Shelley Duvall, scream queen of ‘The Shining’ and a well-cast Olive Oyl, dies at 75

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I have always been fascinated by the enigmatic and multifaceted life of Shelley Duvall. Her journey in Hollywood was nothing short of extraordinary – from her humble beginnings as a hotel-dwelling child to her meteoric rise as an actress and producer, gracing the silver screen with her unique presence in films like “Brewster McCloud,” “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” and “The Shining.”

In the 1980s, Shelley Duvall encountered resistance from TV executives who found it hard to believe in her production skills when she proposed transforming fairy tales into live-action shows. However, she was determined and believed that networks relied on her just as much as she did on them. Consequently, she went ahead and made it happen regardless.

As a huge fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the thrilling moment when Showtime finally gave the go-ahead for “Faerie Tale Theatre” to come to life. With an incredible cast that included Robin Williams, Teri Garr, Jeff Bridges, Mick Jagger, Liza Minnelli, and Vanessa Redgrave, this project became a dream come true for me and Duvall alike. It wasn’t just a reality – it became an essential addition to Duvall’s impressive Hollywood resume. At the time, his unforgettable roles in Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall,” Robert Altman’s “3 Women,” “Thieves Like Us,” and Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” had already left a lasting impact on cinema history. With “Faerie Tale Theatre,” we added yet another remarkable feather to Duvall’s cap.

“In 1991, Duvall shared with The Times that if he had listened to those who tried to dissuade him, he wouldn’t have accomplished anything. Instead, when he strongly believed in something and encountered resistance, it fueled his determination.”

Th seventy-five-year-old Duvall, best known for her chilling shrieks in “The Shining,” passed away on Thursday morning.

Daniel Gilroy, who has been with Duvall for a long time, verified that she passed away at her residence in Blanco, Texas, due to diabetes-related complications. According to Gilroy, Duvall had been enduring a great deal of discomfort recently and had spent several months receiving care at a hospice. “Her demise was not entirely unexpected.”

“I think of her as a bird in a way, and now she’s free to just fly away,” he said.

Prior to producing the enchanting “Faerie Tale Theatre” for television, Duvall delved into the eerie realm of Kubrick’s 1980 movie “The Shining.” In this film, she portrayed Wendy Torrance, the submissive spouse of Jack Nicholson’s character Jack Torrance. The story revolves around a university professor who takes his family to spend the winter at the Overlook Hotel in the Rockies and write a book. However, the hotel’s dark history transforms their peaceful getaway into a gruesome nightmare.

Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall in a tense scene from “The Shining.”
(Warner Bros. / Hawk Films / Kobal / Shutterstock)

“Look who’s there!” shouts Nicholson’s character Jack as he hacks through a bathroom door. On the other side, Duvall’s character crouches in fear with a knife in hand. This shocking scene is undeniably among the most memorable moments in the film.

After the filming of “The Shining” came to an end in the late 70s, Shelley Duvall’s connection to the project didn’t fade away. In fact, she spoke about it extensively in 2021 with The Hollywood Reporter, sharing her experiences of the deep-rooted impact from her role and Stanley Kubrick’s intense filmmaking methods.

“On Mondays, having to open my eyes so early and discover a day filled with tears that were already planned – it would leave me in tears,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “I’d think, ‘I can’t, I cannot.’ Yet, I managed. I’m still puzzled by it. Jack felt the same way.”

Years after making news with her unusual appearance on “Dr. Phil” in 2016, Duvall shared details about her career. During the interview with Dr. Phil McGraw, she disclosed that a man was harassing her and expressed a false belief that her “Popeye” co-star Williams was still alive. Furthermore, she confessed to dealing with mental health concerns.

After the interview, fans criticized McGraw for “showboating the visibly ill.”

Duvall withdrew from Hollywood for nearly a century’s worth of time, but re-emerged as an actress for the 2023 independent horror film “The Forest Hills.” Prior to that role, she was last seen in movies “Manna From Heaven,” “Dreams in the Attic,” and “Boltneck,” all released during the early 2000s.

Born on July 7, 1949, in Fort Worth, she spent the initial five years of her life predominantly in hotels as her family accompanied her father on his work assignments for the Texas state insurance board, traveling extensively throughout the state.

In 1991, The Times reported that Duvall was the oldest sibling among four children. She shared a deep responsibility towards her younger brothers, stating “I was almost like a parent to them.” Initially, Duvall harbored dreams of working in science. However, her acting career took an unexpected turn when she met three crew members from Altman’s 1970 cop film “Brewster McCloud” at a party in Houston. This chance encounter led to her debut role in the movie.

“I thought, ‘Uh oh, a porno movie, my mom’s going to kill me!,’” Duvall told The Times.

As a film enthusiast, I’d put it this way: After watching “Brewster,” I was blown away by Robert Altman’s next films. There were gems like “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “Thieves Like Us,” “Nashville,” “Buffalo Bill and the Indians,” and “Three Women.” In his review for “Popeye” in 1980, the late Charles Champlin of The Times marveled at Shelley Duvall’s performance. He praised her portrayal of Olive Oyl as deliciously quirky, uncoordinated, and petulant, yet ultimately endearing.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m always thrilled to discover new films featuring my favorite actors. And speaking from experience, I’ve had the pleasure of watching John Duvall in some truly remarkable productions. He graced the silver screen in “The Portrait of a Lady,” brought charm to “Roxanne,” joined the magical adventure in “Time Bandits,” and even lent his voice to Tim Burton’s enchanting “Frankenweenie” short film.

In addition to producing films such as “Tall Tales & Legends,” “Popples,” “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme,” and “Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories,” according to IMDb, Duvall also played a role in their production.

Actor Shelley Duvall in 2022.
(Scott Hansen / Digital Thunderdome)

I got hitched to Bernard Sampson way back in 1970, but we called it quits just four short years later in 1974. Before filming “The Shining” in the late 70s, I had a thing going with singer Paul Simon, but we went our separate ways. Since the late 80s, I’ve been with Gilroy, but we never made it official by tying the knot.

The versatile actor-producer, known for her fashion influence, saw a resurgence with the popularity of a TikTok sound inspired by her “Faerie Tale Theatre” intros among style enthusiasts. In addition, she was deeply passionate about animals and spent her life caring for numerous dogs and birds. Over the weekend, Duvall turned 75 years old.

“Gilroy shared that she received an overwhelming number of cards, letters, and well-wishes from various places during his Thursday update. However, she has been confined to bed for more than a month, possibly closer to two months. Her recent days haven’t brought much joy, as she’s been enduring her suffering. Nevertheless, we have made every effort to ensure her comfort.”

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2024-07-18 18:17