Actress Shelley Duval, best known for her work in “The Shining,” “Popeye,” and “Nashville,” passed away at the age of 75.
Her death was confirmed by her longtime partner, Dan Gilroy, in a statement. “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us last night. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley.” Mr. Gilroy expressed his sorrow, noting she had been suffering lately but is now at peace and had died in her sleep at home in Blanco, Texas.
The cause of death was complications from diabetes, said her friend, publicist Gary Springer.
Ms. Duvall’s journey into acting began unexpectedly while she was attending junior college in Houston. Discovered by members of filmmaker Robert Altman’s team, she was persuaded to take a screen test, leading to her debut as Suzanne Davis in “Brewster McCloud” (1970). Ms. Duvall worked with Mr. Altman on several other films, such as “Thieves Like Us” and “Nashville.”
In 1980, she teamed up again with Mr. Altman for his live-action adaptation of the comic “Popeye,” in which she took on the role of Olive Oyl opposite Robin Williams.
Among Ms. Duvall’s notable film credits are “Annie Hall” and “3 Women”, the latter of which garnered her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2023, she returned to the screen with a role in “The Forest Hills.”
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, she was the first child of Bobbie Ruth Crawford, a real estate broker, and Robert Richardson “Bobby” Duvall, a cattle auctioneer-turned-lawyer.
Ms. Duvall’s personal life saw its share of ups and downs. She married artist Bernard Sampson in 1970, but their marriage ended in 1974. She later had a notable relationship with singer-songwriter Paul Simon from 1976 to 1978. In 1989, she met musician Dan Gilroy while working on a Disney Channel production, and they remained partners until her passing.
After retiring from acting in 2002, Ms. Duvall lived a quiet life in Blanco, Texas. Despite her retreat from the public eye, she faced significant health challenges, including mental illness, which garnered media attention.
In November 2016, a visibly disheveled Shelley Duvall made an appearance on the syndicated talk show Dr. Phil, where she candidly disclosed her struggles with mental illness, stating, “I am very sick. I need help.”
Ms. Duvall’s contributions to children’s television were also noteworthy. She created and hosted several programs, including “Faerie Tale Theater” and “Tall Tales & Legends,” which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
