Hollywood is shining a little less brightly after news recently spread that silver screen great Shelley Duvall sadly passed away at the age of 75 on July 11, 2024, leaving behind an illustrious film and television career that spanned decades. The unique and vivacious actress began her enduring cinema career back in 1970 when she was discovered by chance by director Robert Altman, with the popular filmmaker giving the then 20-year-old Duvall a lead role in his comedy Brewster McCloud despite the young talent having never acted a day in her life; the rest, as they say, is history.
Duvall became a bona fide scream queen when she delivered a knockout performance as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s critically acclaimed horror masterpiece The Shining, further propelling the actress to superstardom. She would follow up the career-defining performance with films like Popeye, Time Bandits, and Roxanne, showcasing her range with every project she took on. Both fans and the entertainment industry were left shocked when Duvall announced her retirement from acting in 2002 following over thirty years on screen. Let’s delve in and take a look at Duvall’s enduring career and figure out why she walked away from fame.
Duvall’s Put Through the Ringer on The Shining Set
For Kubrick’s cinematic adaptation of the celebrated Stephen King horror novel, Duvall was cast as Wendy Torrance, a devoted wife and mother who accompanies her writer husband to serve as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel along with their young son Danny. Quickly, however, the family begins to realize the hotel is haunted. The actress famously worked alongside Jack Nicholson in The Shining and production of the fan-favorite flick was tumultuous for Duvall, who was constantly at odds with Kubrick over his methodical nature and antagonistic approach to directing his actors.
Duvall’s Tempestuous Relationship with Kubrick
Kubrick intentionally isolated Duvall during filming and made her go through mentally exhausting shoots over and over again, forcing the actress to do the iconic baseball bat scene a whopping 127 times. Principal photography took a year to complete, and she would later state that for the final nine months of shooting, she was required to cry 12 hours a day throughout the grueling schedule, going on to comment that “it was so difficult being hysterical for that length of time.” Duvall even presented the notoriously difficult director with clumps of her own hair that had fallen out as a result of all the stress she was under, and she suffered from nervous exhaustion because of his compulsiveness and perfectionism.
Both Duvall and Nicholson were in agreement that starring in The Shining was one of the hardest films of their respective careers, and they were also openly frustrated that Kubrick was singled out as the reason for the movie’s widespread success and not their own brilliant contributions. Kubrick’s 1980 masterpiece is now considered to be a trailblazing film in the genre and one of the greatest horror movies of all time, though despite Duvall’s performance being considered her most phenomenal, she was controversially nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actress (an insult that was ultimately rescinded in 2022). When reflecting on the stormy experience, Duvall expressed in 2001:
“I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Why? Because of Stanley. And it was a fascinating learning experience, it was such intense work that I think it makes you smarter. But I wouldn’t want to go through it again.”
Continued Success in the ’80s
After her trailblazing performance as the ultimate scream queen in The Shining, Duvall decided to switch things up and opted for a more light-hearted and fun next project: playing Olive Oyl opposite Robin Williams’ Popeye in the big-screen adaptation of the popular comic character. Popeye was a massive financial success and grossed $60 million at the box office, with Duvall’s performance as the iconic sailor’s lady love garnering rave reviews from moviegoers; Roger Ebert wrote that Duvall was “born to play” Olive Oyl and that the film proved “it is possible to take the broad strokes of a comic strip and turn them into sophisticated entertainment.”
Pursuing Her Other Goals & Aspirations
The actress then went on to star in a slew of films of all genres throughout the decade, notably appearing in Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits and the horror comedy Frankenweenie, as well as alongside Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah in the rom-com Roxanne. Duvall also branched out and explored more of her personal interests in the entertainment industry, founding the production company Think Entertainment in 1988 and producing shows like Nightmare Classics, Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories, and Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme. By the time the 1990s rolled around, her career began to wind-down and she shifted her focus from the big screen to television work.
From Film to Television Work
After working alongside revered directors like Stanley Kubrick, Robert Altman, Terry Gilliam, and Tim Burton, Duvall started appearing in more television programs during the ’90s and nabbed supporting roles in shows including L.A. Law, Frasier, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and Wishbone, in addition to the made-for-TV movies Frogs!, Alone, and Aliens for Breakfast. Following the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake, Duvall relocated from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas partially because of the terrifying natural disaster as well as to be closer to her ailing brother.
Duvall’s Career Slows Down
Duvall briefly returned to California to appear in Steven Soderbergh’s 1995 crime drama The Underneath and also ended the decade on a high note with roles in Casper Meets Wendy, Home Fries, and The 4th Floor. She would go on to appear in just one released project in the 2000s, with the 2002 religious comedy Manna from Heaven marking her final acting endeavor before she announced her retirement from the craft that same year. Duvall’s long hiatus from Hollywood would ultimately last for 21 years until she made a return to the big screen in the 2023 horror film The Forest Hills.
Duvall Officially Retires in 2002
Shelley Duvall had no intentions of ever becoming a movie star, having instead intended to pursue her love of science and work in the microbiology field; her unexpected discovery by Robert Altman completely altered her life’s intended trajectory and opened up new and exciting doors for the talented performer. Back in the ’90s, Duvall relocated from California to Texas to be closer to her brother, and she decided to make the move a permanent one in 2002 in order to be closer to her family and sibling when he was diagnosed with spinal cancer. The actress announced her official retirement that same year and devoted herself to her loved ones, supporting them all through the difficult time.
Duvall’s Retirement Is Shamefully Cut Short
Duvall enjoyed a private and secluded life away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, though her tranquility didn’t last as her personal life eventually garnered media attention. In November 2016, The Shining star was controversially interviewed by Phil McGraw on his daytime talk show Dr. Phil, with the TV personality discussing the former actress’ mental illness in a segment that received overwhelming criticism from the public. Many claimed that Duvall was exploited while on the program and both Stanley Kubrick’s daughter Vivian and Mia Farrow vocally expressed their outrage towards McGraw for the shameful episode.
In 2021, The Hollywood Reporter writer Seth Abramovitch located Duvall and she expressed her regrets about the interview:
“I found out the kind of person he is the hard way. My mother didn’t like him, either. A lot of people, like Dan, said, ‘You shouldn’t have done that, Shelley.’ He started calling my mother. She told him, ‘Don’t call my daughter anymore.’ But he started calling my mother all the time trying to get her to let me talk to him again.”
Return to the Big Screen & Sudden Passing
After a 21-year absence from acting, Shelley Duvall made her triumphant return to the silver screen when she appeared in the 2023 independent horror thriller The Forest Hills. She initially only intended to have a cameo role but joined the ensemble out of a desire to have more scenes. Duvall called her buzzed-about comeback “so much fun” and went on to joke that “Jessica Tady won an Oscar when she was 80. I can still win.” Sadly, the quirky and captivating actress was unable to achieve this dream as she passed away on July 11, 2024, at 75 following complications from diabetes.
The World Mourns the Loss of an Acting Great
Both fans and celebrities paid tribute to the decorated performer, who was beloved for her upbeat and cheerful disposition and who proved herself to be one of Tinseltown’s most exciting and successful actresses in the ’70s and ’80s. Duvall was celebrated as a trailblazing scream queen who dominated every scene, role, and project she took on, and during her illustrious career, she was the recipient of prestigious accolades like a Peabody and a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. She leaves behind an awe-inspiring life and legacy that likely won’t be replicated, with Dazed magazine accurately calling the sensational actress “one of the most magnetic on-screen presences of the last century.”