The Shining star Shelly Duvall’s controversial estate sale has divided fans – who claim the late star ‘deserved more’ than having her personal possessions sold.
The iconic actress, who played Wendy Torrance in the legendary 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film died in her sleep at her Blanco, Texas home aged 75 in July 2024.
Her stellar collection of movie memorabilia from her storied acting career – including the original script from Popeye, her personal notebooks and her call sheets from The Shining – were up for grabs at the sale, with a further auction of her belongings slated for October.
The chance to grab items from the actress’ personal effects sparked mixed reactions from fans – with some determined to snap up one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia, while others lambasted the ‘intrusive’ decision to sell her prized possessions.
One fan commented on a video shared by Vogt Auction Galleries inside DuVall’s storage barn at her Texas home: ‘Dude. Start off showing some respect
Others wrote: ‘Interesting but still feels a bit intrusive/ RIP SD.
The Shining star Shelly Duvall’s estate sale has divided fans who claim the late star ‘deserved more’ – as strangers flocked to buy her most personal possessions – pictured as Wendy Torrance in the legendary 1980 Stanley Kubrick horror film
Shelley Duvall, 75, died of complications from diabetes in July 2024
‘Rest in peace Shelley, you deserved more.’
‘What about using those items to create a museum?
‘This is what happens to all of us. All the things we kept and cherished throughout our lives get divvied up to strangers. Like when the Romans rolled dice for the lord’s possessions. Sad.’
‘Omg. The shining and Popeyes scripts belong at the academy of motion pictures museum. Geez. Hollywood treasures. I hope they go to the right place and not lost/
Others praised the sale saying: ‘I’m grateful that you will be sharing the catalog online. She was such a beautiful inspiration my whole life.’
‘why didn’t i see this two days ago!! i would’ve loved to go to this.’
Duvall died of complications from diabetes.
‘My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley,’ Dan Gilroy, her life partner since 1989, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Her stellar collection of movie memorabilia from her storied acting career – including the original script from Popeye in which she starred as Olive Oyl along side Robin Williams in 1980
The chance to grab items from the actress’ personal effects sparked mixed reactions from fans – with some determined to snap up one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia, while others lambasted the ‘intrusive’ decision to sell her prized possessions
Duvall’s storage barn includes original call sheets from The Shining
She also had a first edition of the Stephen King classic
Her Popeye script is seen above
One fan commented on a video shared by Vogt Auction Galleries inside DuVall’s storage barn at her Texas home: ‘Dude. Start off showing some respect’
Others praised the decision to allow fans to purchase Duvall’s items
Following a career that included major roles in Annie Hall, McCabe and Mrs. Miller and the iconic Olive Oyl in Popeye, Duvall retreated from Hollywood in 2002.
She later revealed that she suffered from mental illness and felt she had been ‘hurt’ by the showbusiness world.
Born July 7, 1949 in Fort Worth, Texas, Duvall began her career by appearing in the 1970 black comedy feature Brewster McCloud.
She starred in the psychological thriller Three Woman in 1977, which earned her an award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival.
Her most notable role was as Wendy Torrance in The Shining, and although initial reviews for the feature were mixed, contemporary critics have viewed the film in a much more favorable light.
She founded her own production company in 1988, called Think Entertainment, which was behind a ton more kids shows; however, she sold the company five years later. She also released an album that featured her covering popular Christmas hits in 1991.
Duvall was married to Bernard Sampson before her career kicked off, then she went on to date Paul Simon from 1976 to 1979 and Ringo Starr from 1979 to 1980, then Stanley Wilson who she met on the set of Popeye before starting her relationship with Gilroy.
In 2002, Duvall appeared in the independent film Manna from Heaven, before announcing that she was stepping away from the spotlight and retiring from acting.
Following the movie’s release, the actress retreated from public life and retired until last year.
She made her return to the big screen in the 2023 film The Forest Hills about a man who begins experiencing disturbing visions after enduring a head injury during a camping trip in the Catskill Mountains.
Dan Gilroy (right), her life partner since 1989, confirmed her death to The Hollywood Reporter
‘Shelley leaves behind an amazing legacy and will be missed by so many people, myself included. I am proud of her for overcoming adversity to act again and will always be forever grateful for her friendship and kindness,’ The Forest Hills director Scott Goldberg told People.
In an interview with The New York Times, Duvall said that she left showbusiness in 2002 because people in Hollywood ‘hurt’ her.
‘I was a star; I had leading roles,’ she told the paper. ‘People think it’s just aging, but it’s not. It’s violence.’
She eventually made an appearance on an episode of Dr. Phil in 2016, where she spoke about dealing with mental illness during her time on the show.
The show’s host was subsequently criticized for what many saw as his exploitation of the performer.
The elegant actress in the 1977 movie Three Women, directed by Robert Altman. After 20 years, she made her return to the big screen in the 2023 film The Forest Hills, see video above
Gilroy also chimed in the Times interview saying that her 2016 interview with Dr. Phil was support to help her career, but it ended up being damning and made her appear ‘odd’.
But then he added that he does worry about her, especially when she sleeps in her car.
Gilroy also explained that when her Los Angeles home was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, they moved to Texas hoping for a happier life.
That is when things went ‘downhill’ and she ‘started becoming afraid of things, maybe didn’t want to work’.
