Shelley Duvall’s Autopsy Reveals DARK Truth About Her Death

sad news from the entertainment world best known for her role in the movie The Shining Shelley Duval has died at the age of 75 according to the Hollywood Reporter dval died in her sleep at her home in Texas Shelley Duval was an actress known for her memorable roles in films like The Shining Popeye and thieves like us known for her quirky charm distinctive voice and ability to bring deeply complex and eccentric characters to life she was an unforgettable force in Hollywood [Music] with a career that lasted over four decades Duval became amused for legendary director Robert Altman delivering standout performances in films like mccab and Mrs Miller Brewster McLoud and three women were her portrayal of vulnerable offbeat characters captivated audiences it's actually so much fun to act in a movie it really is here's Johnny you should appreciate every minute of it you want to be in good movies is what you want to however it wasn't always all that great for her you see by the end of her career things got really tough she passed away on July 10th 2024 just 3 days after her 75th birthday she had a thriving Hollywood career before stepping away from the Limelight in 2001 her most memorable roles included her portrayal of Wendy Torrance in The Shining and olive oil in popey her death comes Just 4 days after her 75th birthday but it wasn't her sudden death that shocked the world her autopsy revealed some dark truth about her death so join us today as we talk about the iconic actress her career her pain and her death Shelley Duval's death she died at her home in Blanco Texas due to complications from diabetes the news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter Duval stepped away from the public eye in the mid1 1990s when she and Gilroy moved from Los Angeles to Texas she occasionally worked on a few projects including her final role in the 2023 horror movie The Forest Hills early life and rise to fame Shelley Alexis dval was born on July 7th 1949 in Fort Worth Texas she was the eldest of four children born to Bobby and Robert dval her father was a cattle Auctioneer who later became a lawyer and her mother was a real estate agent Duval described herself as an energetic and artistic child earning the nickname manic Mouse from her mother after graduating from wal trip High School in 1967 she attended South Texas Junior College studying nutrition and diet therapy to support herself Duval worked as a cosmetic salesperson at a department store Duval's acting career began unexpectedly in 1969 when she was discovered at a party by location Scouts for director Robert Altman despite having limited ACC experience Altman was captivated by her unique appearance and offered her a role in his film Brewster McLoud in 1970 although the film received mixed reviews it marked the beginning of a wonderful collaboration between Duval and Altman throughout the 1970s dval appeared in several of Altman's films including McCabe and Mrs Miller in 1971 thieves Like Us in 1974 Nashville in 1975 and three women in 1977 her performance in three women earned her the best actress award at the 1977 can film festival her distinctive style and strong performances quickly made her a respected figure in Hollywood and the rest was history breakthrough roles by the late 1970s Duval had established herself as a well-known actress she reunited with Alman for the liveaction version of popey 1980 where she played olive oil opposite Robin Williams though initially hesitant to take on the the role as she had been teased for resembling olive oil growing up Duval eventually embraced the character contributing to the film's success in 1980 she took on what would become her most iconic role as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining the role was both challenging and rewarding for dval she later described the experience as the most demanding of her career Kubrick was known for his intense directing style and Duval often found herself pushed to her limits however her portrayal of Wendy Torrance remains one of the most memorable in film history television work and production career Shelley also found success on television she starred in Bernice Bob's her hair part of PBS's Great American short story Series in the 1990s she made guest appearances on popular shows like Frasier and aliens for breakfast Beyond acting Duval was a talented producer especially in children's television in 1982 she founded platypus Productions which produced the acclaimed Anthology series fairy tale theater the show featured an impressive lineup of guest stars including Carrie Fischer Susan sendan Vanessa Redgrave Liza Manelli Jeff Goldblum Christopher reev James Earl Jones and Mick Jagger Duval's production efforts didn't stop there in 1988 she founded a second company think entertainment which produced shows like nightmare Classics shelle Duval's bedtime time stories and Mrs piggle wiggle she earned two Emmy nominations for her work in children's programming main career in 1974 she portrayed the daughter of a convict and thieves like us solidifying her place as one of Altman's favorite actors her true breakthrough came in 1975 when she played a spaced out groupy in alman's Ensemble comedy Nashville the film was both a critical and Commercial Success and Duval's performance stood out in the star studded cast