Kelly Curtis, Actress and Sister of Jamie Lee Curtis, Dies at 69

Kelly Curtis, an American actress and the sister of Jamie Lee Curtis, has passed away at the age of 69. The news was confirmed by Jamie Lee Curtis, who shared a poignant tribute to her older sister on social media, noting that she died at her home on May 30.

“A warm aloha to my older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis,” Jamie wrote. “She passed away this morning. In her home. In nature. At peace. She was my first friend and lifelong confidant. She was jaw-droppingly beautiful, and a talented actress.”

Born on June 17, 1956, in Santa Monica, California, Kelly Curtis was the daughter of legendary actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. While she began her career with an uncredited role in the 1958 film The Vikings, she initially pursued a path outside of Hollywood, graduating from Skidmore College with a business degree and working as a stockbroker before eventually returning to her family’s roots in the entertainment industry.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Curtis built a steady career in film and television. She appeared alongside her sister in the 1983 hit Trading Places and took on the lead role in the 1991 Italian horror film The Devil’s Daughter. Television audiences may remember her for her recurring role as Lieutenant Carolyn Plummer in the first season of the UPN series The Sentinel, as well as appearances in popular shows such as The Equalizer, Hunter, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Beyond her professional life, Jamie Lee Curtis highlighted her sister’s vibrant personality and diverse interests. “She played a mean game of hearts, collected turtles, loved her family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook, and Pokémon Go,” Jamie shared. “She was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry and was a devoted American patriot.”

In her final farewell, Jamie Lee Curtis referenced a traditional Hungarian blessing, writing, “Kelly always signed off any message or fare thee well with a Hungarian blessing… Isten Veled, God is with you. Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai. I’ll see you on down the line.”