Shelley Duvall, the actor most remembered for her appearances in “The Shining,” “Nashville,” and “Popeye,” died at her Blanco, Texas, home on July 11, 2024, at age 75. Her cause of death was complications from diabetes.
Duvall hadn’t been seen in public for several years previously. Her final performance was in “The Forest Hills,” a 2023 horror thriller. Before then, however, she hadn’t starred in a film since “Manna From Heaven,” which was released in 2002.
Speculation regarding Duvall's mental state has long followed her since a dramatic 2016 appearance with "Dr. Phil," where she openly admitted she was unwell. Duvall had also been diagnosed with diabetes and had restricted movement because of a foot ailment, according to a New York Times feature dated April 2024.
While Duvall kept most of the information regarding the condition of her health private, here’s what the actor and those closest to her have divulged.
What Was Shelley Duvall’s Cause Of Death?

Duvall’s lifelong companion, Dan Gilroy, stated her cause of death was complications from diabetes. Duvall died in her sleep a little after midnight on July 11.
“She’s gone after much suffering, which I think is a wonderful thing," Gilroy told NBC News. "After 34 years … I can’t tell you how much I miss her."
Gilroy stated that Duvall had been bedridden and in hospice care for several months before to her death owing to her diabetes.
Shelley Duvall's Mental Health
Duvall made an appearance on the Dr. Phil program in a 2016 episode called: “A Hollywood Star’s Descent Into Mental Illness: Saving The Shining’s Shelley Duvall.” In it, Duvall admitted she was unwell.
“I’m very sick. I need help,” Duvall said at the time.
Dr. Phil drew outrage for allowing the interview to run. A “Dr. Phil” representative earlier told TODAY.com that they intended to “document the struggle and bring amazing resources to change her trajectory,” but “she declined our initial offer for inpatient treatment.”
Gilroy told The New York Times he hadn’t aware Duvall shot the part until days after the fact. “It did nothing for her,” Gilroy told the magazine. “It just put her on the map as an oddity.”
Duvall talked out about the interview in a 2021 piece in the Hollywood Reporter. “I found out the kind of person (Dr. Phil) is the hard way,” Duvall stated. “My mother didn’t like him, either. A number of people, including Dan (Gilroy), said, ‘You shouldn’t have done that, Shelley.’”
Neither the New York Times nor the Hollywood Reporter mentioned anything concrete regarding her mental health in their conversations.
The Reporter said she had changeable emotions and was still "sharp." The Times stated her withdrawal from public life and return to Texas wasn't because of her mental health, but more likely because her Los Angeles house was wrecked in an earthquake and her brother grew ill.
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Duvall and Gilroy came to Texas from California together following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. She was doing well in L.A., and at first, life in the south was “terrific,” Gilroy told The New York Times.
“Things went downhill when she started becoming afraid of things, maybe didn’t want to work. It’s pretty hard to blame it on any one thing,” he said. “She became paranoid and just kind of delusional, thinking she was being attacked. ... She tried to make calls to the F.B.I., and requested our neighbor to protect us.”
“It was just shocking that, suddenly, from normal, it went south like that,” Gilroy continued.
Shelley Duvall Died Of Diabetic Complications. How Does This Happen?
Duvall nor Gilroy ever stated the form of diabetes Duvall had, but Gilroy said complications from the condition caused her death.
Diabetes is the outcome of excess sugar in the blood, says the Mayo Clinic. Complications may include heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage and blindness, foot damage, skin and mouth diseases, hearing impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and coma, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If diabetes stays undiagnosed or the condition progresses despite therapy, symptoms can lead to death. One way that can happen is if the body experiences a diabetic coma, when blood sugar goes too low or too high. Diabetes can potentially develop to Kidney disease or cardiovascular disease, which can be deadly.
Read Also : Where can I find a unique and stylish handmade crochet bikini?
Shelley Duvall, the actor most remembered for her appearances in “The Shining,” “Nashville,” and “Popeye,” died at her Blanco, Texas, home on July 11, 2024, at age 75. Her cause of death was complications from diabetes.
Duvall hadn’t been seen in public for several years previously. Her final performance was in “The Forest Hills,” a 2023 horror thriller. Before then, however, she hadn’t starred in a film since “Manna From Heaven,” which was released in 2002.
Speculation regarding Duvall's mental state has long followed her since a dramatic 2016 appearance with "Dr. Phil," where she openly admitted she was unwell. Duvall had also been diagnosed with diabetes and had restricted movement because of a foot ailment, according to a New York Times feature dated April 2024.
While Duvall kept most of the information regarding the condition of her health private, here’s what the actor and those closest to her have divulged.
What Was Shelley Duvall’s Cause Of Death?
Duvall’s lifelong companion, Dan Gilroy, stated her cause of death was complications from diabetes. Duvall died in her sleep a little after midnight on July 11.
“She’s gone after much suffering, which I think is a wonderful thing," Gilroy told NBC News. "After 34 years … I can’t tell you how much I miss her."
Gilroy stated that Duvall had been bedridden and in hospice care for several months before to her death owing to her diabetes.
Shelley Duvall's Mental Health
Duvall made an appearance on the Dr. Phil program in a 2016 episode called: “A Hollywood Star’s Descent Into Mental Illness: Saving The Shining’s Shelley Duvall.” In it, Duvall admitted she was unwell.
“I’m very sick. I need help,” Duvall said at the time.
Dr. Phil drew outrage for allowing the interview to run. A “Dr. Phil” representative earlier told TODAY.com that they intended to “document the struggle and bring amazing resources to change her trajectory,” but “she declined our initial offer for inpatient treatment.”
Gilroy told The New York Times he hadn’t aware Duvall shot the part until days after the fact. “It did nothing for her,” Gilroy told the magazine. “It just put her on the map as an oddity.”
Duvall talked out about the interview in a 2021 piece in the Hollywood Reporter. “I found out the kind of person (Dr. Phil) is the hard way,” Duvall stated. “My mother didn’t like him, either. A number of people, including Dan (Gilroy), said, ‘You shouldn’t have done that, Shelley.’”
Neither the New York Times nor the Hollywood Reporter mentioned anything concrete regarding her mental health in their conversations.
The Reporter said she had changeable emotions and was still "sharp." The Times stated her withdrawal from public life and return to Texas wasn't because of her mental health, but more likely because her Los Angeles house was wrecked in an earthquake and her brother grew ill.
Duvall and Gilroy came to Texas from California together following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. She was doing well in L.A., and at first, life in the south was “terrific,” Gilroy told The New York Times.
“Things went downhill when she started becoming afraid of things, maybe didn’t want to work. It’s pretty hard to blame it on any one thing,” he said. “She became paranoid and just kind of delusional, thinking she was being attacked. ... She tried to make calls to the F.B.I., and requested our neighbor to protect us.”
“It was just shocking that, suddenly, from normal, it went south like that,” Gilroy continued.
Shelley Duvall Died Of Diabetic Complications. How Does This Happen?
Duvall nor Gilroy ever stated the form of diabetes Duvall had, but Gilroy said complications from the condition caused her death.
Diabetes is the outcome of excess sugar in the blood, says the Mayo Clinic. Complications may include heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage and blindness, foot damage, skin and mouth diseases, hearing impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, depression and coma, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If diabetes stays undiagnosed or the condition progresses despite therapy, symptoms can lead to death. One way that can happen is if the body experiences a diabetic coma, when blood sugar goes too low or too high. Diabetes can potentially develop to Kidney disease or cardiovascular disease, which can be deadly.
Read Also : Where can I find a unique and stylish handmade crochet bikini?