Keith kerine who worked with Duval on both thieves like us and Nashville later praised her for her captivating presence describing her as Quirky enchanting and utterly unique in 1977 Duval gave what many critics consider one of her most compelling performances in Altman's psychological Thriller three women she portrayed Mildred Millie Laro a Lonely Woman living in a dreary California desert Town although the film was not a major box office success it received widespread critical acclaim Duval's performance was praised for its depth and originality earning her the best actress award at the can film festival she also won the Los Angeles Film critics Association Award for best actress her portrayal was noted for its subtlety and complexity revealing a new side of the confident yet clueless singlewoman archetype this role remains one of the highlights of her career Duval's career took another significant turn in 1980 when she starred as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's iconic horror film The Shining the role was notoriously demanding as Kubrick's intense and methodical directing style required Duval to endure long exhausting shoots the film's production was grueling with kubric often pushing Duval to the brink leading to physical and emotional stress the infamous baseball bat scene which she performed 127 times became emblematic of the difficulties she faced despite the challenges Duval later reflected on the experience with a sense of accomplishment noting that it was a valuable learning opportunity although she never wanted want to repeat it her performance in The Shining was both praised and criticized with some initially questioning her portrayal but over time it became recognized as one of the film's key elements with critics later acknowledging the emotional depth she brought to the character while still working on The Shining Duval was cast as olive oil in Robert alman's big screen adaptation of popey alongside Robin Williams released in 1980 despite mixed critical Rie views It was a commercial success Duval's portrayal of olive oil was widely praised with critics noting that she was perfectly suited for the role Roger eert described her as having a unique charm that made her an ideal fit for the character following popey Duval continued to explore a variety of roles in both film and television she appeared in Terry gillams Time Bandits in 1981 and took on numerous other projects throughout the decade on top of acting Duval ventured into producing during the 19 80s she created and hosted the children's television series fairy tale theater which featured adaptations of classic fairy tales with an impressive lineup of Hollywood stars the show was a success running for several years and earning Duval and Emmy nomination she also produced tall tales and legends another Anthology series that adapted American folktales this further established her as a creative force in television her work in children's programming was well received and became a significant part of her career in the late 1980s Duval founded a new production company think entertainment through which she developed and produced several television movies and series for cable channels one of her notable projects was Nightmare Classics a Showtime Anthology series aimed at teenagers and adults that featured adaptations of famous horror stories although this series was less successful than her previous Ventures it demonstrated Duval's versatility and willingness to experiment with different genres throughout the 1990s Duval continued to appear in a variety of film and television roles she played Little Bo Peep in Mother Goose Rock and Ryme in 1990 and took on roles in films like Suburban Commando and the portrait of a lady dval also returned to her roots in producing with the Showtime series shelle Duval's bedtime stories which featured animated adaptations of children's story books the series earned her another Emmy nomination however by the mid1 1990s she she began to step back from her producing career eventually selling her production company in 1993 in the late 199s and early 2000s Duval continued to work in film appearing in movies like home fries tale of the mummy and the fourth floor however as the decade progressed she gradually retreated from the public eye and took an extended Hiatus from acting and producing after nearly two decades away from the spotlight Duval made a a surprising return to acting in 2022 she was cast in The Independent horror Thriller the Forest Hills directed by Scott Goldberg initially intended to be a cameo Duval's involvement grew as she expressed interest in performing more scenes she described her comeback as enjoyable even joking that she could still win an Oscar like Jessica Tandy did at age 80 the film premiered in March 2023 marking Duval's first significant film role in over 20 years her return was met with excitement from fans and filmmakers alike who praised her for her enduring talent and unique presence on screen deval's career marked by a blend of unconventional roles creative producing Ventures and a deep commitment to her craft has left an indelible mark on both film and television despite the challenges she faced especially during the making of The Shining her performances have continued to connect with audiences and critics that has established her as a unique and influential figure