Hollywood screen icon Shelley Duvall has died, aged 75.

The actress, who famously played Wendy Torrance in the legendary 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film The Shining, died from complications from diabetes at her home in Blanco, Texas.

In perhaps the most iconic scene of the film, Duvall screamed as her homicidal husband Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, put an axe through a door as she cowered behind it.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

The news of her death was broken by The Hollywood Reporter, with life partner Dan Gilroy paying tribute to Duvall.

“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,” Gilroy, who has been with the actress since 1989, said.

Duvall’s career included roles in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, McCabe & Mrs Miller, and Olive Oyl in Popeye.

Duvall retreated from Hollywood in 2002.

She was born in 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas. Her breakout role was in the 1975 musical comedy, Nashville.

During her career, she won a number of awards, including a Cannes Film Festival Award for best actress, for 3 Women.

The star spoke of her most famous role on The Shining, calling legendary Kubrick “very warm and friendly” towards her on set.

However, In her later years, the actress reportedly suffered mental illness and felt burnt by the showbiz world, with her later making her feelings known in more recent interviews.

In an interview with The New York Times this year, Duvall said people in Hollywood “hurt” her.

“I was a star; I had leading roles — people think it’s just ageing, but it’s not. It’s violence,” Duvall said.

Notably, she made an appearance on an episode of Dr. Phil in 2016, where she spoke about dealing with mental illness.

The show’s host was subsequently criticised for what many saw as his exploitation of the performer.