Olympia Dukakis who won an Oscar for her role in Moonstruck, died today in New York City.
Apollo Dukakis posted on Facebook,
“After many months of failing health she is finally at peace and with her Louis.”
Dukakis passed away three years after the death of her husband, fellow actor Louis Zorich.
Although she had a stage career that spanned decades, Dukakis became best-known for her portrayal of Rose Castorini, the nosy-but-sensitive Italian mother in the 1987 film Moonstruck, stealing scenes from Cher, who played her daughter. Dukakis and Cher both won Academy Awards for their performances. Cher posted a tribute on Twitter saying,
“She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis, Her ‘Handsome Talented,Husband’. I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One.”
Later roles included Clairee Belcher in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, in which she encourages a grieving M’Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field) to slap Shirley MacLaine‘s character, saying,
“Knock her lights out, M’Lynn!”
A native of Massachusetts, Dukakis was the first cousin of former state Gov. Michael Dukakis, who became the Democratic nominee for president in 1988, but ultimately lost to then-Vice President George H.W. Bush. Dukakis introduced her cousin at the Democratic National Convention, and also served as a delegate-at-large.
Olympia Dukakis was 89.
Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing,Academy Award Winning Actress.Olympia Played My Mom In Moonstruck,& Even Though Her Part was
— Cher (@cher) May 1, 2021
That Of a Suffering Wife, We😂ALL The Time.She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis,Her”Handsome Talented,Husband”.I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One pic.twitter.com/RcCZaeKFmz