in the entertainment industry later life and challenge es Duval's acting career slowed down in the 1990s as she moved away from Hollywood she settled in Texas where she lived a quiet life raising animals and writing poetry she expressed a desire to publish a book of her poetry one day despite her semi-retirement Duval didn't completely leave the entertainment industry after a 21-year break she returned to acting for her final role in the 2023 horror film The Forest Hills however her 2016 appearance on Dr Phil through widespread criticism the interview where Duval appeared disoriented and spoke of bizarre beliefs was seen by many as exploitative in interviews later in her life Duval showed signs of mental Clarity though she remained eccentric she never publicly disclosed a mental health diagnosis but dealt with diabetes and a foot injury in her later years but her life has always been tragic an early career divorce from 1970 to 1974 Shelley Duval was married to Bernard Sams who at the time was the struggling artist of the pair before they were married he painted and would showcase his art at parties With a Little Help from Duval's carismatic personality it was ironically at one of these parties where she was enthusiastically pitching Samson's work to a crowd of intrigued guests that someone first had the idea to whisk her away into the world of film and television little did Duval know that watching her pitch were crew members from the then in production film Brewster McLoud a 1970 Robert Alman black comedy and which she would ultimately make her onscreen debut according to the Los Angeles Times the crew was so captivated by her personality and unique look that they arranged a meeting between Duvall Altman and producer Lou Adler pretending the two men were interested in buying Samson's art to make things worse Adler later told the times that Duval's pitch was more impressive than any of the paintings Alman offered her a role on the spot and after some hesitation she agreed to leave Texas for the first time and join the production he soon cast her in another project McCabe and Mrs Miller afterward she went back to Texas to support Samson's art career but their relationship soon ended leading Duval to leave Texas again and pursue acting full-time making the shining in less than a decade after her debut in Brewster McLoud 31-year-old Shelley dval was cast as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's iconic adaptation of The Shining this role where she played the wife of Jack Nicholson character Jack Torrance would go on to Define her career in Hollywood For Better or Worse Duval's relationship with cubric began on a positive note as he cast her without requiring an audition or even meeting her in person at that time Duval was a rising star having recently won the best actress award at the 1977 can film festival for her performance in three women Kubrick had apparently seen all he needed to see from that role particularly noting her ability to cry convincingly and cry she did on the set of The Shining Duval later recalled feeling a sense of dread each night as she awaited Her filming schedule she knew it would often involve hours of crying and screaming on command under the direction of the famously meticulous kubric over the years many people including those close to dval have questioned whether Kubrick's treatment of her on set was too harsh when directly asked in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter if kubric was cruel and abusive dval acknowledged that he had a streak of that in it but suggested it was likely due to how others had treated him in the past despite the intense demands Duval maintained that kubric was otherwise very warm and friendly toward her The Shining over Shadows although The Shining is now regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time it had its critics when it was released in 1980 Stephen King the author of the original novel was one of the most vocal he disagreed with Stanley cubber's choices and told the BBC that Shel deval's character went was basically just there to scream and be stupid the golden raspberry Awards even nominated Duval for worst actress though they later expressed regret for that decision whether you see The Shining as a masterpiece or a failure it would be a mistake to reduce Duval's performance to just that role after The Shining Duval entered a new phase in her career that was in many ways more impressive than what she had done before in 1981 she created executive produced and starred in fairy tale theater a children's Anthology series that that earned critical Acclaim in this series Duval narrated classic fairy tales and appeared alongside other famous actors the cast included 8s a-listers like Carrie fiser Liza Manelli Matthew bradick and Robin Williams directors such as Tim Burton and Francis Ford Copa were also involved in the series in addition to fairy tale theater Duval founded her own production company think entertainment throughout the ' 80s this company developed other Anthology projects for television these projects VAR widely some were funny some were romantic some were scary and some Blended different genres together an earthquake destroyed her home in the early hours of January 17th 1994 a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the San fernandoo Valley in Los Angeles California although it only