US actress Shelley Duvall, known for films like The Shining, Annie Hall, and Nashville passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday. Her partner Dan Gilroy reportedly said that she died in her sleep at her home in Blanco, Texas following complications of diabetes.

Born on July 7, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas, she was discovered by director Robert Altman, a filmmaker known for his rich characters, sharp social criticism, and keen satire, who cast her in 1970’s dark comedy “Brewster McCloud”.

She had no intentions of becoming a performer. “I wanted to be a great scientist, not an actress. Madame Curie was my heroine,” she once told Roger Ebert. However, Altman and Remsen had different plans for her, casting her in their unique movie about a boy, played by Bud Cort, who lives in the Houston Astrodome and dreams of building wings to fly. When she appears on screen as the tour guide Suzanne, it’s evident she is one of the most unusual presences ever to grace the screen. With her oversized eyelashes, a staple of her personal style that highlighted her features, she is intriguingly cheerful as she chatters about diarrhea. Her optimism captivates Cort’s Brewster and, along with him, the audience, even if she ultimately proves to be fickle.

Duvall’s screen presence was so beguiling and irresistible that she became one of the defining stars of the 1970s and 80s.

Her nuanced and intricate portrayals in films like “3 Women” and “The Shining” cemented her status as a celebrated star. Despite this acclaim, she never quite fit into Hollywood’s mold, steadfastly remaining true to herself. Later in life, Duvall withdrew from acting and public life, leaving behind a rich and diverse body of work. Here are some streaming platforms where you can enjoy some of her finest performances.

Duvall’s retreat from Hollywood sparked considerable speculation about both her mental health and her appearance as she aged. In a 2024 interview with The New York Times, both she and Gilroy expressed frustration with the industry’s treatment.

She revealed feeling betrayed by an industry where she once excelled, despite her enduring legacy that continues to attract new admirers.

Her final film was 2023’s “The Forest Hills,” an independent horror-thriller marking her return to professional acting after a two-decade hiatus.