Hollywood recently lost one of its iconic movie stars from the golden age, Shelley Duvall. Her last years were filled with reminiscent memories of her career despite enduring health issues over time. Take a look at Duvall’s appearance before she died, which shocked many.
Shelley Duvall was a legendary actress who had no formal training when she first launched her acting career. Her raw talent as an entertainer was what led to her being discovered by writer and director, Robert Altman.
He cast her in her debut film “Brewster McCloud” in 1970. Duvall made such an impression with her performance that Altman also cast her in several of his other successful movies.
She appeared in “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” (1971, “Thieves Like Us” (1974), and “Nashville” (1975). Duvall continued to thrive with a lead role in “2 Women” (1977) for which she won a Best Actress Award at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.
However, it was her stint in the classic 1980 horror film “The Shining” opposite Jack Nicholson that catapulted her to superstardom. Duvall played Wendy Torrance in the movie and part of her experience was not thrilling.
The film was directed by Stanley Kubrick who psychologically tormented her on set. This caused Duvall distress and trauma which affected her mental state.
Kubrick chose to cast her after seeing her emotional performance in “3 Women.” He said to the star, “I like the way you cry.” Duvall had to reach a state of hysteria, often crying for 12 hours a day.
Moreover, Kubrick’s rigorous filming schedule demanded six days a week, with up to 16-hour days. While Jack Nicholson rented a home in London, Duvall chose a flat near the studio in Hertfordshire.
For the public figure’s birthday in July 2023, he shared a picture of him and Duvall eating cotton candy together. He wished her good health and happiness while expressing love for her.
Hamel was not the only one who had the chance to bond with Duvall before she passed away. A YouTuber had the honor of spending time with the celebrity in the past year and she talked about her experience on set after being away for a long time.
“Her teeth are missing??” commented one YouTube user. “A movie star with no teeth. How does that happen?” asked another. One remarked, “Something about people with missing front teeth.”
When Duvall appeared on “Dr. Phil” some people empathized with her. One person said, “Makes me feel so sad. I love Shelley Duvall.” “How painful it is to see her now,” wrote another. Meanwhile, one wished her well saying, “My prayers for Shelley Duvall’s wellness. She deserves better in life.”Duvall suffered from health issues such as diabetes and an injured foot that impacted her mobility significantly. As a result, she often stayed in her 4Runner driving around local nature spots in Texas including visiting drive-throughs and meeting up with people in town.