Her character was the mother of Loretta Castorini, who was played by Cher, the Best Actress winner that year. In 2000, Dukakis appeared in London at the National Theatre in Rose, a monologue written for her by Martin Sherman. In 1963, Dukakis' early life Off-Broadway was rewarded with an Obie Award for Distinguished Performance, as Widow Leocadia Begbick in Man Equals Man (a.k.a., A Man's A Man). In this June 26, 2011 file photo, Actress Olympia Dukakis, a celebrity Grand Marshall for the 41st annual Gay Pride parade, waves to the crowd in San Francisco. Olympia Dukakis in Moonstruck, 1987, in which she played Chers mother. Has To Travel (2011), Woody Allen: A Documentary (2012), and most recently Jane Fonda in Five Acts (2018). 1972: Ruth Buzzi - Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. Both would go on to win Academy Awards later that year. Her brother, Apollo, confirmed the news in a Facebook post. In a 1991 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dukakis revealed that she enjoyed her new fame and the fans it earned her, and was particularly amused when they shouted her famous lines at her while she was out and about even when it was her "Moonstruck" quote, "Your life is going down the toilet. Later roles included Clairee Belcher in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, in which she encourages a grieving MLynn Eatenton, portrayed by Sally Field, to slap Shirley MacLaines character, saying, Knock her lights out, MLynn!. May 1, 2021, 04:36 PM EDT | Updated May 3, 2021. [35] It was released theatrically in the United States in July 2020. Olympia Dukakis, who died on May 1 at 89, had a face like no one else's. Stern but perpetually amused, with a warm leer of a grin that could light up a scene, she looked like the comedy and . Michael Dukakis began his unsuccessful quest for the presidency. Susan Dey - The Partridge Family. But what did it take for her to achieve this success? Steam as well as Mr Comas latest feature film American Falls, currently in post-production. Honored in 2012 as one of Greek Americas 40 Under 40. [44] A strong advocate for women's rights and LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage, Dukakis embraced the roles of a trans landlady in Tales of the City,[34] and a butch lesbian in Cloudburst. "My beloved sister, Olympia Dukakis, passed away this morning in New York City, he wrote. This was underlined by Cloudburst (2011), a road movie in which Dukakis, as a self-styled old butch dyke, and her companion of 31 years (Brenda Fricker), take off from the US to Canada to get married. Olympia Dukakis, a character actress best known for her Oscar-winning supporting turn in Norman Jewison's " Moonstruck " and for her role as the wealthy widow in " Steel Magnolias ," has died.. Lily Tomlin - Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. A native Brazilian,Murielhas established her career in New York City working with a wide array of projects that range from indie documentaries to studio animated feature films. Sally Struthers - All in the Family. The New York-based couple went on to co-found The Whole Theatre Company in Montclair, New Jersey, and ran the company for 19 years (1971-1990). Not long after her arrival in New York City, she won an Obie Award for Best Actress in 1963 for her off-Broadway performance in Bertolt Brecht's Man Equals Man. "It was to play the great parts.". She held her Oscar high over her head at the ceremony and called out: OK, Michael, lets go!. The burglar left only her nameplate. MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) Olympia Dukakis, the veteran stage and screen actor whose flair for maternal roles helped her win an Oscar as Cher's mother in the romantic comedy "Moonstruck," has died.. Her television roles included the transgender landlady Anna Madrigal in the 1993 miniseries Tales of the City. She reprised the role in the sequels More Tales of the City in 1998 and Further Tales of the City in 2001, according to IMDB. "After many months of failing health she is finally at peace and with her [husband] Louis [Zorich]." Dukakis was married to actor Louis Zorich from 1962 until his death in 2018. MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) Olympia Dukakis, the veteran stage and screen actress whose flair for maternal roles helped her win an Oscar as Cher's mother in the romantic comedy "Moonstruck," has died. In films, she took on several character roles, making an impression in scores of pictures for more than half a century. Featuring interviews with Laura Linney, Whoopi Goldberg, Diane Ladd, Lainie Kazan and Armistead Maupin, Olympiaseamlessly blends past and present culminating on the steps of the Dukakis' humble ancestral home in Lesbos, Greece where we see Olympia's life come full circle. [32] The following year, Dukakis reprised the role of Anna Madrigal, which she had first played in 1993, in a Netflix update of Armistead Maupin's Tales of The City. [10] But her stage work began across the summer of 1961, in productions at the Williamstown Summer Theatre,[11] she continued to perform there every few years, with her last appearance on that stage occurring in 2003, where she played multiple roles in The Chekov Cycle. She earned two degrees from Boston University, one in Physical Therapy and one in Acting. A dented screen door hung precariously from the hinges of the cottages