lasted about a dozen seconds its impact was long- lasting the earthquake caused over $20 billion in property damage and more than twice that amount in total economic losses it claimed the lives of 72 people injured over 7,000 and left 20,000 Without Shelter Shel Duval was among those affected her home was severely damaged which played a significant role in her decision to leave Los Angeles for good in a 1994 interview with the Houston Chronicle Duval said I can deal with hurricanes but it's extremely frightening to have the earth move so much being a Texan you kind of know when to get the heck out of Dodge she spoke more about the earthquake's impact on her life in a 2020 21 Interview With The Hollywood Reporter where she explained that it wasn't just the disaster itself that wore her out but also the recovery efforts as she put it afterwards it's like FEMA then the next guys and the next guys Engineers one day insurance people the next sometimes at the same time around the time of the earthquake Duval was also facing personal and professional challenges one of her biggest struggles was her brother's diagnosis with spinal cancer when she got the chance to return to her home state of Texas to film 19 1995's the underneath she took the opportunity and moved back permanently to reconnect with her family however neither her brother's illness nor the earthquake were the sole reasons for her departure from the entertainment industry it wasn't due to the difficult experiences on the set of The Shining either as Duval later told the New York Times she felt that Hollywood turned on her as she aged out of the roles she had built her career on after her role in the 2002 film Mana from Heaven she decided to take an indefinite break from acting which ended up lasting more than 20 years there has been much speculation about shelle Duval's well-being often based on rumors and candid photos some people in a voyerism her natural aging process as a sign of a tragic decline others speculated that her role in The Shining was not just career defining but career ending over the years Duval has been open about the intense experience of shooting the film although her career continued to thrive afterward both in front of and behind the camera rumors persist insisted that the role ruined her life a claim she never made while it's true that her time on The Shining set was stressful with reported tension with kubric and stress so intense that her hair began to fall out it wasn't as bad as some later imagined some fans even believed that filming The Shining traumatized Deval so deeply that she left Hollywood for good which simply isn't true there are even voices online that blame kubric for the course of her life due to alleged abuse but this narrative isn't based in reality the truth is that neither The Shining nor kubric played a major role in her decision to withdraw from acting the Dr Phil interview by 2016 shelle Duvall had been out of the public eye for over a decade enjoying a quiet life in Fort Worth Texas she spent time with family and was healing from her tumultuous Hollywood career however one person took an interest in her situation and some believe this person exploited her struggles for television content Phil McGraw the controversial talk show host better known as Dr Phil invited Duval to appear on a special episode of his show titled A Hollywood stars descent into mental illness saving The Shining Shelley Duval mcra claimed the interview aimed to address deval's psychological issues and connect her with psychiatric professionals who could help her achieve long-term Wellness given McGraw's history of sensationalist talk therapy it was no surprise that Duval's interview did little more than create viral moments for his show in one clip Duval who was visibly unwell and acknowledged needing help said said I lost Robin Williams I don't think he's dead when McGraw asked where she thought Williams was she replied shape-shifting another clip showed her saying I think there's a worrying disc inside me many people online were outraged by how McGrath seemed to exploit Duval's mental health issues for ratings for his part mcra has defended the interview saying he spent a year after the show trying to get Duval into care though others have accused him of just wanting her back on the show he did express some regret stating I regret that it was promoted in a way that people thought was Unbecoming but he did not apologize for conducting the interview rumors of financial trouble a persistent rumor about Shelley Duvall often contested by her supporters online is that she was homeless in her later years the origin of this claim is unclear though it may have stemmed from her interview with Dr Phil during that interview Duval expressed I'm very sick I need help to which mcra responded well that's why I'm here around the same same time dval also gave an interview to Radar Online where the Tabloid portrayed her as mentally unwell and on the brink of financial ruin according to their report her acting Fortune had dwindled leaving her with just $1,660 a month from Social Security in the radar online interview Duval also seemed to suggest that CBS and fox video had failed to include her in a multi-million doll distribution deal for an unnamed project while it's difficult to determine how much of this interview reflected reality it is true that Duval