fort Worth and raised in Houston, she lucked into cinema after being spotted at a party by members of the crew of Robert Altman's Brewster McCloud, who were fascinated by her demeanor and unique appearance.
She subsequently appeared in several of Altman's films, garnering critical acclaim for her work in 3 Women alongside Sissy Spacek.
Her appearance in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining catapulted her to enduring stardom, though she was famously miserable on the set while enduring aggressive directing and endless takes from Kubrick.
She continued to act in various other productions, including several children's productions such as Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories.
She ultimately retired back to her native Texas, living a life largely away from the spotlight, where she appeared to be suffering from mental illness in her later years.
She died Thursday in her sleep from complications of diabetes.
Shelley Duvall, dead at 75. May she rest in peace.
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