Shelley Duvall smiles with superfan in final photo taken 4 days before the ‘Shining’ star’s death
Shelley Duvall spent her final birthday with a superfan.
An X user named Sarah, who runs the fan account @shelleyduvallxo, shared that she joined Duvall in celebrating turning 75 on Sunday, just four days before the “Shining” star died.
Sarah posted a selfie with Duvall, who was seen smiling while leaning on her admirer’s shoulder as she received a bouquet of flowers to mark the milestone.
Sarah wrote that the reclusive actress had been “having difficulties with her health over the past few months,” but she “visited with her often” at her house in Texas.
“I’ll always be grateful for the memories I created with her and that I was able to give her comfort and companionship,” she captioned Duvall’s final photo on her personal account Thursday.
During their get-together, Sarah played Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song “Espresso” for the “Popeye” star, sharing on her fan page that they enjoyed “each other’s music recommendations” over the years.
The devotee also told her followers that Duvall “was so appreciative” of the birthday drop-in and thanked her for “lifting her spirits” before she left.
The movie star’s longtime partner, Dan Gilroy, announced Thursday that she died in her sleep at home from diabetes complications.
“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.
Duvall rose to fame in the mid-1970s as Robert Altman’s protégé, starring in several of the director’s films, including “Nashville” and “3 Women.”
She became a household name in 1980 thanks to her memorable roles opposite Robin Williams and Jack Nicholson in “Popeye” and “The Shining,” respectively.
Duvall took a hiatus from acting in 2002 but briefly returned to the big screen 20 years later in “The Forest Hills.”
