Inside Shelley Duvall’s struggles with mental illness: Dr. Phil, The Shining and Stanley Kubrick

Shelley Duvall, the renowned Hollywood icon, passed away at the age of 75.

She gained fame for her chilling yet highly skilled performance as Wendy Torrance in the 1980 horror masterpiece, The Shining.

What are some of Shelley Duvall’s most notable roles?

Duvall portrayed Jack Nicholson's character's beleaguered wife, who endured terror at the hands of the deranged writer while they stayed at the isolated hotel known as The Overlook.

The actress, born in America, also gained recognition for portraying Olive Oyl in the live-action adaptation of Popeye in 1980.

Her portrayal as Wendy brought Duvall legendary status in Hollywood, but it came with significant personal cost.

How did Shelley Duvall’s role in The Shining and treatment by Stanley Kubrick affect her mental health?

Unfortunately, in the years after her notable role in The Shining, Duvall had publicly discussed the difficult treatment she experienced from director Stanley Kubrick on set.

The 1980 film required 56 weeks to complete production and holds a Guinness World Record for "the most retakes for one scene with dialogue".

Duvall mentioned that her mental well-being suffered significantly during the filming process.

"It's the most difficult role I've ever had to play," Duvall described it as the most challenging role she had ever played.

"From May until October, I was really in and out of ill health because the stress of the role was so great. Stanley pushed me and prodded me further than I've ever been pushed before."

According to reports, Kubrick subjected Duvall to bullying on set and treated her differently compared to other actors.

The actress remembered enduring exhausting 15-hour days filming the horror scenes, which left her hands raw and shredded from gripping a bat for extended periods.

What has Shelley Duvall revealed about her struggles with mental illness?

In 1980, Duvall told Roger Ebert, "I had to cry 12 hours a day, all day long, the last nine months straight, five or six days a week."

"I was there a year and a month, and there must be something to primal scream therapy, because after the day was over and I'd cried for my 12 hours, I went home very contented.”

"It had a very calming effect. During the day I would have been absolutely miserable."

Following the release of The Shining, Duvall remained active in the acting profession for approximately 22 years.

In 2002, after a career spanning 32 years, she chose to retire from acting permanently.

However, she made a brief return to acting in 2023 for a role in the indie horror film Forest Hills.

Duvall expressed in an interview with People that returning to acting was incredibly enjoyable and enriching. She mentioned, "Jessica Tandy won an Oscar when she was 80. I can still win."

In her later years, Duvall lived a mostly private life and avoided television interviews after 2016.

What did Shelley Duvall say about her appearance on the Dr. Phil show?

In that year, Duvall participated in a widely-discussed interview with Dr. Phil, discussing her struggles with mental health.

In 2021, five years later, she expressed remorse for her decision to appear on the show.

"I found out the kind of person he is the hard way," Duvall shard with The Hollywood Reporter.

"My mother didn't like him, either. A lot of people, like Dan, said, 'You shouldn't have done that, Shelley.'"

After retiring from Hollywood, Duvall resided in Blanco, Texas, with her partner Dan Gilroy.

Gilroy shared the news of her passing, stating that she died peacefully in her sleep at home on July 11, 2024.

Her friend and publicist Gary Springer stated that complications from diabetes were the cause.