Olivia Hussey, celebrated for her iconic portrayal of Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, surrounded by loved ones. She was 73.
The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
“Olivia was an extraordinary individual whose warmth, wisdom, and genuine kindness left a lasting impact on everyone she met,” read a statement shared on her official social media. “She led a life filled with passion, love, and unwavering dedication to the arts, spirituality, and compassion for animals.
Leonard Whiting paid tribute to his beloved co-star, writing, “Rest now, my beautiful Juliet.”“Olivia, we have shared so much since we were two sweet, innocent children holding on to each other for dear life, as every photo of us reflects,” Whiting expressed. “You were never afraid to fight for what was right and to address the world’s injustices.“Rest now, my beautiful Juliet. No injustice can touch you anymore, and the world will forever remember your beauty, both inside and out.”
The film catapulted her acting career, leading to roles in numerous projects, including 1978’s Death on the Nile, The Cat and the Canary, the TV series Murder, She Wrote, and voice work for the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic.
The award-winning actress also ventured into the horror genre in the 1990s, starring in films like Psycho IV: The Beginning and a miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel It.
In 2008, Hussey was diagnosed with breast cancer, which went into remission after she underwent a mastectomy. However, in 2018, she revealed to Express that a new tumor had emerged.
The film launched her acting career and she went on to appear in dozens of projects including 1978’s “Death on the Nile,” “The Cat and the Canary,” the television series “Murder, She Wrote” and voice acted for the “Star Wars: The Old Republic” video game.
The award-winning actress had a stint starring in a series of horror films in the 90s like “Psycho IV: The Beginning,” and a miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel “It.”
In 2008, the actress was diagnosed with breast cancer and it went into remission after she had a mastectomy but Hussey told Express that new tumor surfaced in 2018.
Clint Howard, who appeared alongside Olivia Hussey in the 1995 comedy Ice Cream Man, expressed his condolences in a comment on the Instagram post announcing her passing.
“Olivia, you are such a wonderful light. You will shine forever! RIP,” Howard wrote.
Hussey is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley, her three children—Alex, Max, and India—and her grandson, Greyson.
“As we mourn this immense loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s lasting impact on our lives and the industry,” the statement concluded. “We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and kindly request privacy as we remember a truly remarkable soul.”
