Dubbed “Texas Twiggy” and known as the “female Buster Keaton,” actress Shelley Duvall, who passed away on July 11 at 75, made a memorable mark on Hollywood in the 1970s. She starred in iconic films such as Nashville, The Shining, and Popeye before stepping away from acting in the early 2000s.
Duvall was discovered by renowned director Robert Altman, who cast her in his 1970 film Brewster McCloud. This debut led to a fruitful collaboration across seven movies.
Duvall’s naturalistic acting, Texas accent, and slender frame propelled her to stardom, particularly after her performance in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film The Shining. Despite its acclaim, Duvall described working on the film as “excruciating” and “unbearable” due to the intense and emotionally taxing shoots.
After a prolific period in film and television, Duvall abruptly left Hollywood and returned to Texas. She cited the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which damaged her Los Angeles home, and concerns over her brother’s health as key factors in her decision. She also criticized the fickleness of Hollywood.
“I was a star; I had leading roles,” Duvall told the New York Times in April, expressing disillusionment with the industry. “How would you feel if people were really nice, and then, suddenly, on a dime, they turn on you? That’s why you get hurt, because you can’t really believe it’s true.”
Although Duvall continued to make sporadic film and TV appearances in the ’90s, she made a definitive break in 2002. She remained out of the spotlight until her final film, 2023’s The Forest Hills.
Despite her later absence, Duvall is best remembered for her influential work in the ’70s and ’80s, with her films from that era still accessible for streaming today.