Olivia Hussey, the star of 1968’s Romeo And Juliet and the horror classic Black Christmas, has died at the age of 73.
News of her passing was confirmed by the San Francisco Chronicle and later shared on the actor’s Instagram page. She died of cancer, having been diagnosed in 2008 and suffering a recurrence in 2018.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th,” reads the Instagram post.
“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” it continued. “Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.”
The post added that the actor had left “a legacy of love that will forever be cherished in our hearts. As we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s enduring impact on our lives and the industry. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of a truly special soul.”
The Argentine-British actor was born on April 17 1951 in Buenos Aires before moving to the UK. She starred in a West End production of The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie opposite Vanessa Redgrave, which caught the attention of director Franco Zeffirelli, who was looking for a young actress for the role of Juliet.
She was cast for the film at the age of 15 and was 17 by the time of its release. Also starring Leonard Whiting, the film was a major box office hit and won praise for its use of actors that were close to the age of the original characters. It was also notable for its brief nude scenes and fared well at the awards season, picking up four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Hussey was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.
Among Hussey’s other most memorable roles was the character of Jessica, a sorority sister whose house is hunted by a deranged killer in the 1974 festive horror classic Black Christmas. Bob Clark’s film is now considered an early example of the slasher genre.
Hussey also appeared in the 1978 version of the Poirot mystery Death On The Nile, and played Norman Bates’ mother in the prequel Psycho IV: The Beginning. She reunited with Zeffirelli as Mary in 1977’s Jesus Of Nazareth, and later provided voice roles for the Star Wars video games Rogue Squadron, Force Commander and The Old Republic.
Hussey is survived by her children Alex, Max and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisley, and grandson Greyson.
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