Jamie Lee Curtis announces death of actor sister Kelly aged 69: ‘My first friend and lifelong confidant’ | Film
Jamie Lee Curtis has announced the death of her sister, actor Kelly Curtis, at the age of 69, describing her as “talented” and “jaw-droppingly beautiful”.
Jamie Lee said his sister died “at home, in nature, peacefully” on Saturday, and that the duo also starred in films such as Trading Places (1983), Magic Sticks (1987) and The Devil’s Daughter (1991). No cause of death was stated.
Kelly Curtis was the eldest child of Hollywood stars Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, best known for her role in Psycho. He made his big screen debut as a baby in the 1958 film The Vikings, in which his parents also starred.
“She was my first friend and lifelong confidant. She was jaw-droppingly beautiful and a talented actress,” Jamie Lee wrote in an Instagram post.
“He played the evil game of hearts, collected turtles, loved family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook and Pokémon Go. He was proud of his Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry and was a staunch American patriot.
“She will be remembered for her loving generosity, fierce ideas, endless curiosity, unique style, and Christmas dusty, almond, crescent cookies, hence her name, Auntie Cookie.”
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He said Kelly signed his messages with the phrase “Isten Veled,” which means “God is with you” in Hungarian.
He added: “To Isten Veled, listen to my Tai, sister of the sun and the moon. See you in the future.”
In a second articleFollowing Jamie Lee’s wedding to Christopher Guest in 1984, Jamie Lee opened up about their childhood relationship and how they grew closer as adults.
“My sister and I were close as children but also experienced sibling rivalry for the attention and affection of divorced parents, and we were extremely different and lived apart for many years, but she returned to be with me at my wedding and never left again,” he wrote.
“She worked for me at one point when I was between jobs as my sister-aunt and became an integral part of my family structure. I miss her today, but knowing she is at peace brings me joy.”
In addition to her film roles, Kelly has also appeared in episodes of TV shows such as The Equaliser, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Sentinel. She directed the 2018 documentary Marby Jets Are Go, about a high school athletics team in Australia, and assisted her sister on Freaky Friday (2003), Christmas With the Kranks (2004), and You Again (2010).
Leigh and Tony Curtis divorced in 1962. The Curtis sisters have four half-siblings from their father’s next five marriages: Alexandra, Allegra, Ben and Nicholas, dying of a heroin overdose in 1994 at the age of 23.
– The Press Association contributed to this report
