Olivia Hussey, ‘Romeo & Juliet’ actress, dead at 73

On December 29, 2024By Littum

Olivia Hussey, the scene-stealing star of the 1968 film “Romeo & Juliet,” died at the age of 73 on December 27.

Hussey, who rose to fame as a star of the 60s film and later became an animal rights activist, was mourned in a lengthy tribute. to her verified Instagram account on Friday.

“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” the obituary said. “Born on April 17, 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Olivia lived a life full of passion, love and dedication to art, spirituality and kindness to animals.”

Hussey is survived by her children, Alex, Max and India, and rock singer David Glen Eisley, her husband of 35 years. She is also survived by a grandson, Greyson.

Earlier this year, Hussey and her “Romeo & Juliet” co-star Leonard Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures following the digital re-release of the film in Los Angeles Superior Court in February, claiming the re-release “had been digitally enhanced” and “depicted their private areas in such detail that the gratuitous display was obscene and lewd and degrading to them,” according to the lawsuit obtained by USA TODAY.

Hussey and Whiting — who were 15 and 16 years old respectively during the making of the film and 72 and 73 years old when it was filed — allege in the complaint that nothing in their contracts allowed Paramount, then known as BHE Productions, Ltd. “recreate, republish or redistribute photographs” of their play “in any medium or format other than 35mm analog.”

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Starring: Naledi Ushe