Shelley Duvall’s long-unseen 1970 wedding photos shared by fan who bought them at estate sale for $300

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Fans of Shelley Duvall recently got a glimpse of personal photos from her marriage at an estate sale, offering a rare look into her private life.

The sale included a photo album with pictures from actress Shelley Duvall’s 1970 wedding to artist Bernard Sampson.

Sarah Lukowski, a dedicated fan of Shelley Duvall, bought a collection of photos for $300 at an estate sale. The sale was held at Duvall’s old house in Blanco, Texas, which is near Lukowski’s home in Austin. Lukowski, 25, runs the Shelley Duvall Archive and shared the photos with People magazine.

The website is dedicated to celebrating and protecting the memory of the Nashville star, showcasing a collection of photos, old articles, and details about her life.

Actress Dina Duvall, who passed away in 2024 at age 75, looks radiant in a recently released photo. The picture shows her in a bohemian style, alongside her ex-husband, whom she divorced in 1974.

Lukowski told People she knew she needed the photo album as soon as she saw it previewed for the estate sale.

Photos reveal the actress known for playing Olive Oyl in Popeye had a private wedding with her partner, Sampson, at her parents’ house in Houston.

Lukowski saw a wedding album on TikTok labeled ‘Our Children’s Wedding,’ but she pointed out it didn’t seem like a personal family item.

In the pictures, Duvall is wearing dramatic 1960s-style eyelashes, a look she famously wore while filming Robert Altman’s 1970 cult comedy, Brewster McCloud.

Lukowski described the dramatic eyelashes as a signature style of Shelley’s, explaining that the actress created the look using ‘Andrea’ false eyelashes and Duo adhesive.

Duvall was wearing a colorful, patched dress with a white skirt covered in flower designs.

While filming a scene for the movie Brewster McCloud, the actress famously wore the same outfit she had on when her face was painted to resemble a Raggedy Ann doll.

She had brown hair, a change from the dark black hair she’s famous for in the movie The Shining (1980). It was cut in a layered, shoulder-length style.

Sampson had a full head of curly hair and wore a white western shirt with a patterned design that matched Duvall’s outfit, which included a navy blue yoke. He completed the look with dark jeans and a sturdy belt.

The photos show the couple posing with family, and one image captures them during what looks like their wedding ceremony, standing in a semicircle with loved ones.

In a close-up photo, the couple showed off their hands together, emphasizing their wedding rings. Both chose unique rings instead of classic bands; Duvall’s ring featured several green and white stones.

A different photo, reportedly from the wedding, shows the couple wearing new outfits.

Duvall’s outfit was eye-catching: a flowing, pale green dress with full sleeves and a ribbon at the waist, completed by a large gold necklace. Sampson, in contrast, kept it simple with a white shirt and a bold watch featuring a red strap.

Lukowski said that she instantly honed in on the wedding album as soon as she arrived at the sale.

She admitted that while she remembered the dress – a patchwork piece with a printed overlay – she hadn’t seen any pictures of it from the event itself. Seeing it brought back strong feelings and even made her a little tearful.

She mentioned that Duvall and Sampson got married on the same day she turned twenty-one, while she was filming her first movie, Brewster McCloud.

Looking at those photos and remembering she was just starting to become a successful actress is both happy and sad, Lukowski added.

Lukowski states that in February 2024, Duvall told her Lou Adler, a producer on the film, took her on a shopping spree to Neiman Marcus where she chose a dress to wear both in the movie and at her wedding.

Lukowski commented that the dress perfectly suited Shelley, adding that he couldn’t picture her in a traditional white wedding dress. He described it as a special dress for a one-of-a-kind person.

Sadly, Duvall passed away only five months after this conversation, on July 11, 2024, just four days after celebrating her 75th birthday.

I was so saddened to hear about her passing. She’d been receiving hospice care for a while, and I understand she ultimately passed away due to complications from her diabetes. It was a difficult time, and she fought so hard.

Lukowski’s wedding photos were popular online, which made her think about how people remain fascinated by Duvall and her unique style.

Lukowski expressed his joy that so many other fans appreciated the event, and he believes Shelley would have felt the same. He noted the photos quickly became popular online, which wasn’t surprising given the unique and charming nature of the non-traditional dress and intimate home ceremony.

She playfully pointed out that Sampson’s curly hair made him look like ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in the photos.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Apparently, Mr. Sampson actually saw the photos! His daughter found them on social media, can you imagine?! And then I sent them to him directly by email, and Lukowski said he was so ‘appreciative’! I’m practically floating, knowing he actually saw them and liked them! It’s a dream come true!

Lukowski was surprised to learn that Duvall’s husband, her one and only, had never seen the photos before.

She shared with People magazine that they had met before when she visited his house in Houston. During that visit, he showed her old photos of his former wife that he’d saved.

She explained that he’d given her letters and old newspaper articles from when Shelley’s career was starting. He consistently spoke highly of Shelley and generously shared previously unpublished photos with her for her social media.

Lukowski expressed her dream of creating a small exhibit or museum dedicated to Shelley, showcasing the photo album and other collectibles she’s gathered over time.

She shared with People magazine that she initially met Duvall through a friend they both knew. This friend was making a documentary about the actress from Three Women and introduced them after she relocated to Austin.

I’ll never forget the first time the three of us met. It was at this cozy diner close to her house, and we all shared a delicious peach cobbler with Dr. Peppers. It was the perfect start to everything.

Shelley asked for my number that day, and that’s how our wonderful friendship began, lasting until she passed away,” Lukowski remembered. “From there, we talked on the phone and met for lunch or coffee often.

Lukowski traced her fascination to Duvall to the first time she saw The Shining. 

Despite initially receiving criticism from many leading film critics and mixed reviews overall, Robert Duvall’s powerful performance in the film has gained significant praise over the years. Today, the movie – directed by Stanley Kubrick – is widely regarded as a classic of the horror genre.

Lukowski was attracted to Duvall’s genuine personality, his warm and friendly demeanor both during and outside of filming, and his effortless talent as an actor.

Lukowski shared that what impressed him most was how she stayed true to herself throughout her career, always maintaining a sense of childlike curiosity and pursuing the same interests. This admiration led him to watch all of her films and projects.

Since starting an Instagram account dedicated to Shelley Duvall in 2021, Lukowski has broadened her online presence to include other social media and a dedicated website.

People connected with Shelley through various avenues, from her well-known movies to her lesser-known works. Shelley herself really appreciated her fans and the community around them. Lukowksi shared that he would often show her posts and comments, and it always brightened her day.

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2025-11-21 06:22