Shelley Duvall, Star of ‘The Shining,’ Passes Away at 75

Shelley Duvall, best known for her roles in “The Shining” and several acclaimed Robert Altman films, has passed away at the age of 75, according to reports from a family spokesperson and her longtime partner.

Duvall died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Blanco, Texas, due to complications from diabetes, as confirmed by her life partner of over 30 years, Dan Gilroy, to The Hollywood Reporter.

“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us,” Gilroy said. “Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley.”

Known for her slender physique, large expressive eyes, and powerful performances, Duvall captivated audiences with her role opposite Jack Nicholson in the iconic 1980 horror film “The Shining” and in the comedy “Popeye” that same year alongside Robin Williams.

Hardcore cinema fans also recognize her for her professional partnership with acclaimed filmmaker Robert Altman, who first cast her as the love interest in the 1970 film “Brewster McCloud.”

Duvall went on to deliver memorable performances in Altman’s ensemble film “Nashville” (1975) and “3 Women” (1977), the latter earning her the Cannes Best Actress Award.

In a 1977 interview with the Boca Raton News, Altman praised Duvall’s versatility, noting her ability “to swing all sides of the pendulum: charming, silly, sophisticated, pathetic — even beautiful.”

Duvall’s other notable works include roles in “Annie Hall,” “Roxanne,” and “McCabe & Mrs. Miller.” She also enjoyed success in the early days of premium cable, hosting and producing Showtime’s “Faerie Tale Theatre” from 1982 to 1987. Despite her long and varied career, she eventually fell on hard times.

In 2016, Duvall appeared on Dr. Phil’s daytime talk show in an episode titled “A Hollywood Star’s Descent Into Mental Illness: Saving The Shining’s Shelley Duvall.” During the interview, she made several troubling statements, claiming that her “Popeye” co-star Robin Williams, who had passed away in 2014, was still alive and a shapeshifter. “I’m very sick,” she told Dr. Phil. “I need help.” The episode faced backlash, with many criticizing it for exploiting Duvall.

In April of this year, Duvall gave a rare interview to the New York Times, reflecting on her career and her recent absence from film and TV projects. “I was a star; I had leading roles,” she 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?” she added. “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.”

At the time, Duvall and Gilroy were living in an “isolated but serene” one-story home in Texas Hill Country.

Despite her struggles, Duvall retained a large fanbase of supporters. She returned to the screen in 2023 for the horror film “The Forest Hills.”

“I wanted to act again. And then this guy kept calling, and so I wound up doing it,” Duvall quipped in her interview with the Times. “If you ever do a horror film, other horror films are going to come to you, no matter what you do.”