Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting.
(Photo by Getty)Olivia Hussey-Easleywho is best known for playing Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation Romeo and JulietHe died. She was 73 years old.
The news was announced through her Official Instagram account Via a post shared on Friday, December 27th.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Olivia Hosie-Easley, who went peacefully home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27,” the post read. “Olivia was an amazing person whose warmth, wisdom and pure kindness touched the lives of everyone who knew her.”
The tribute went on to remember Hussie Easley as “living a life of passion, love, dedication to the arts, spirituality and kindness to animals.”
The lead actors in the 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet found themselves in a legal battle with Paramount Pictures over the film's nude scene. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, who played Romeo and Juliet, respectively, have accused the studio of sexual assault and harassment in two separate cases. in the beginning (…)
“Olivia leaves behind a loving family – her children, Alex, Max and India, her husband of 35 years David Glenn Eisley“And grandson Grayson and a legacy of love that will forever be held dear in our hearts,” the post continued. “As we mourn this tremendous loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s lasting impact on our lives and the industry.
“We thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of a truly special soul,” the caption concluded.
The Argentine-born actress was only 15 years old when she played the title role Romeo and Juliet side by side Leonard Whiting Like Romeo.
The critically acclaimed film was a box office hit upon its release in 1968 and went on to earn four Academy Award nominations and two wins for Best Costume and Best Cinematography in 1969.
In August 2018, Hosie-Easley spoke to The Guardian About her role in the film on the occasion of its fiftieth 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 this unruly little thing.
But the film was not without controversy. Hussey Ainsley and Whiting found themselves previously In a legal battle with Paramount Pictures over the film's nude scene.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes captivated audiences with Romeo and Juliet, the modern version of William Shakespeare's most famous play. The Titanic star and Homeland alum played the ill-fated couple in the 1996 film, which also starred John Leguizamo (Tybalt), Harold Perrineau (Mercutio), Dash Mihawk (Benvolio), and Paul Rudd (Dave Paris). The goshawk (…)
In the initial complaint, filed in December 2022, the actors alleged that the film's late director Zeffirelli told them that the film would not feature nudity and that they would wear colorful underwear in a bedroom scene, according to the Associated Press. .
A judge dismissed the case in May 2023. Whiting and Hussey responded by filing a second lawsuit against Paramount in February 2024, alleging that the studio digitally redistributed the film without their permission.
Another memorable role in the actress's career was the role of Marie in the 1977 miniseries Jesus of Nazareth And also Rosalie Otterburn in Death on the Nile by Agatha ChristieWhich was directed by John Guermin and released in 1978.
