‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Oscar winner Louise Fletcher reportedly passed away on Friday in France, as reported by her agent David Shaul. Her age was 88. Shaul claimed Fletcher passed away from “natural causes,” but he didn’t elaborate. She was surrounded by family at her house in Montdurausse.
Actress Louise Fletcher Cause of Death
According to Shaul, who claims to have worked with Fletcher throughout the previous few decades, she splits her time between a Los Angeles home and a farmhouse that was built in the early 1700s. He remarked, “France was her favorite place on earth; she constructed a home in a lovely place that she adored.” Great woman, and what a life’s work she left behind.
After taking time off to raise her children, Fletcher finally won an Oscar for her second film. Fletcher played the authoritarian, dominating nurse Mildred Ratched in the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” in which Jack Nicholson portrayed a new patient at a mental institution.
Fletcher gave an emotional acceptance speech at the Oscars in which she thanked her “Cuckoo’s Nest” coworkers and specifically mentioned her deaf parents who were watching at home.
“I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true,” she told them.
Best Director (Milos Forman), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), and Best Actress (Louise Fletcher) were all awarded to the picture. A ranking compiled by the American Film Institute ranked her as the fifth greatest film villain of all time, right after Hannibal Lecter and the Wicked Witch of the West. Ryan Murphy’s “Ratched,” which began airing in 2020 and was inspired by Fletcher’s performance, spawned a spinoff.
Sad to read of the passing of Louise Fletcher. Brilliant actress & Academy Award winner, I remember her as the daughter of Deaf parents (CODA) who was the FIRST to sign her acceptance speech at the Oscars. And she was so lovely as my mother on “Picket Fences.” RIP dear Louise. pic.twitter.com/e9om1R4DtW
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) September 24, 2022
Other than her part as Helen Rosemond in the 1999 film “Cruel Intentions,” Fletcher has been in a number of films and television shows. She has made recent appearances on “Shameless” and the Netflix comedy series “Girl Boss.” John and Andrew Bick, as well as Fletcher’s sister Roberta Ray and grandchild, all survive her. Fletcher got married to Jerry Bick in 1959, and the couple got divorced in 1977.
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