Shelley Duvall's Acting Career Was a Beautiful Accident

I think Shelley Duvall's acting career could be best described, to paraphrase Bob Ross, as a beautiful accident.

Duvall, who died on Thursday at the age of 75, has left an indelible legacy despite the fact that she largely withdrew from Hollywood nearly 30 years ago. While probably best remembered for her portrayal of the tortured yet resourceful Wendy Torrance in The Shining, Duvall is inexorably linked to director Robert Altman who cast her in seven of his films between 1970 and 1980 beginning with Brewster McCloud. 

Indeed, it was members of Altman's crew who saw Duvall at a party she was hosting in Houston and were starstruck. Not long after Altman asked her to play the female lead in Brewster McCloud opposite Bud Cort. Keep in mind, Duvall had never left the state of Texas, had never acted, nor did she have any aspirations to act and initially turned down the golden ticket. Alas, Altman wouldn't take no for an answer, and we are the better for it.

If Duvall had not met Altman, there is a good chance she may have never left Texas much less become an actress. Had Duvall aspired to be an actress, I suspect she would have had a great deal of trouble finding roles because of her unconventional although beautiful appearance. Needless to say, Altman saw something most casting agents, directors and producers could not see and shared her talents and her humanity with the world.

On a personal note, I saw Brewster McCloud at The Brattle Theatre in 2007 during a tribute to Altman who had passed away the previous year. Brewster McCloud was part of a double feature with The Long Goodbye starring Elliott Gould who was present at the proceedings. I even managed to ask him a question about his co-star, ex-MLB pitcher Jim Bouton whom he described as "a beautiful man."

There was also a panel for Brewster McCloud - Altman's widow Kathryn, Sally Kellerman and Michael Murphy (all of whom have left this mortal coil). While Duvall was not present for the tribute, she was very much there in spirit and was warmly received by the audience and panelists alike. 

The warm reception will continue long after she has left us. R.I.P.