The late Shelley Duvall's 10 best movies and TV shows, ranked

Shelley Duvall in Faerie Tale Theatre, Popeye, and The Shining — Photo:
Richard Hewett/TVG/Showtime/Courtesy Everett; Paramount Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett; Warner Brothers/Getty

There will never be another Shelley Duvall. Her career brimmed with exceptional performances that changed the tides of cinema.

Whenever someone speaks of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece The Shining, most likely the first image that pops into your mind is Duvall's frightful reaction when Jack Nicholson axes the bathroom door. And who can forget her transformation into Olive Oyl in Robert Altman's (her frequent collaborator) Popeye, opposite Robin Williams?

In another Altman film, 3 Women, Duvall plays the self-assured and vain nurse Millie Lammoreaux. Her signature traits — remarkable style, unfathomable beauty, and irresistible confidence — are showcased in one performance.

Duvall’s soft-spoken voice, warm smile, and bewitching talent made her an allure that captivated many generations. To honor the late Duvall, here are the ten best roles from her career.

10. Annie Hall (1977)

ANNIE HALL, Woody Allen, Shelley Duvall, 1977 — Woody Allen and Shelley Duvall in 'Annie Hall' (1977).
United Artists / Courtesy Everett

Shelley Duvall's minor role in Annie Hall is one of the greatest film cameos ever. Eliciting a smile the moment she appears onscreen as a Rolling Stone reporter obsessed with Bob Dylan on a first date with Woody Allen's Alvy Singer, Duvall comedic prowess came to play. Her line, "Sex with you is really a Kafkaesque experience," is delivered with signature Shelley certitude (Shell-itude) and always garners a huge laugh.

9. Roxanne (1987)

ROXANNE, Shelley Duvall, 1987 — Shelley Duvall in 'Roxanne' (1987).
Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett

In Fred Schepisi's modern Cyrano de Bergerac retelling penned by and starring Steve Martin, Shelley Duvall plays café owner Dixie, Charlie/C.D.’s (Steve Martin) and Roxanne’s (Daryl Hannah) close friend, who shares wise advice and gossip with them. Incorporating the personable warmth she was known for in real life, Duvall shared such wonderful chemistry with her costars. Every scene shared between Martin evokes endless charm, as Dixie actively encourages C.D. to tell Roxanne how he feels for her.

8. Faerie Tale Theatre (1982-1987)

FAERIE TALE THEATRE: RAPUNZEL, 1980-84, Shelley Duvall, Jeff Bridges, 1981 — Shelley Duvall and Jeff Bridges in 'Faerie Tale Theatre' (1981).
Everett Collection

One of Shelley Duvall's most passionate projects in her career, Faerie Tale Theatre was a family series she created, narrated, and sometimes starred in. As each episode begins with Duvall's trademark greeting, "Hello, I’m Shelley Duvall," she transports viewers to a whimsical fantasy world where Hollywood’s finest — such as Robin Williams, Anjelica Huston, Jeff Bridges, Jeff Goldblum and Susan Sarandon —reenact fairy tales with a modern twist. Duvall's 6-season, hour-long series had a stellar production consisting of lavish costumes, props, and animatronics. It was the first time kids saw fairy tales to jump from the page and onto their screens.

7. McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)

Shelley Duvall in Macabe and Mrs. Miller, 1971 — Shelley Duvall in 'McCabe and Mrs. Miller' (1971).
Warner Bros.

After her role with Robert Altman in Brewster McCloud, Shelley Duvall appeared in a minor role in his wintry western follow-up, McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Here, Duvall shows her versatility in brief scenes as a shy, mail-order bride-to-be who embedded herself in a 1902 Washington town, eventually working as one of brothel owner Mrs. Miller's (Julie Christie) girls.

6. Thieves Like Us (1974)

THIEVES LIKE US, Shelley Duvall, 1974 — Shelley Duvall in 'Thieves Like Us' (1974).
Everett Collection

Thieves Like Us marked Shelley Duvall’s first leading performance, following her work on Robert Altman’s Brewster McCloud and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. This role demonstrates her range as Keechie, a garageman’s daughter who falls for a criminal bank robber, Bowie (Keith Carradine). Duvall conveys an effortless portrait of innocence and love at full excitement, brought to life in her dynamic relationship with Carradine's charismatic Bowie.

5. Nashville (1975)

NASHVILLE, Shelley Duvall, 1975 — Shelley Duvall in 'Nashville' (1975).
Everett Collection

In Robert Altman and Shelley Duvall's fourth collaboration, Nashville, Duvall portrayed L.A. Joan, a wide-eyed teen who would rather be with men than cater to her family responsibilities. Despite her minor role, Duvall dominates the screen with her legendary '70s style topped off with an irresistible diva attitude.

4. The Shining (1980)

Terrified Shelley Duvall in lobby card for the film 'The Shining', 1980. — Shelley Duvall in 'The Shining' (1980).
Warner Brothers/Getty

Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance in Kubrick's film adaptation of theStephen King classic The Shining lives within horror cinema's finest moments. Her horrified expression in response to Jack Nicholson's ax-swinging hysterics evokes chills. Even though she had a rough time on set due to Kubrick, who notably made her shoot her bat-wielding staircase scene 127 times, Duvall's compelling performance redefined the "Scream Queen" title.

3. Brewster McCloud (1970)

BREWSTER MCCLOUD, Shelley Duvall, 1970 — Shelley Duvall in 'Brewster McCloud' (1970).
Everett Collection

Robert Altman and Shelley Duvall met at a party, and the filmmaker turned her into a star. Duvall stole our hearts in her debut performance in Altman's Brewster McCloud, just like her character Suzanne did with the stolen Road Runner car that she drove and evaded police in. With her big-doe eyes, long lashes, and energetic magnetism that left us wanting more, Duvall was the epitome of a cool girl. It truly was a memorable breakthrough performance unlike no other.

2. Popeye (1980)

POPEYE, from left: Robin Williams as Popeye, Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl, 1980. — Robin Williams as Popeye and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl in 'Popeye' (1980).
Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection

In her seventh and final collaboration with Robert Altman, Shelley Duvall's take on one of the most notable damsels in comic book history was exceptional — and possibly the most inspired live action casting of all time. Duvall captured Olive Oyl's flawless look and voice while also sharing great romantic and comic chemistry with the Robin Williams. Duvall's angelic voice under the unforgettable song, "He Needs Me," became so beloved that director Paul Thomas Anderson notably included it in Punch-Drunk Love.

1. 3 Women (1977)

3 WOMEN, (aka THREE WOMEN, aka 3 FEMMES), Shelley Duvall, 1977 — Shelley Duvall in '3 Women' (1977).
20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy Everett

Shelley Duvall's portrayal of Millie in Robert Altman's 3 Women represents the culmination of her star power within their collaboration, resulting in a complex and captivating role. As a flashy, magazine-obsessed nurse who becomes roommates with her younger teenage coworker Pinky (Sissy Spacek), Duvall projects an aloofness hindered by her exuberant persona. Like Pinky, we're enamored by her gracefully articulated tangents and her classy style. As the pair's relationship furthers, Duvall unravels a layered display which encompassed the singular presence she had in cinema history.

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