Kelly Lee Curtis, actress, documentarian, and sister of Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis, passed away on Saturday, May 30th at the age of 69.
Jamie Lee Curtis, 67, paid tribute on Instagram, offering “warm aloha to my sister,” who said she died “peacefully and in the midst of nature” at home.
“She was my first friend and best friend for life. She was an amazingly beautiful and talented actress,” Jamie wrote in the caption of the post, which also shared a portrait of her. “She loved playing the wicked game of hearts, collecting turtles, her family, nature, music, thrifting, traveling, Facebook, and Pokemon Go.”
The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actress described her sister as a “dedicated American patriot” and said she was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian-Jewish ancestry.
“She will be remembered as Auntie Cookie for her loving generosity, strong opinions, endless curiosity, unique style and her Christmas almond and crescent powder cookies,” Jamie added. “Kelly always signed every message and cheered you up with Hungarian blessings. Isten Vered, God be with you.”
she continued. “Isten Vered, sister of the sun and moon, to my Tai. See you again.”
Kelly Curtis co-starred with Jamie in the 1983 film
Kelly Lee Curtis was born on June 17, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, the eldest daughter of “Spartacus” actor Tony Curtis and “Psycho” star Janet Leigh. In her first year of life, she made her screen debut in the 1956 action-adventure film Vikings, which starred her parents.
In 1972, Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. After working as a stockbroker, she decided to follow in the footsteps of her Hollywood mogul parents and pursue a career in acting. She honed her skills at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute and went on to appear in several films.
She had a small role in the 1983 comedy film Trading Places, co-starring Jamie Lee, and also starred in the 1987 German comedy film Magic Sticks and the 1991 Italian horror film The Devil’s Daughter.
In television, she played Lt. Carolyn Plummer in the first season of the ’90s crime thriller series “The Sentinel,” as well as guest appearances on shows such as “Judge Amy,” “The Equalizer,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Silk Stalkings.”
Kelly Curtis worked behind the camera as a documentarian and assistant
She then directed the 2018 documentary Marby Jets Are Go, which chronicled the Australian high school track and field team, capturing their passion and talent on camera. She has also supported her sister over the years as an assistant on several of Jamie Lee’s films, including 2003’s Freaky Friday, 2004’s Christmas with the Kranks, and 2010’s You Again.
Tony Curtis and Lee married in 1951, welcomed Jamie Lee in 1958, and divorced in 1962.
Lee later married financier Robert Brandt, and the couple lived together until Lee’s death in 2004 at the age of 77, with Brandt passing away in 2009 at the age of 82. Tony Curtis passed away in 2010 at the age of 85.
