Olivia Hussey Eisley, Star of Romeo and Juliet, Passes Away at 73

Olivia Hussey Eisley, renowned for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has passed away at 73. She died peacefully at home on December 27, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from her family.

Hussey's career spanned several decades, with notable roles in Death on the Nile (1978), Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990), and the 1990 miniseries It. She also starred in Jesus of Nazareth (1977), another collaboration with Zeffirelli.

In 2022, Hussey and her co-star Leonard Whiting filed a lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, accusing Zeffirelli of filming them nude without their consent when they were teenagers. The lawsuit, seeking $100 million in damages, claimed the incident caused them emotional distress. Zeffirelli, who passed away in 2019, did not respond, but his son, Pippo Zeffirelli, dismissed the claims, saying they were made by two elderly actors seeking attention.

Hussey is survived by her three children, her husband of 35 years, David Glen Eisley, and her grandson. Her family described her as a "remarkable person" whose kindness and wisdom left a lasting impact on those who knew her.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on April 17, 1951, Hussey leaves behind a legacy of love, devotion to the arts, and a commitment to spirituality and animal welfare. Her family has requested privacy during this time of mourning.