Piper Laurie, Celebrated Thrice for Academy Awards, Renowned for Roles in ‘The Hustler’ and ‘Carrie,’ Passes Away at 91

11

Piper Laurie, the formidable and Oscar-nominated actress who delivered memorable performances even after a period of deliberate withdrawal from the acting world in pursuit of a life of greater significance, passed away on Saturday morning at her residence in Los Angeles. She was 91 years old.

Laurie’s cause of death was natural aging, according to her manager, Marion Rosenberg, who conveyed the news to The Big Big News through an email correspondence. Rosenberg praised Laurie as an “exceptional artist and an extraordinary individual.”

Upon her arrival in Hollywood in 1949 under her original name, Rosetta Jacobs, she was promptly signed by Universal-International. Despite her dissatisfaction with the name change, she gained early fame through roles opposite Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson, and Tony Curtis, among other notable figures.

Laurie garnered Academy Award nominations for her performances in three separate films: the 1961 billiards drama “The Hustler”; the 1976 cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s horror masterpiece “Carrie”; and the emotive drama “Children of a Lesser God” in 1986. Her versatile talent also spanned the realms of television and stage, including a striking role as the malevolent Catherine Martell in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” during the 1990s.

Making her cinematic debut at the age of 17 in “Louisa,” in which she portrayed Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Laurie continued to gain visibility through films such as “Francis Goes to the Races,” sharing the screen with the famous talking mule Francis, and several films opposite Tony Curtis, with whom she was romantically involved for a time.

Dissatisfied with the quality of roles offered to her, Laurie terminated her $2,000-per-week contract in 1955, asserting that she would not resume acting until provided with substantive roles. Relocating to New York, she discovered the fulfilling roles she sought in live television dramas and theater.

Her standout performances in works like “Days of Wine and Roses,” “The Deaf Heart,” and “The Road That Led After” earned her Emmy nominations and facilitated her return to film, notably as Paul Newman’s conflicted love interest in “The Hustler.”

In subsequent years, Laurie chose to distance herself from her acting career. She married film critic Joseph Morgenstern, welcomed a daughter named Ann Grace, and settled in a farmhouse in Woodstock, New York. Laurie stated that her life choices were influenced by social movements like the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War.

Expressing no regrets about her life choices, Laurie later stated, “My life was fulfilling. I have always enjoyed manual activities and painting.”

Laurie also achieved recognition as a skilled baker, with her recipes even making appearances in The New York Times. Her sole return to the limelight during this period was her participation in a college campus tour supporting Senator George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign.

Laurie’s hiatus from acting ended when director Brian De Palma approached her for a role in “Carrie.” Initially skeptical about the script, Laurie’s perspective changed when De Palma corrected her comedic interpretation of a scene, making clear his intention for the film to be a thriller. “Carrie” was a commercial success, igniting a trend for films centered around imperiled teenagers and earning both Laurie and Sissy Spacek Academy Award nominations.

Reviving her passion for acting, Laurie’s subsequent career was prolific, spanning various decades. On television, she appeared in series such as “Matlock,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Frasier,” and portrayed George Clooney’s mother on “ER.”

---

The primary author of this obituary was Bob Thomas, a longstanding and now deceased staff writer for The Big Big News. Additional contributions were made by Hannah Fingerhut, a writer for The Big Big News, reporting from Des Moines, Iowa.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Piper Laurie Obituary

More about Piper Laurie Obituary

• Piper Laurie’s IMDb Profile
• Academy Awards Nomination History
• Piper Laurie’s Contribution to George McGovern’s 1972 Campaign
• Marion Rosenberg’s Statement on Piper Laurie’s Death
• The New York Times Feature on Piper Laurie’s Recipes
• Brian De Palma’s Filmography, including “Carrie”
• Overview of Social Movements Influencing Piper Laurie’s Career Choices