On Friday, December 27, Olivia Hussey, the lead actress in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, died. The actress was 73 years old. The star’s relatives announced her death on Instagram* and published an archive photo, noting that she “passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones” just two days after Christmas.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Isley. Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. Olivia lived a life filled with passion, love and dedication to the arts, spirituality and kindness to animals,” the post reads.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the actress’s cause of death was cancer. In 2008, Hussey was diagnosed with breast cancer. She refused chemotherapy and had a double mastectomy. Ten years later, the disease returned.
Olivia Hussey was born in Argentina. She became famous after landing a role in the film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at the age of 15, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. During her 60-year career, she starred in more than 50 projects, such as Black Christmas (1974) and Death on the Nile (1978).
The actress is survived by her husband David Glen Eisley, with whom she has been married since 1991, they have a daughter India. Olivia also has two sons from previous marriages. In total, the star has been married three times.
