Legendary Actor Piper Laurie Passes Away at 91, Leaving Behind a Lasting Legacy of Acclaimed Performances

Piper Laurie, the strong-willed, Oscar-nominated actor who performed in acclaimed roles despite at one point abandoning acting altogether in search of a “more meaningful” life, died Saturday at the age of 91. Her manager, Marion Rosenberg, confirmed her death to the Associated Press, saying she was “a superb talent and a wonderful human being.”

Laurie arrived in Hollywood in 1949 as Rosetta Jacobs and was quickly given a contract with Universal-International, a new name that she hated and a string of starring roles with Ronald Reagan, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, among others. She went on to receive Academy Award nominations for three distinct films: The 1961 poolroom drama “The Hustler”; the film version of “Carrie” in 1976; and the 1982 drama “Children of a Lesser God.”

In addition to her acting career, Laurie was also a frequent guest on television talk shows and was a regular on the game show “Hollywood Squares” in the 1970s. She was also a frequent speaker at film festivals, including the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival, where she spoke at a screening of “Has Anybody Seen My Gal?”

Laurie was a beloved figure in Hollywood and was remembered fondly by her colleagues and fans. “She was a superb talent and a wonderful human being,” Rosenberg said in an emailed statement. Her legacy will live on through her many memorable performances and her commitment to her craft.