Olivia Hussey, star of 'Romeo and Juliet', dies at 73 after battling breast cancer

Renowned for her role in Romeo and Juliet, Olivia Hussey has passed away at 73 after struggling with illness.

Olivia Hussey Eisley, celebrated for her iconic roles in Romeo and Juliet and Black Christmas, passed away on December 27 at the age of 73. The British-Argentine actress succumbed to cancer, as confirmed by filmmaker Marc Huestis to the San Francisco Chronicle. Hussey had been battling breast cancer since her diagnosis in 2008, with a recurrence in 2018.

A statement on her official Instagram read: “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. She lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts.”

 

 

 

 

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Hussey’s career skyrocketed in 1968 when she portrayed Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The film was a critical and popular success, earning four Academy Award nominations and securing her a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer.

In addition to her breakout role, Hussey became a trailblazer in the horror genre with her performance in Black Christmas (1974). She also starred in the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile and reunited with Zeffirelli for the miniseries Jesus of Nazareth, where she portrayed Mary.

Hussey’s career spanned decades, including roles in Psycho IV: The Beginning and video game voice acting in Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

She is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley; children Alex, Max, and India; and grandson Greyson.