Olivia Hussey, a veteran stage and screen actor likely best known for her portrayal of Juliet Capulet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 movie Romeo and Juliet, died Friday at her home. She was 73.
ROMEO AND JULIET, from left: Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting, 1968.
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Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey in ROMEO AND JULIET 1968
From Everett Collection.
Olivia Hussey was “surrounded by her loved ones” at the time of her passing, an Instagram post to her account announced. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” the post reads, saying that she “lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.” No cause of death was given, but according to the San Francisco Chronicle, it “is believed to be cancer.” (Vanity Fair was not able to independently confirm that claim as of publication time.)
Franco Zeffirelli and Olivia Hussey at the premiere of the film ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Paris in 1968.
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Actors Olivia Hussey and Dean Paul Martin on April 16, 1971 arrive in Las Vegas for their Wedding Ceremony.
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Born in Argentina in 1951 and raised in England, Hussey was only 15 when she was cast in Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s iconic play. In 2023, she and co-star Leonard Whiting—who, at age 16, played Romeo—sued Paramount Pictures over the film’s nude scene, claiming sexual harassment, negligence, intentional tort, fraud, appropriation of name and likeness, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unfair business practices, and child sexual abuse.
Actors Michael York and Olivia Hussey in a scene from the movie ‘Lost Horizon’, 1973.
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JESUS OF NAZARETH — Pictured: Olivia Hussey as Mary, the mother of Jesus
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Zeffirelli’s son responded to the suit on his late father’s behalf, denying the stars’ claims and pointing toward the long working relationship Hussey had with his father. The suit was later dismissed, as was a second suit filed by the pair over a digitally-remastered DVD rerelease of the movie that Hussey claimed contained photos that further exposed her. “I was convinced — and remain convinced — that Paramount engineered that release to embarrass me in retaliation for my participating in the lawsuit against them,” she said at the time.
Mia Farrow pointing gun as Olivia Hussey looks in shock in the film ‘Death On The Nile’, 1978.
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Harold Robbins The Pirate, a made for TV mini-series, originally broadcast over two consecutive nights, starting November 21, 1978. Pictured is left to right: Anne Archer (as Jordana Mason), Franco Nero (as Baydr Al Fay), Olivia Hussey (as Leila, the rebellious daughter). Los Angeles, CA.
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After her early success, Hussey embarked on a diverse career that included the lead in proto-slasher Black Christmas (1974), Agatha Christie thriller Death on the Nile (1978), and 2003 biopic Mother Teresa. She was also a sought-after voice actor, with turns on Batman Beyond and Superman: The Animated Series as DC villain Talia al Guhl.
“I can look back on 60 per cent of the work I’ve done and say, ‘You know what? I wasn’t terrible in that’,” Hussey said in an interview to promote her 2019 memoir, The Girl on the Balcony. “You work when you have to. Unless you’re Meryl Streep or Judi Dench you can’t always play wonderful roles. You just keep working to pay the bills.”
Actress Olivia Hussey with her husband, attending a party at the Beverly Wiltshire Hotel, California, October 1983.
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THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII – TV Mini-Series – Airdates: May 6 through 8, 1984. OLIVIA HUSSEY
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In her private life, she was married three times: to the late singer and actor Dean Paul Martin (1971-1978), singer and actor Akira Fuse (1980-1989), and musician David Glen Eisley, whom she married in 1991. Via Instagram, Eisley posted a photo of his hand holding Hussey’s with the caption “My best friend for 35 precious years. Mother of our beautiful daughter India. Day 1 of Alex, Max, India & my strange & Bewildering new life. Thank you all for your love.”
Death Comes on Six Legs aka. Distortions: Amy Marks (OLIVIA HUSSEY) and Aunt Margot (PIPER LAURIE) Director: Armand Mastroianni
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Actor Steve Railsback and actress Olivia Hussey attend the “Distortions” Beverly Hills Premiere on April 30, 1987 at the Academy Theatre in Beverly Hills, California.
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Hussey was successfully treated for with breast cancer in 2008, but despite a double mastectomy, the illness reportedly returned in 2018, when another tumor was discovered. “Frighteningly it was inoperable, growing between my heart and lungs,” Hussey said. “I’d refused chemotherapy and radiation treatment 10 years ago, wanting to avoid those poisons, but last year I had no choice.”
Beverly Hills Olivia Hussey At Home And With Her Boy Friend David Glen Eisley
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Olivia Hussey as Mother Teresa in 2003
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As noted by Eisley in his post, Hussey is also survived by her three children: Alexander Gunther Martin, Maximillian Hussey Fuse, and India Eisley, as well as her grandson, Greyson.
“I regret that I didn’t stretch myself more as an actress, take on meatier roles,” she said in 2018. “But I took time off to live my life and raise three children. At the time that was more important than working on my career. Overall I’ve done a couple of roles I’m proud of and I’m very happy in my life.”
Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey attend the 50th Anniversary World Premiere Restoration of ‘The Producers’ presented as the Opening Night Gala of the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival at the TCL Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California on April 26, 2018.
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