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Olympia Dukakis gave one of the most beloved performances of her storied life as spunky Clairee Belcher in the 1989 classicSteel Magnolias.
Field, 74,paid tributeon Twitter, writing, “What can I say but I loved her? Everyone loved her. She was a gift… unique and talented and one of a kind. Rest in peace, my friend Olympia.”
Based on Robert Harling’s 1987 play of the same name, the beloved film follows the bond between a group of small-town southern women as they face the death of one of their own. The movie also starred Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Tom Skerritt and Dylan McDermott.
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“Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing Academy Award Winning Actress,” the 74-year-oldwrote. “Olympia Played My Mom In Moonstruck,& Even Though Her Part was That Of a Suffering Wife, We 😂 ALL The Time. She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis, Her Handsome Talented, Husband. I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One.”
Dukakis won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her performance inMoonstruck. “I’m so worldly and sophisticated,” shetold PEOPLEahead ofthe Oscarsin 1988. “When I heard I’d been nominated, I jumped up and down 50 times, like a child.”
The actress gave a number of other memorable performances over the years, including such titles asLook Who’s Talking,Tales of the CityandIn the Land of Women.
Dukakisdied Saturday morningat age 89. Her brother Apollo announced her death in a statement onFacebook. “My beloved sister, Olympia Dukakis, passed away this morning in New York City,” he wrote. “After many months of failing health she is finally at peace and with her Louis.”
source: people.com
