The background: Shelley Duvall, the intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, has died at the age of 75.
Duvall died on Thursday in her sleep at her home in Blanco, Texas, her longtime partner Dan Gilroy announced.
The cause was complications of diabetes, said her friend, the publicist Gary Springer.
The key quote: "My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us last night," Gilroy said in a statement.
"Too much suffering lately, now she's free. Fly away beautiful Shelley."
What else to know: Duvall was attending junior college in Texas when Altman's staff members, preparing to film Brewster McCloud, encountered her at a party in Houston in 1970.
She would go on to become Altman's protégé.
In addition to her acting career, Shelley recorded Sweet Dreams, an album of music for children in 1991, and a year later Showtime bought her pitch for Faerie Tale Theatre, which she executive produced, narrated and appeared in.
What happens next: She is survived by her three brothers Scott, Stewart and Shane.
