Olivia Hussey Eisley, the British-Argentine actress who rose to fame as a teenager as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” and later starred in the slasher classic “Black Christmas” and in “Death on the” in 1978. Nile,” died Friday. She was 73 years old.
Hussey’s death was confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle by filmmaker Marc Huestis, who said she died of cancer and announced it on the actor’s Instagram. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and suffered a recurrence in 2018.
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“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who returned home peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on December 27,” we can read on social networks. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. …Olivia lived a life full of passion, love and dedication to the arts, spirituality and kindness to animals.
After making his debut in the West End production of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” starring Vanessa Redgrave, Hussey was seen directing Italian director Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” She was only 15 at the time of casting and 16 during filming. The film, in which Hussey starred opposite Leonard Whiting as the star-crossed lovers, launched its two teenage stars onto the world stage. The film was a popular success thanks to its casting of actors closer to the characters’ actual ages, a rarity at the time, and despite brief glimpses of nudity, it earned a G rating. They were each rated nominated at the 1969 Golden Globe Awards in their respective genre categories for Most Promising Newcomer, while Zeffirelli’s film itself landed four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Although in 2018 she said Variety that Zeffirelli shot the nude scenes tastefully and that “it was necessary for the film”, Hussey and Whiting sued Paramount in 2022 for sexually exploiting them and distributing nude images. “It’s not something I ever agreed to do. I did it because I felt like I couldn’t say no,” she said at the time of the trial. The suit was dismissed in 2023, in part on statute of limitations grounds. They sued again earlier this year, but that case was also dismissed in October after the judge found they had consented to the scenes.
After playing starring roles in “All the Right Noises” and “The Summertime Killer,” Hussey was chosen to direct Bob Clark’s 1974 horror film, “Black Christmas,” widely considered today to be the ancestor of the slasher genre. Hussey starred as Jessica, a sorority sister whose house is haunted by an unidentified deranged killer. Hussey also appeared in the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile,” directed by Peter Utsinov as Hercule Poirot.
Other notable credits include Norma Bates, Norman Bates’ mother, in the flashback-filled “Psycho IV: The Beginning” and Mary in the miniseries “Jesus of Nazareth,” which reunited her with Zeffirelli.
Hussey also worked as a voice actor in video games such as “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron” and “Star Wars: The Old Republic.”
Hussey is survived by her husband, David Glen Eisley; his children, Alex, Max and India; and his grandson, Greyson.
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