The Shining star Shelley Duvall has died aged 75
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: CBS via Getty Images / Warner Brothers/Getty Images
Legendary actor Shelley Duvall has died at the age of 75.
The Shining star's death was confirmed by her partner Dan Gilroy, who she had been with since 1989.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: "My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley."
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She died in her sleep at her home in Blanco, Texas, following complications with diabetes.
Duvall is best known for her role in the 1980 classic The Shining, a horror mystery which followed Jack Torrance, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel.
He lives there with his wife Wendy, played by Duvall, and son Danny. However, things take a turn when Danny and his family start witnessing supernatural events.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter previously the legendary actor explained how she was offered the lead female role in the movie by director Stanley Kubrick before she had even met him or read a script.
"He said I was great at crying," she said.
Recalling the process of filming the hit movie, Duvall said: "[Kubrick] doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard.
"And full performance from the first rehearsal. That's difficult."
Continuing: "But after a while, your body rebels. It says: 'Stop doing this to me. I don't want to cry every day.' And sometimes just that thought alone would make me cry.
"To wake up on a Monday morning so early and realize that you had to cry all day because it was scheduled — I would just start crying. I'd be like, 'Oh no, I can't, I can't.' And yet I did it. I don't know how I did it.
"Jack [Nicholson] said that to me, too. He said, 'I don't know how you do it.'"
In 1978, Duvall was nominated for a BAFTA for her role as Millie in 3 Women, a thriller mystery, and picked up the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2002, the actress announced her retirement after she appeared in her final film, Manna From Heaven.
Speaking to The New York Times she explained why she decided to retire early.
“I was a star; I had leading roles,” Duvall said.
“People think it’s just aging, but it’s not. It’s violence.”
"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.”
Duvall passed away just four days after her 75th birthday.