Shelley Duvall is remembered for being the perfect victim. But he was more | CNN

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In all the tributes to late actress Shelley Duvall, who died this week at the age of 75, much attention has been focused on her long absence from the limelight after 1970s films. and early 80s.

Most notably, she will be associated with her portrayal of Wendy Torrance, the weak and tormented victim of Jack Nicholson’s insane writer in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s classic “The Shining,” which at the time who disappeared from the public eye.

Unfortunately, that victim identity was only reinforced in the mid-2010s, when Duvall appeared on an episode of “Dr. Phil” that was viewed as abusive and problematic.

But like anyone else, movie stars — even reluctant ones, like Duvall — are worth more than their last impressions, or their perceived shortcomings. It is unfortunate that Duvall’s absence from the public eye ended up overshadowing his gifts and talent.

Much has been written about Duvall’s harrowing experience on the set of “The Shining,” where he spent much of the grueling shoot — often 16-hour days, six days a week — dealing with so desperate, his body was coming. rebels in constant pressure and crying.

In 2021, one of the many “where-was-he-all-this-time?” clips were published in The Hollywood Reporter, where Anjelica Huston – who was in a relationship with Nicholson during the filming of the film – recalled how Duvall chose to live near an isolated place on the outskirts of London, instead of to rent an apartment in the city. and walking.

“Nobody does that,” Huston said at the time. “You go back and forth from London, even if you’re stuck in traffic for two hours in and out. But Shelley did that for a year and a half. She got herself a flat and lived there because he was extremely dedicated and did not want to give himself up or deny himself to anyone by not giving himself fully to his commitment.”

That commitment was reflected in the finished product, with Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy — the mysterious and frightened wife of an alcoholic writer who is left unresolved when their family is holed up in a Colorado hotel during a cold winter — that become a major reference point in pop. culture.

After “The Shining,” Duvall went on to other successful projects, but none could rise to the level of fame that the film or his performance came. before that, especially his wonderful work with filmmaker Robert Altman.

Decades later, when Duvall appeared on the controversial, top-rated “Dr. Phil,” the then-67-year-old actor made confusing statements and appeared to be struggling with life. his mental ones.

The episode sparked a backlash from viewers and Hollywood luminaries alike, with Mia Farrow calling for the protection of “mentally ill people from the predators of television shows”. like @DrPhil” on social media and Vivian Kubrick – daughter of the late Stanley Kubrick – wrote the show. as “horrendous wickedness” and “filthy pleasure.”

(Dr. Phil, for his part, never apologized for the incident and instead told CNN’s Chris Wallace last year, “I don’t regret what I did .” He only allowed the program to be “promoted in a way that people thought it was.”)

Ultimately, the incident sparked interest in Duvall, who, as the New York Times reported earlier this year, has maintained a devoted following. His tenure as host of the 1980s Showtime hit “Faerie Tale Theater” — an early but solid show in the nascent cable era, which ran for six seasons — had a huge impact on Gen Xers and younger Millennials, like this writer.

The fantasy show retold classic stories in a playful but engaging way, and attracted an incredible cast of talent – including Helen Mirren, James Earl Jones, Treat Williams, Terri Garr and Gena Rowlands, to name just a few, not to mention some amazing directing work from Francis Ford Coppola and Tim Burton.

However, it was fueled by Duvall, whose unique charm and childlike portrayal as the host and protagonist of each story was the perfect dusting of a legend. He also worked as a producer on the series.

Shortly after “Faerie Tale,” Duvall played Steve Martin’s wisecracking friend Dixie in the 1987 thriller Cyrano de Bergerac, “Roxanne.” At one point in the comic, he tells Martin’s beloved, big-nosed lover, asking, “What can you sit on, sleep on, and brush your teeth on?” As Martin struggles to find an answer, Duvall delivers it slowly and simply: “A chair, a bed and a toothbrush.”

He continues: “Sometimes the answer is so obvious that you don’t see it.” A reminder to maybe not focus too much on it home weakness, but with the legacy of Duvall’s work – which was there all along.