Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis is mourning the devastating loss of her older sister, actress Kelly Lee Curtis. The Hollywood star announced the tragic news herself in a deeply personal social media tribute, remembering her sibling as her very first friend and lifelong confidante.
Kelly Lee Curtis passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, May 30, at the age of 69. While an official cause of death has not yet been publicly released by the family, the 67-year-old Halloween star shared that her sister died surrounded by nature and in absolute peace.
Taking to Instagram alongside a poignant black-and-white photograph of her sibling, Jamie Lee Curtis paid a detailed tribute to Kelly’s vibrant life, unique personality, and the powerful family bond the two women shared for decades.
A TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO 'AUNTIE COOKIE'
In her emotional public statement, the Academy Award winner described her older sister as an incredibly beautiful woman and a highly talented actress. She painted a vivid picture of Kelly's diverse passions, noting her love for card games, nature, traveling, second-hand shopping, and even playing Pokémon Go.
The actress also emphasized how deeply proud Kelly was of her diverse heritage, specifically her Danish roots and her Hungarian Jewish ancestry. She was remembered by her family as a devoted American patriot who loved music and possessed fierce, strong opinions.
Jamie Lee Curtis shared that she will forever cherish her sister's generous capacity for love and her famous crescent-shaped almond Christmas cookies, a holiday tradition that earned her the affectionate family nickname Auntie Cookie. The tribute concluded with a traditional Hungarian blessing that Kelly used for all her goodbyes, with Jamie writing that she expects to meet her sister again further down the road.
DAUGHTER OF HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY
Kelly Lee Curtis was born into one of the most famous dynasties in entertainment history. She was the eldest daughter of the late screen legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, two of the most iconic figures from the Golden Age of American cinema.
Born in Santa Monica, California, in 1956, Kelly experienced an early connection to the film industry. She made her big-screen debut as a toddler in the 1958 epic adventure film The Vikings, a production that famously starred both of her movie-star parents.
Her younger sister, Jamie Lee Curtis, would later eclipse the family fame to become one of the most recognized actresses in the world. Their extended family structure also included four half-siblings from their father’s subsequent marriages, including Nicholas Curtis, who tragically passed away in 1994. Kelly is survived by her husband, Scott Morfee.
A DIVERSE CAREER IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE CAMERA
While she did not attain the global stardom of her younger sister, Kelly Lee Curtis forged an extensive and highly respectable career across film and television. One of her most memorable on-screen moments came when she appeared alongside Jamie in the hit 1983 comedy Trading Places.
In later years, Kelly transitioned to critical behind-the-scenes roles, collaborating closely with her sister as a production assistant on major Hollywood comedies. Her credits included work on the box office hits Freaky Friday, Christmas with the Kranks, and You Again.
On television, she secured a prominent role as Lieutenant Carolyn Plummer during the debut season of the action series The Sentinel. Her extensive television resume throughout the 1980s and 1990s also included guest appearances on major network hits, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Equalizer, and Judging Amy.
In the final decade of her career, Kelly expanded her creative reach into directing documentaries. Her most recent projects included the 2018 film Marby Jets Are Go, which followed an Australian youth track team, and the 2019 documentary Curling in Stanley, which chronicled a winter sports tournament in Idaho.
