Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting.
(Photo by Getty)Olivia Hussey Eisleybest known for playing Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliethe is dead. He was 73 years old.
The news was announced through his official Instagram account in a post shared on Friday, December 27.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on December 27,” the post read. “Olivia was a remarkable person with warmth, wisdom and pure kindness that touched the lives of all who knew her.”
The tribute went on to remember Hussey Eisley as “he lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to art, spirituality, and kindness to animals.”
The lead actors of the 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet have found themselves in a legal battle with Paramount Pictures over the film’s nude location. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, who played Romeo and Juliet, respectively, have accused the studio of sexual harassment and assault in two separate lawsuits. In the beginning […]
“Olivia leaves behind a loving family—her children, Alex, Max, and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisleyand grandson, Greyson, and a legacy of love that will always be cherished in our hearts,” the post continued. “As we mourn this great loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s lasting impact on our lives and the industry.
The caption concluded, “Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and please have some privacy as we mourn the loss of a truly special soul.”
This actor who was born in Argentina was only 15 years old when he started playing Romeo and Juliet aside Leonard Whiting as Romeo.
The heavily armed film was a box office success when it was released in 1968 and went on to score four Oscars and two wins for Best Costume and Best Cinematography in 1969.
In August 2018, Hussey Eisley spoke to him The guard for his role in the film in honor of its 50th anniversary. “I loved playing Juliet,” she said at the time. “The only part I didn’t like was the PR. It was exhausting, and I was such a scary little thing. “
However, the film was not without controversy. Hussey Einsley and Whiting previously found themselves in a legal battle with Paramount Pictures over the location of a nude film.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes won over audiences with Romeo + Juliet, their modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s most famous play. The Titanic star and Homeland alum played the notoriously doomed couple in the 1996 film, which also starred John Leguizamo (Tybalt), Harold Perrineau (Mercutio), Dash Mihok (Benvolio) and Paul Rudd (Dave Paris). Baz […]
In the first complaint, filed in December 2022, taxpayers said they were told by the film’s late director, Zeffirelli, that the film would not show nudity and that they would wear flesh-colored underwear in the bedroom scene, according to the Associated Press. .
A judge dismissed the lawsuit in May 2023. Whiting and Hussey retaliated by filing a second lawsuit against Paramount in February 2024, claiming the studio digitally re-distributed the film without their permission.
Other memorable roles in the actress’ career include playing Mary in the 1977 miniseries Jesus of Nazareth and Rosalie Otterbourne in Agatha Christie’s death in the Niledirected by John Guillermin and released in 1978.
