Shelley Duvall dies at 75: Exploring the veteran actress's life and career

The Shining actress Shelley Duvall passed away at 75 on July 11, 2024, as per her partner Dan Gilroy's statement to Hollywood Reporter.

As per the outlet, Dan said:

"My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she's free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley."

As per Gilroy, Shelley was suffering from diabetes and died in her sleep at her home in Texas. Shelley Duvall was one of the most popular actresses in the 1970s and was nicknamed "Texas Twiggy" for her fashion sense.

Her death comes four days after she celebrated her 75th birthday on July 7 with Sarah Lukowski, a fan who, in time, turned into her friend. On July 8, Lukowksi took to X, mentioning the celebration, saying:

"She said it was a fantastic day because of all the goodies and cards I brought. We had lots of laughs and many hugs."

Having a career spanning over three decades, Duvall has appeared in several critically and commercially successful films and has left behind a legacy of humourous, intense, and eccentric characters. As per Celebrity Net Worth, the American actress had a net worth of $500,000 at the time of her death.

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Shelley Duvall's career explored

Shelley Duvall was born to a cattle auctioneer and a real estate broker in Texas in July 1949. In 1970, she married Bernard Sampson, an artist, and the two hosted a party where the iconic director Robert Altman showed up while he was shooting in Texas for Brewster McCloud. Robert offered her a role in the film which started her career in Hollywood.

After Brewster McCloud, Shelley got roles in movies like Popeye, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Thieves Like Us, Nashville, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, 3 Women, and more. She went on to win Best Actress at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival, a BAFTA nomination, and the LAFCA Award for Best Actress for 3 Women.

In 1988, Duvall founded a new production company called Think Entertainment and produced several series for children and teens. In the 2000s, after playing major roles since the 1970s, the actress only appeared in guest and supporting roles.

Shelley retired in 2002, only to return more than two decades later in an indie horror film, The Forest Hills, in 2023. According to People, Director-writer-producer Scott Goldberg said:

"Shelley's a Hollywood icon. I'm happy that she has the opportunity to show that she still has the talent."

While acknowledging her retirement with The New York Times in May, Shelley said:

"I was a star. I had leading roles. People think it's just ageing, but it's not. It's violence."

After she was asked to elaborate, Shelley said:

"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."

While speaking to People in 2023, Shelley Duvall talked about how much Hollywood pays and revealed that most female actresses didn't get paid much since the industry expected them to marry and receive their husband's support.

Shelley Duvall was married to Bernard Sampson from 1970 to 1974 and went on to date Paul Simon from 1976 to 1979. In 1989, Duvall began living with Dan Gilroy in their 3-acre hillside property in Studio City, California, along with their 36 birds, two cats, and eight dogs.

As per a 2021 interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Shelley Duvall and Gilroy left their home in California after the 1994 Northridge earthquake and moved to Texas.