Kelly Curtis, the actress and older sister of Jamie Lee Curtis, has died at the age of 69. Jamie Lee announced the news on Facebook on Saturday, revealing that Kelly passed away that morning at her home in Idaho.
In a heartfelt tribute, Jamie Lee described her sister as her "first friend and lifelong confidant." She wrote: "She was jaw droppingly beautiful, and a talented actress. She played a mean game of hearts, collected turtles, loved her family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook, and Pokémon Go."
Kelly Lee Curtis was born on June 17, 1956, in Santa Monica, California, to actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She made her on-screen debut as a child in the 1958 film The Vikings, which starred her parents. She later studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.
Kelly appeared alongside her sister in the 1983 comedy Trading Places and went on to star in films such as Magic Sticks (1987), The Devil's Daughter (1991), and Mixed Blessings (1998). On television, she played Lt. Carolyn Plummer in the first season of The Sentinel (1996–1999) and guest-starred in shows including The Equalizer, Kojak, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Judging Amy.
In addition to acting, Kelly earned a business degree from Skidmore College in 1978 and briefly worked as a stockbroker. Jamie Lee concluded her tribute with a Hungarian blessing: "Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai. I’ll see you on down the line."
