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Jamie Lee Curtis Remembers Sister Kelly Lee Curtis Following Her Death at 69

May 30, 2026
Jamie Lee Curtis Remembers Sister Kelly Lee Curtis Following Her Death at 69
Jamie Lee Curtis Remembers Sister Kelly Lee Curtis Following Her Death at 69

Jamie Lee Curtis has shared news of her older sister's passing. Kelly Lee Curtis, an actress and member of the acclaimed Curtis family, died on Saturday morning, May 30, at age 69. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Kelly was born to legendary performers Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. Throughout her career, she gained recognition for her lead role in the 1991 horror film The Devil's Daughter, alongside appearances on television series including The Sentinel and The Equalizer.

Curtis announced her sister's death through a heartfelt Facebook post, writing: "A warm aloha to my older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis. She passed away this morning. In her home. In nature. At peace."

In her tribute, Jamie Lee Curtis described Kelly as her closest companion and lifelong source of support. She highlighted her sister's striking appearance and acting talents, as well as her passion for card games, particularly hearts. Curtis shared that Kelly maintained a collection of turtles and held deep affection for her family, the natural world, music, thrift shopping, travel, and digital pastimes including Facebook and Pokémon Go.

Kelly took pride in her Danish heritage and Hungarian Jewish background, and was devoted to her country, according to the statement. She became known to family members as "Auntie Cookie," a nickname derived from the homemade powdered almond crescent cookies she prepared each Christmas.

Curtis concluded her message with a Hungarian blessing that Kelly frequently used to close her communications: "Isten Veled, God is with you."

After stepping back from acting in the late 1990s, Kelly transitioned to working behind the scenes, serving as an assistant to her sister on several film productions, including Freaky Friday, Christmas with the Kranks, and You Again.

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