US actress Piper Laurie, star of The Hustler and Carrie, dies at 91

US actress Piper Laurie, star of The Hustler and Carrie, dies at 91
News Desk

By News Desk


Published: 15/10/2023

US actress Piper Laurie - best known for her roles in The Hustler and Carrie films - has died aged 91, her manager has said.

Marion Rosenberg told the Associated Press that the three-time Oscar nominee passed away in her Los Angeles home.

She described the actress as "a superb talent and a wonderful human being."

Her talents were not limited to acting - Laurie took a 15-year-break from acting to campaign for the civil rights movement.

She was nominated for an Oscar for the first movie she starred in upon her return - Carrie.

Born as Rosetta Jacobs, she was born in Detroit, Michigan to parents of Russian and Polish heritage.

She was signed by Universal Studios at the age of 17 - earning a contract and a new name: Piper Laurie.

However, Laurie became frustrated with the acting industry and being cast in the same roles, and broke her Hollywood contract - moving to New York to pursue other roles.

She later stepped away from the profession on what became a 15-year-break and focussed her attentions on the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War.

During that time she also married film critic Joe Morgenstern, and had a daughter.

Laurie also starred in numerous TV shows including Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and played George Clooney's character's mother on ER.

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