doorframe. The Crown star opens up about queerness. She was nominated for the Canadian Academy Award for The Event (2003) and in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, her roles included 3 Needles, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines, In the Land of Women, and Away From Her, the 2006 film which cast her alongside Gordon Pinsent as the spouses of two Alzheimer's patients. The Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis has died at the age of 89, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She made her Broadway debut as an understudy in "The Aspern Papers" at age 30, followed by very short runs in the plays "Abraham Cochrane" (1964) and "Who's Who in Hell" (1974). Olympia Dukakis, the Oscar-winning actress who brought beloved roles like Rose Castorini in Moonstruck and Clairee in Steel Magnolias to life, has died at the age of 89. Discovery Company. She. Long a vital, respected thespian of the classic and contemporary stage, this grand lady did not become a household name and sought-after film actress until age 56 when she turned in a glorious, Oscar-winning performance as, Tales of the City: 20th Anniversary Collection. Cinematographer Federico Cesca was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Jackson. But, in the end, it was her portrayal of Rose Castorini in "Moonstruck," the effort that won her the Oscar, that remains dearest to my heart. She was 89. as Joe Cocker, The Kinks, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, George Clinton, Rickie Lee Jones, King Crimson and Ry Cooder. [39] It was there they raised their three children: Christina, Peter and Stefan. Not so for Dukakis. [28], In 2011, Dukakis guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. "After many months of failing health she is finally at peace and with her [husband] Louis [Zorich].". ", It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. She helped the " Moonstruck " star get out of traffic, review contracts, and take care of her family. Dukakis continued to be much in demand in the movies, with roles such as Jocasta in Woody Allens Mighty Aphrodite (1995), and the stern but lovable school principal in Mr Hollands Opus (1995). Her cousin Michael was our governor for a time, as well as the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee. Currently, Ganis is a consultant with leading U.S. entertainment technology company Dolby Laboratories. She was bestowed the National Arts Club Medal of Honor and her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was placed in 2013. Over the duration of their marriage, she and her husband have experienced shared successes, appearing together in "Long Day's Journey Into Night," "Camino Real, "The Three Sisters" and "The Seagull," among many others. Olympia Dukakis sneaks a cigarette in a rare moment alone in her apartment during the play "Vigil" at . Among the best were the tight-lipped personnel officer in Working Girl (1988); the archetypal comic Jewish mother of Kirstie Alley in Look Whos Talking (1989) and its two sequels; and the acid-tongued Clairee Belcher, trading a salvo of one-liners with Shirley MacLaine in Steel Mangolias (1989): Well, you know what they say: if you dont have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me.. Candice Swanepoel shows off tangled blue and orange bikini from her range, Kerry Katona insists she's not 'bragging' about her new 2m house & a year ago she sold her jukebox to pay her rent, Teen Mom Jenelle Evans calls daughter Ensley, 4, 'sassy' after husband David 'threatened to smack her in the mouth', Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's daughter Alex gets married as star's husband attends wedding with neck brace after crash, Inside Sheridan Smith's rainforest-themed party for her son Billy's first birthday, Ellie Goulding reveals she's given birth to her first baby with husband Caspar Jopling, Teen Mom fans shocked by Farrah Abraham's 'unrecognizable face' as star takes self-defense class with daughter Sophia. [continues sobbing] Clairee : Here! Dukakis is a brand name here in the Bay State. Olympia Dukakis attends the premiere of "Tales Of The City" at The Metrograph in New York City on June 3, 2019. In the post-production realm, she workedwith Company 3 in films such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) and 20th Century Fox in the films Epic (2013), Rio 2 (2014) and Ferdinand (2017). According to a Facebook. I-I just wanna *hit* somebody 'til they feel as bad as I do! Currently, she is a producer at Boipeba Filmes, led by the Academy Award-nominated director Carlos Saldanha. Because they know they can. Thats the kind of line that followed Dukakis around the kind her fans would come up to her on the street wanting her to repeat. Olympia Dukakis was an American actress. