Olivia Hussey’s Cause of Death: 5 Movies That Made Her a Heartthrob Besides Romeo and Juliet

The entertainment world has lost another gem in the form of Olivia Hussey. The legendary actress died on December 27, at the age of 73. The Argentine-born British performer was part of the entertainment industry that saw her achievements for six incredible decades.

The performance, which most of her fans associate with, is her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet. The breakthrough role that she got in her early teens made her win the Golden Globe award for New Star of the Year and made her an internationally recognized actress. However, apart from that, Hussey has featured in some iconic roles, and here are five of them.

Black Christmas

Bob Clark’s horror film transformed Olivia Hussey’s sweet image to a scream queen and gave her the character of Jessica ‘Jess’ Bradford- a sorority sister who survives a brutal killer on the loose during the holiday season. Black Christmas was released in 1974 and currently holds a critic rating of 71% and an audience rating of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hussey’s portrayal of Jess set the foundations that would allow later horror movie female characters to be seen as strong but vulnerable. The movie’s type of suspense and terror was technically innovative and experimental, characteristic of slasher films.

Death on the Nile

Death on the Nile, released in 1978, was based on Agatha Christie’s novel. Hussey played the character of Rosalie Otterbourne, sharing the set with stars like Peter Ustinov and Bette Davis. Her character was the daughter of an alcoholic writer of romance novels, and her performance added to the intrigue of the murder mystery amidst the exotic locations of Egypt.

The movie got an Oscar and BAFTA award for Best Costume Design and became an opportunity for Hussey to show her versatility. Through her character, she brought an emotional depth to the serious thriller. The movie has a critic and audience rating of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes as of now. 

Psycho IV: The Beginning

When it came to portraying one of the most complicated characters on screen as Norma Bates, Hussey was spot on as she added new layers to the psycho narrative. Her role in Psycho IV: The Beginning, released in 1990, became an example of one of the most fearsome psychos on the big screen.

Norma Bates, as a disturbed, manipulative mother, was so well interpreted by her that audiences could easily see how Norman became a madman. Besides fear, Hussey succeeded in making Norma quite sympathetic and complex. 

Turkey Shoot

Also known as Escape 2000, this post-apocalyptic action movie casts Hussey as a falsely accused political prisoner, Chris Walters, undergoing a fight for survival through a deadly hunt game. The role was both physically and emotionally demanding, for which Hussey signed up and delivered.

Although the movie faced some controversies during its release, Hussey’s portrayal as a resourceful survivor brought some realism to the premise. The movie has developed a dedicated following since then.

The Summertime Killer

Together with Karl Malden and Christopher Mitchum, Hussey played Tania Scarlotti in this action-thriller. Her portrayal of the femme fatale character proved she could hold her place to Hollywood giants of her time.

With this international production, Hussey was able to stretch herself beyond period dramas which initially defined her early career. Her performance contributed to uplifting the movie, which otherwise might have been a typical standard revenge thriller.

Olivia Hussey’s demise

Olivia Hussey became one of the many iconic names of the entertainment industry who left the world in 2024. It was reported on her Instagram that she “went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th.” According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the reason for her death is believed to be cancer.

Besides the aforementioned movies, Hussey has worked in several other TV series like Jesus of Nazareth and It and has also given her voice in animated shows like Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond, and her work will keep on inspiring the upcoming hopeful generations. The actress is survived by her children, her husband David Glen Eisley, and her grandson.

Romeo and Juliet, Black Christmas, and Turkey Shoot are available to buy or rent on Prime Video.

Death on the Nile is available to stream on Prime Video.

Psycho IV: The Beginning is available to stream on Peacock.