R.I.P. Shelley Duvall, frequent Altman collaborator, known for The Shining and Popeye
The actress sang with Robin Williams, ran from Jack Nicholson, and produced her own children's TV series. She was 75 years old.
![](https://cdnmetv.metv.com/6DMpW-1720720178-6003-blog-rip_shelley_duvall.jpg)
Shelley Duvall, easily recognized from her distinct doe-eyed features and iconic list of acting credits, has passed away.
Duvall was discovered by Robert Altman while attending junior college. In 1970, the director cast her in her first role, the dark comedy Brewster McCloud.
She would go on to act in six more of Altman's movies: 1971's McCabe & Mrs. Miller, 1974's Thieves Like Us, 1975's Nashville, 1976's Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson, 1977's 3 Women, and 1980's Popeye.
Popeye cast Duvall as the classic cartoon character Olive Oyl, where she acted and sang opposite Robin Williams as Popeye. The movie, adapted from the comic strip, was a financial success but received negative reviews when it came out. However, in recent years, critics have reappraised the film more positively, with director Phil Lord even citing it as an inspiration for The Lego Movie.
In 1977, Duvall played rock journalist Pam in Woody Allen's classic Annie Hall.
In 1980, Duvall appeared in the role that would follow her for the rest of her life; Wendy Torrence in the Stephen King adaptation The Shining. Duvall, as a terrorized wife to Jack Nicholson's Jack Torrence, is forever engrained in the history of horror films. Her wide-eyed fear as Jack axes through the door is one of the most iconic and immediately recognizable images in film.
Duvall founded her own entertainment company, Think Entertainment, in 1988 to develop programs and TV movies. She earned two Emmy nominations: one in 1988 for Tall Tales & Legends and one in 1992 for Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories.
In 2002, Duvall chose to retire from acting. She returned to the screen one last time after a 20-year hiatus in 2023 with a role in the independent horror film The Forest Hills.
Duvall was 75 years old.
![](/images/metv_mall_logo_900.png)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0219/7690/files/BB806-AT.jpg?v=1723150628?width=200&height=200)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0219/7690/files/BB801-AT.jpg?v=1723149160?width=200&height=200)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0219/7690/files/BB822-AT.jpg?v=1723147390?width=200&height=200)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0219/7690/files/BB728-AT.jpg?v=1723147295?width=200&height=200)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0219/7690/files/BB730-AT.jpg?v=1723146890?width=200&height=200)
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0219/7690/files/BB727-AT.jpg?v=1723146478?width=200&height=200)
11 Comments
![](/images/wcs_logged_out_user.gif)
Also RIP Martin Mull, who passed a couple of weeks ago.