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,” noting her beauty, talent, and love for family, nature, and music. She also recalled Kelly’s unique style and her tradition of baking almond crescent cookies at Christmas, which earned her the nickname “Auntie Cookie.”
Born on June 17, 1956, in Santa Monica, Kelly made her film debut as a child in the 1958 film The Vikings, which starred her parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She later studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and appeared alongside Jamie Lee in the 1983 comedy Trading Places.
Kelly’s other film credits include Magic Sticks (1987), The Devil’s Daughter (1991), and Mixed Blessings (1998). On television, she was best known for her role as Lt. Carolyn Plummer in the first season of The Sentinel (1996-1999), and also appeared in shows such as 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 ended her tribute with a Hungarian blessing, “Isten Veled,” meaning “God is with you.”
