Actress Kelly Curtis, the older sister of Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis, has died at the age of 69. The news was confirmed by Jamie Lee Curtis, 67, who shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, though she did not disclose the cause of death.
Jamie Lee Curtis Pays Tribute
In her Instagram post, Jamie Lee wrote: 'A warm aloha to my older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis. She passed away this morning. In her home. In nature. At peace. She was my first friend and lifelong confidant. She was jaw droppingly beautiful, and a talented actress. She played a mean game of hearts, collected turtles, loved her family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook, and Pokémon Go. She was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry and was a devoted American patriot.'
Jamie Lee affectionately recalled Kelly's 'loving generosity, fierce opinions, endless curiosity, unique style, and her powdered, almond, crescent cookies at Christmas, hence her name, Auntie Cookie.' She ended with a Hungarian blessing: 'Isten Veled, God is with you. Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai. I'll see you on down the line.'
Outpouring of Condolences
The post quickly drew tributes from friends and fans. Actress Ariana DeBose wrote: 'Sending you so much love.' Writer Heidi Clements said: 'She will always be with you.' Journalist Chris Connelly shared: 'I'm so terribly sad to see this and so sorry for your loss. She joined our high school class senior year, and it was as if she'd stepped off a meteorite. Walked in beauty, like the night. Quoted lyrics from Tumbleweed Connection on her senior page in our yearbook. Into our NYC world, she was the coolest breeze of fresh air ..and always to be remembered.'
Acting Career and Family Legacy
Born in Santa Monica, California, Kelly began acting early, making her screen debut in the 1958 film The Vikings, which starred her parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Her best-known roles include the 1983 comedy-drama Trading Places and the TV series The Sentinel. She also appeared in the German comedy Magic Sticks (1987) and the Italian horror film The Devil's Daughter (1991). Her final acting role was in a 1999 episode of Judging Amy.
Beyond acting, Kelly was a children's author and worked as a production assistant on Jamie Lee's films Freaky Friday (2003) and You Again (2010). She is survived by her husband, playwright and producer Scott Morfee, whom she married in 1989.
The Curtis-Leigh Showbiz Dynasty
Kelly and Jamie Lee's parents were Hollywood royalty. Tony Curtis, an Oscar nominee, appeared in over 100 films, including Some Like It Hot (1959). Janet Leigh, also an Oscar nominee, was a scream queen known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). She died in 2007 at age 77 from vasculitis. Tony Curtis died in 2010 from cardiac arrest, having disinherited his five surviving children in his will.
Jamie Lee Curtis, whose films have grossed over $2.5 billion, continues her mother's legacy as a horror icon and beloved actress.