faced Financial struggles later in life in a 2021 Interview With The Hollywood Reporter she hinted at what sounded like a bad investment saying it's not just owning something that makes money you have to also control it you have to make sure it's a good deal additionally one of Duval's friends told the outlet that he believed failure to pay storage fees led to much of her film memorabilia being sold at auction chronic illnesses Sarah Lukowski a writer and friend of Shelley Duval confirmed in a detailed thread on X that the actor did face mental health issues beginning in the mid 2000s in a June post Lukowski wrote her mind is still Vivid and full of engrossing stories but there are brief moments when she experiences paranoid fantasies Lukowski specifically denied the rumor that Duval's illness was caused by her experiences on the set of The Shining she pointed out that it was unfair to ignore Duval's career after the film and unproductive to reduce a complex met condition to the effects of working on a horror movie more than 40 years ago when asked about her experience on The Shining Duval once said I'm very pleased to have done it regarding her physical health in her final years a profile in the New York Times revealed that Duval was living with diabetes and had suffered a severe foot injury according to the times Duval's death was caused by complications from diabetes despite her health issues Duval was reportedly living a happy life on her Texas ranch where she spent time with her longtime partner Dan Gilroy their many pets and a close group of friends in 2023 dval returned to acting starring in the lowbudget independent horror film The Forest Hills she told the New York Times I wanted to act again and then this guy kept calling and so I wound up doing IT director Scott Goldberg praised her performance in the film saying it was as if time never passed however the reason why Shel Deval faced Menthol health problems was because she was traumatized for life it was her role as Wendy Torrance in the 1980 horror classic The Shining that became the most iconic yet devastating experience of her career no matter how much she or her friends try to deny it the evidence is clear that The Shining traumatized her not just that she also had a lot of other problems as we'll soon explore the nightmare of The Shining Duval's time on the set of The Shining was far from glamorous director Stanley kubri known for his demanding per perfectionism pushed Duval to her limits she endured extreme stress and mental exhaustion due to Kubrick's harsh treatment he isolated her from the rest of the cast and crew and subjected her to repeated grueling takes of emotionally taxing scenes one Infamous example is the basball bat scene which kubric shot 127 times setting a world record for the most takes of a scene Duval's hands became raw her voice hoarse and her eyes swollen from crying this wasn't acting it was a genuine in response to trauma her hair even began falling out due to the stress Kubrick's mistreatment led her to consider quitting acting altogether a difficult childhood shelle Duval was born in Fort Worth Texas and raised in Houston despite her energetic nature Duval was a creative child who loved to draw she had three brothers and graduated from wool trip High School in Texas before her acting career she worked as a cosmetic salesperson Kubrick's psychological abuse Kubrick's Relentless perfectionism extended beyond the baseball bat scene he often ignored Duvall isolated her and criticized her every choice for the character in the iconic door scene Jack Nicholson destroyed nearly 60 doors over 3 days to meet kubric standards Duval was kept in the dark about Nicholson's improvised actions leading to her authentic fearful reactions on screen Duval's experience on The Shining was not just exhausting it was traumatic actress D Wallace in an interview explained that the body doesn't differentiate between a perceived threat and a real one this meant that Duval's body reacted to the scripted Terror as if it were real leading to severe physical and mental stress a troubled later life after her work on The Shining Duval continued acting and producing she created her own production company platypus Productions and produced the hit TV series fairy tale theater 1982 to 1987 she later created tall tales and legends 19 1985 to 1988 which earned her an Emmy nomination however by the 2000s Duval had retired from acting and moved back to Texas she remained out of the public eye until 2016 when she agreed to an interview with Dr Phil the interview revealed Duval's struggles with mental health leading to public concern and criticism of Dr Phil for exploiting her vulnerability Legacy and reflection shelle Duval's story is one of incredible Talent overshadowed by the mental and physical toll of her career her experience on The Shining was a turning point that left lasting scars despite the fame and accolades Duval's journey is a sobering reminder of the price some actors pay for their art today Duval lives a quiet life in Texas her story continues to resonate highlighting the need for better treatment of actors on set the New York Times described Duval as a fixture of Hollywood with her gossamer frame and toothy smile making her one of the biggest film stars of the 1970s the New Yorker critic Pauline kale once called her the female Buster Keaton