Olivia Hussey obit

Olivia Hussey Eisley Dies: ‘Romeo And Juliet’ Actress Was 73

 

She was not on the list.

Olivia Hussey Eisley, the actress who shot to fame as one of the star-crossed lovers in Franco Zeffirelli’s controversial Romeo and Juliet in 1968, died peacefully today at home surrounded by her loved ones, according to a post on her Instagram page. She was 73.

Hussey’s credits also include Death on the Nile opposite Peter Ustinov; Psycho IV: The Beginning in which she played Norma Bates and the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It.

She worked again with Zeffirelli when she played Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television movie Jesus of Nazareth.

In 2022, Hussey and Whiting sued Paramount Pictures, alleging that Zeffirelli violated their consent on Romeo and Juliet by filming them nude without their knowledge. Hussey and Whiting were 15 and 16 years old, respectively, when the film was shot. Estimating that the film has made over $500 million since its pre-Summer of Love release, the duo sought $100 million in damages.

The claims were distinct from what Hussey said in 2018 when she spoke of the nudity in the film. Back then, plugging a new memoir, the actress told Fox News that the nudity “wasn’t that big of a deal.”

The nudity was certainly a big deal of a sort when Romeo and Juliet came out in March 1968. Nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, the controversial picture won Best Cinematography and Costume Design Oscars. Both Whiting and Hussey also won Golden Globes for their performances.

Having faced claims of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the past, Zeffirelli was unable to respond to Hussey and Whiting’s accusations, given that he died in 2019.

However, the filmmaker’s son Pippo Zeffirelli did respond.

“It is embarrassing to hear that today, 55 years after filming, two elderly actors who owe their notoriety essentially to this film wake up to declare that they have suffered an abuse that has caused them years of anxiety and emotional discomfort,” he said in January 2023.

In May 2023, a judge said the suit contained a “gross mischaracterization” of the bedroom scenes in question from the film and, citing the First Amendment, put forth a tentative ruling to dismiss the case.

Hussey Eisley is survived by her children, Alex, Max and India, her husband of 35 years, David Glen Eisley, and her grandson, Greyson.

Here is the statement from Hussey’s family in full:

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th.

Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.

Born on April 17th, 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.

Olivia leaves behind a loving family— her children, Alex, Max, and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisley, and grandson, Greyson, and a legacy of love that will forever be cherished in our hearts. As we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s enduring impact on our lives and the industry.

We thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of a truly special soul.

Actress

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Julia's Mother

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Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011)

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Master Yuon Par

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Stephanie Beacham, Lesley-Anne Down, Olivia Hussey, Ria Coyne, Stephen Furst, and Gavan O'Herlihy in Seven Days of Grace (2006)

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2006

 

Headspace (2005)

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Mother Teresa (2003)

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2003

 

Olivia Hussey, Tony Denison, and Don Murray in Island Prey (2001)

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2001

 

El grito (2000)

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Batman Beyond (1999)

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Star Wars: Force Commander (2000)

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1999

1 episode

 

Shame, Shame, Shame (1999)

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Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (1998)

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The Gardener (1998)

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Pinky and the Brain (1995)

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7.8

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Queen (voice)

1998

1 episode

 

Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong in Boy Meets World (1993)

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8.1

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Aunt Prudence Curtis

1997

1 episode

 

The Lord Protector (1996)

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The Voice of the Ancients (voice)

1996

 

Dead Man's Island (1996)

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Rosie

1996

 

Bad English I: Tales of a Son of a Brit

1995

 

Ice Cream Man (1995)

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Lonesome Dove: The Series (1994)

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Quest of the Delta Knights (1993)

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2.3

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Tim Curry in It (1990)

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6.8

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Audra Denbrough

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Anthony Perkins, Olivia Hussey, and Henry Thomas in Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

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5.4

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Norma Bates

1990

 

Undeclared War (1990)

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The Jeweller's Shop (1988)

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5.7

Thérèse

1988

 

Distortions (1988)

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1988

 

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Kitty Trumbull

1985

1 episode

 

Olivia Hussey and Trevor Eve in The Corsican Brothers (1985)

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5.5

TV Movie

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1985

 

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7.0

TV Mini Series

Ione

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3 episodes

 

Olivia Hussey and Steve Railsback in Turkey Shoot (1982)

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5.9

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1982

 

Sam Neill, Anthony Andrews, Lysette Anthony, and Olivia Hussey in Ivanhoe (1982)

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6.7

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Rebecca

1982

 

Virus (1980)

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6.2

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1980

 

The Man with Bogart's Face (1980)

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6.2

Elsa

1980

 

Olivia Hussey and Tony Musante in The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther (1979)

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6.7

TV Movie

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1979

 

Christopher Lee, Jeff Corey, and Franco Nero in The Pirate (1978)

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TV Movie

Leila

1978

 

Honor Blackman, Olivia Hussey, Edward Fox, Michael Callan, Wendy Hiller, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Beatrix Lehmann, Carol Lynley, Daniel Massey, and Peter McEnery in The Cat and the Canary (1978)

The Cat and the Canary

5.6

Cicily Young

1978

 

Death on the Nile (1978)

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7.3

Rosalie Otterbourne

1978

 

The Bastard (1978)

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6.8

TV Series

Alicia

1978

2 episodes

 

Robert Powell in Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

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8.5

TV Mini Series

Mary

1977

4 episodes

 

H-Bomb (1976)

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5.5

Erica

1976

 

Black Christmas (1974)

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7.1

Jess Bradford

1974

 

Lost Horizon (1973)

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5.2

Maria

1973

 

The Summertime Killer (1972)

The Summertime Killer

6.0

Tania Scarlotti

1972

 

All the Right Noises (1970)

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6.1

Val

1970

 

Olivia Hussey in Romeo and Juliet (1968)

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7.6

Juliet

1968

 

Acting in the Sixties (1967)

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1966

 

Cup Fever (1965)

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1965

 

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1973