Died at 76
female
Shelley Alexis Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) was an American actress known for her portrayal of distinctive, often eccentric characters. She was the recipient of several accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Peabody Award and nominations for a British Academy Film Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Born in Texas, Duvall began acting after being discovered by director Robert Altman, who was impressed with her upbeat presence and cast her in the black comedy film Brewster McCloud (1970). Despite her hesitance towards becoming an actress, she continued to work with Altman, appearing in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974). Her breakthrough came with Altman's cult film Nashville (1975), and she earned widespread acclaim with the drama 3 Women (1977), also directed by Altman, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and earned a nomination for the British Academy Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. That same year, she appeared in a supporting role (as a writer for Rolling Stone) in Woody Allen's satirical romantic comedy Annie Hall (1977) and hosted Saturday Night Live. In the 1980s, Duvall became famous for her leading roles, which include Olive Oyl in Altman's live-action feature version of Popeye (1980) and Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining (1980). She appeared in Terry Gilliam's fantasy film Time Bandits (1981), the short comedy horror film Frankenweenie (1984), and the comedy Roxanne (1987). She ventured into producing television programming aimed at children and youth in the latter half of the 1980s, notably creating and hosting the programs Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987), Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987) (which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1988), and Nightmare Classics (1989). Duvall sporadically worked in acting throughout the 1990s, notably playing supporting roles in Steven Soderbergh's thriller The Underneath (1995) and the Henry James adaptation The Portrait of a Lady (1996), directed by Jane Campion. Her last performance was in Manna from Heaven (2002), after which she retired from acting. Duvall for many years kept out of the public media, keeping her personal life generally private; however, her health issues earned significant media coverage. After a 21-year hiatus from acting, Duvall returned to acting in the horror film The Forest Hills.
Shelley Duvall
Dr. Abigail Erskine
for Dr. Abigail Erskine in Captain America: The First Avenger
Suggested by mr95
In the midst of World War II, a young woman named Stevie Rogers dreams of serving her country and fighting against the Nazi threat. Stevie is smart, resourceful, and determined, but she is deemed unfit for combat due to her gender. Undeterred, Stevie jumps at the chance to participate in a top-secret government program that aims to create a super-soldier. Despite the doubts of those around her, Stevie is selected for the procedure and emerges as a powerful and skilled fighter, with enhanced strength, speed, and agility. Now known as Captain America, Stevie is sent on a mission to take down the notorious Nazi leader, Red Skull, and prevent her from using a powerful artifact for her own evil purposes. Along the way, Captain America forms a bond with fellow soldier Becky Barnes, and the two work together to take on the enemy forces. As she battles her way through the enemy lines, Captain America faces threats and betrayal, but her determination and bravery never waver. In the final showdown, Captain America confronts Red Skull and must make a difficult choice to save the world from destruction. At the end of the war, Captain America is hailed as a hero and given a hero's welcome back home. Stevie reflects on her journey and the sacrifices she made for her country, knowing that she will forever be remembered as a symbol of hope and bravery.