praising her as bizarrely original and capable of being herself on screen in a way that was unlike anyone before jako Aro of Vogue deemed her bewitching and a master of Cinema Duval's influence went beyond her acting career Jaime Lee Curtis credited her as an inspiration noting that Duval showed how one could change grow and develop in the entertainment industry in the 2020s Duval experienced a Resurgence in popularity on social media particularly through clips of her hosting fairy tale theater which went viral on platforms like Tik Tok the phrase hello I'm Shel Duval became a popular sample introducing her to a new generation of fans however despite everything her life was full of hardships hardships so unimaginable that she ended up disappearing from Hollywood for 20 years why she disappeared from Hollywood for 20 years for the past two decades Duval lived quietly in a small town in Texas Hill Country where she was a regular at local businesses while many residents knew her they might have been surprised to learn that the friendly gray-haired woman who often sang while talking was once a celebrated actress Duval retired from Hollywood in 2002 and settled in Central Texas she stepped away from the spotlight to focus on her personal life and to be closer to her family however Duval returned to acting in 2023 with a role in The Forest Hills an indie horror film that premiered in March 2023 the film's director Scott Goldberg reached out to Duval and asked her to be part of the project he admired her talent and wanted to give her an opportunity to show that she still had the acting skills that made her a Hollywood icon Duval was excited about returning to acting saying that it brought joy and fulfillment to her life Duval quickly became a Hollywood it girl known for her distinctive voice large eyes and Li figure despite her success Duval didn't always find the acting life easy she recalled that women in Hollywood were often paid less with the assumption that they would marry and be supported by their husbands however Duval's career was marked by Independence and determination during her interview with people Duval reflected on her past relationships which included high-profile figures like Paul Simon and Ringo Star although she declined to discuss her current relationship she became emotional when listening to the song even in the quietest Moments by Super [ __ ] which reminded her of a former boyfriend Duval also looked back fondly on her acting career she enjoyed watching her old movies when they aired on television often marveling at how different her roles were in films like Popeye and The Shining gosh I was great she said with a smile in the 1990s Duval's film offers began to dwindle when her brother was diagnosed with spinal cancer she decided to leave Hollywood and move back to Texas she described this period as the longest sabatical she ever took but it was important for her to reconnect with her family despite her long absence from Hollywood Duval was eager to return to acting she joked about winning an Oscar referencing actress Jessica Tandy who won an Academy Award at age 80 Duval remained optimistic about her future but in the meantime she was content with the Simple Pleasures of life after the interview she headed out to treat herself to desserts at Dairy Queen A fitting end to a conversation filled with memories laughter and a touch of nostalgia however life had other plans personal life shelle Duvall had a personal life marked by long-term relationships and close ties to the entertainment industry she was first married to artist Bernard Samson in 1970 the couple moved from Texas to Los Angeles to support Duval's budding acting career however their marriage ended in divorce in 197 4 as deval's career began to take off in 1976 while shooting Annie Hall in New York dval Met singer songwriter Paul Simon they began a relationship and lived together for 2 years their relationship ended when Duval introduced Simon to her friend actress Carrie fiser who then began a relationship with Simon in the late 1970s Duval also dated musician Ringo Star in 1989 Duval began a relationship with musician Dan Gilroy the couple met while working together on the Disney Channel movie Mother Goose Rock and Ryme they remained together for 35 years though they they never married Duval and Gilroy were together until her death in 2024 Duval did not have children and largely kept her personal life private although it often attracted media attention she passed away at the age of 75 according to reports from a family spokesperson and her longtime partner Duval died in her sleep at their home in Blanco Texas due to complications from diabetes her life partner of over 30 years Dan Gilroy shared the news with The Hollywood Reporter saying my dear sweet wonderful life partner and friend left us too much suffering lately now she's free fly away beautiful Shelly dval was known for her slender build large expressive eyes and Powerful performances ciles also admired her for her professional partnership with filmmaker Robert Alman who first cast her as the love interest in the 1970 film Brewster Cloud the world is going to miss Shel Deval well folks that's it for today let us know in the comments below what you think your favorite movie from the late actress was and as always don't forget to like And subscribe for more content just like this