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Thank you! I'm supposed to go first. She received another Golden Globe nomination for Sinatra (1992) and Emmy Award nominations for Lucky Day (1991), More Tales of the City (1998) and Joan of Arc (1999). She is a proud board member of TheNationalSeptember 11th. See what he found. Currently, she is a producer at Boipeba Filmes, led by the Academy Award-nominated director Carlos Saldanha. The couple married in 1962 and cofounded The Whole Theatre Company in Montclair, New Jersey, running it from 1971 to 1990, according to IMDB. She was 89. [26] That same year she starred in the revival of Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, opposite Kevin Anderson at the Hartford Stage,[27] and co-adapted and starred in the world-premiere of Another Side of the Island, based on William Shakespeare's The Tempest, at Alpine Theatre Project in Whitefish, Montana. She spoke in the past about "stepping up" for students that she found particularly talented because, "people have stepped out for me.". The news of the Oscar winner's passing was shared by her brother, Apollo Dukakis, on Facebook.. "My beloved sister . [1] In 2018, a feature-length documentary about her life, titled Olympia, was released theatrically in the United States. Birth Place:Lowell, Massachusetts, United States. Paul composed music for Liev Schreibers Everything Is, Illuminated. After working professionally as a modern dancer and choreographer he went back to school and received his Masters in Film Directing from New York University. Anne Gardner Twitter Cognoscenti contributorAnneGardneris an Episcopal minister and author of "And So I Walked: Reflections on Chance, Choice, and the Camino de Santiago. She appeared in Martin Sherman's one-woman play, Rose, entirely a monologue about a woman who survived the Warsaw Ghetto, in London and then on Broadway. In Norman Jewisons Moonstruck, a modern fairytale of love, with each leading character destined to have his or her moment of glory, Dukakis is by turns warm, humorous and cynical, and poignantly wonders why men (especially her husband) are unfaithful. As afternoon arrived, I asked two favors of the legendary actress. Olympia Dukakis's brother Apollo confirmed her death in a Facebook post, noting that the actress had been dealing with health issues. The lioness of Lowell. She has been successful placing clients in the media such as, THE TALK (CBS), Home & Family (Hallmark Channel), KTLA 5 Morning News, Good Day LA, Daily Variety, Los Angeles Times, OC Register, LA Weekly, LA Magazine, amongst others. Dukakis introduced her cousin at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, and also served as a delegate-at-large. A finalist for New Director of the Year at the 2016 shots Awards in London and winner of Best Test Commercial in North America at the 2015 Young Director Award in Cannes, Ryan's commercial direction has also received international acclaim from Porsche, Ciclope, and W3. Anthoula Katsimatides is an actor, writer, producer, and voice-over artist. In Moonstruck, that delirious 1987 fairy tale of loopy passion, opera and dowdy depressives who learn how to bloom, Dukakis, as Rose the steel-lasagna wife and mother, attempts to counsel her daughter, the widowed Loretta (Cher), to do the right thing. Her Broadway theatre credits include Who's Who in Hell and Social Security. In the early 90s, Paul formed the eclectic band, Wild Colonials, with the singer, Angela McCluskey, recording two albums for Geffen Records and performing with such artists as Joe Cocker, The Kinks, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, George Clinton, Rickie Lee Jones, King Crimson and Ry Cooder. [29] In 2013, she starred in and executive-produced the 2013 film Montana Amazon, co-starring Haley Joel Osment. A native of Massachusetts and the daughter of Greek immigrants, Dukakis was the first cousin of former state Gov. [41] Her life off the screen and stage was very active. She later developed and produced autobiographical solo shows, What Will People, Think? & Warrior Without A Cause that have garnered many accolades and won, awards off-Broadway. Olympia Dukakis (June 20, 1931 May 1, 2021) was an American actress. I wanna hit it hard! Olympia Dukakis (June 20, 1931 - May 1, 2021) was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of Greek immigrants. Commercial clients have included McDonalds, Bombas, Skagen, American Express, and Storyhunter. Ryan is based in New York City. Olympia Dukakis, the veteran stage and screen actress whose flair for maternal roles helped her win an Oscar as Cher's mother in the romantic comedy "Moonstruck," has died. Born in South Korea, she has worked as a director, producer, and editor for broadcast networks 'KBS', 'SBS', and 'M-net' since 2005. CBS News . What was Olympia Dukakiss cause of death? "My beloved sister, Olympia Dukakis, passed away this morning in New York City," he wrote. And then just as quickly, threaded her fingers together as if in prayer. The film, directed by Harry Mavromichalis, features Whoopi Goldberg, Laura Linney, Ed Asner, Lainie Kazan, Armistead Maupin, Austin Pendleton, Diane Ladd and Dukakis' cousin, Governor Michael Dukakis. in a career that spanned more than six decades, actor olympia dukakis appeared in classic stage plays like ibsen's peer gynt, sophocles' electra, and eugene o'neill's long day's journey into night, but it was her performance as cher's sardonic mother, rose castorini, in the 1987 romantic comedy moonstruck that brought her fameand an academy Moreover, she was a strong advocate of women's rights and environmental causes. The actress referred to her 1988 win as the year of the Dukakii because it was also the year Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, her cousin, was the Democratic Partys presidential nominee. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. 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