Shelley Duvall, the iconic actress best known for her role in “The Shining,” passed away on July 11 at the age of 75. Her death was confirmed by her longtime partner, Dan Gilroy, who shared a heartfelt message about her passing. Duvall had been in hospice care for several months and died shortly after midnight at their home in Blanco, Texas.
Gilroy, 77, expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “She’s gone after much suffering, which I guess is a good thing, which after 34 years … I can’t tell you how much I miss her.” The couple had been together for 34 years, having met just before Duvall began filming the 1990 Disney movie “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme.” Their relationship blossomed quickly, and they remained inseparable, with Gilroy standing by Duvall through her well-publicized struggles with mental illness.
Dan Gilroy, a musician, was a member of the band Breakfast Club, which he formed with his brother Ed in the late 1970s. The band also included a pre-fame Madonna on drums. Madonna left the band early on to pursue her solo career, but not before she and Gilroy briefly dated. Gilroy played a significant role in Madonna’s early music career, even teaching her to play the guitar. Their relationship was later chronicled in the 2019 docu-drama “Madonna and the Breakfast Club.”
Duvall and Gilroy’s love story began in 1989 when they met during the production of “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme.” Duvall, who starred as Little Bo Peep and also worked as a producer on the film, cast Gilroy in the leading role of Gordon Goose. Their bond grew stronger over the years, and they eventually moved to Blanco, Texas, in 1994 after an earthquake damaged their Los Angeles home.
Their home in Blanco was described as a “little oasis” by Gilroy, filled with his paintings and old photographs of the couple smiling affectionately at each other. Despite the idyllic setting, Duvall’s mental health challenges became more pronounced over time. Gilroy opened up about these struggles in an interview with The New York Times, recalling how things started to go downhill when Duvall became increasingly fearful and reluctant to work.
Duvall’s mental health issues gained widespread attention after her controversial appearance on a 2016 episode of “Dr. Phil.” Gilroy revealed that he had no idea Duvall had agreed to the interview and only found out about it afterward from people in town. He criticized the episode, saying, “It did nothing for her. It just put her on the map as an oddity.”
Despite these challenges, Gilroy remained a steadfast support for Duvall. His love and dedication to her were evident in his poignant words following her death: “My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley.”
Duvall’s career spanned several decades, with notable roles in films directed by Robert Altman, who was also her mentor. She retired from acting in 2002 but made a brief return to the screen in 2023’s “The Forest Hills.” Her passing marks the end of an era for her fans and the film industry, but her legacy will continue to live on through her memorable performances and the love she shared with Gilroy.
Source: NBC News, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, TODAY.com
