Olivia Hussey, the actress identified for portraying Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 drama “Romeo and Juliet,” died surrounded by her family members at her residence on Friday. She was 73.
No explanation for loss of life was not revealed.
“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” a press release posted on Hussey’s social media web page stated. “Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.”
The Argentinan-born actress skyrocketed to fame when she was 15 years previous and starred within the controversial two-time Oscar-winning drama “Romeo and Juliet” reverse Leonard Whiting who portrayed Romeo.
Hussey received a Golden Globe for the Most Promising Feminine Newcomer within the position however she wasn’t proud of how manufacturing dealt with the delicate scenes the place Eisley and Whiting — who had been 15 and 16 — had been filmed nude.
Based on a intercourse abuse lawsuit obtained by CNN, the co-stars claimed Zeffirelli advised the then-teenagers that “they must act in the nude or the picture would fail.”
Over 55 years after the filming, the performers revived a lawsuit in opposition to Paramount Footage and home-distribution firm Criterion Collections for distributing the bare scene.
Hussey and Whiting steered the 2 film firms unlawfully unfold their bare photographs featured in a bed room scene whereas redistributing the award-winning romance. The lawsuit was dismissed in October.
Whiting penned a tribute to his co-star, saying “Rest now my beautiful Juliet.”
“Olivia, We have shared so much since we were two sweet innocent children clinging onto each other for dear life as every photo of us attests to,” Whiting stated in tribute. “You’ve by no means been terrified of preventing to repair all the pieces incorrect on this world.
“Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now. And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever.”
The movie launched her appearing profession and he or she went on to look in dozens of tasks together with 1978’s “Death on the Nile,” “The Cat and the Canary,” the tv collection “Murder, She Wrote” and voice acted for the “Star Wars: The Old Republic” online game.
The award-winning actress had a stint starring in a collection of horror movies within the 90s like “Psycho IV: The Beginning,” and a miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel “It.”
In 2008, the actress was recognized with breast most cancers and it went into remission after she had a mastectomy however Hussey advised Specific that new tumor surfaced in 2018.
Clint Howard, who co-starred with Hussey within the 1995 comedy “Ice Cream Man,” shared his condolences on the Instagram submit asserting her passing.
“Olivia, you are such a wonderful light. You will shine forever! RIP,” Howard wrote.
Hussey is survived by her longtime husband David Glen Eisley, her three youngsters Alex, Max and India and grandson Greyson.
“As we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s enduring impact on our lives and the industry,” Hussey’s assertion concluded. “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.”
