It is with great sadness that we report that actress Glenne Headly has passed away at age 63. Best known for her roles as Tess Trueheart in the 1990 blockbuster Dick Tracy, bumbling heiress Janet Colgate in 1988’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and as Iris Holland in 1995’s Mr. Holland’s Opus, Headly is survived by her husband Byron McCulloch and son Stirling.
“It is with deep sorrow that we confirm the passing of Glenne Headly,” her reps told Variety in a statement. “We ask that her family’s privacy be respected in this difficult time.”
Born in Connecticut and a member of MENSA, Headly began her acting career as one of the key players in Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble, where she worked alongside actors the likes of Gary Sinise, Joan Allen, Gary Cole, John Mahoney, John Malkovich, Laurie Metcalf, William Petersen and Martha Plimpton from 1979 to 2005. She was married to Malkovich from 1982 to 1988, and appeared with him in the films Eleni and Making Mr. Right. In recent years, she made a conscious choice to focus more on being a mother, and mainly took on roles in LA or smaller parts. She continued her theater work as well, starring in Sarah Ruhl’s “Stage Kiss” at the Geffen Playhouse in 2016.
Headly was nominated for two Emmys, one for her performance as Elmira Johnson in Lonesome Dove and another for her role as Aunt Ruth in Bastard Out of Carolina. She also received a Chicago Film Critics Association “Most Promising Actress” Award for Dirty Rotten Scoundrel.
Other notable film work included a co-starring role with Demi Moore in the hit thriller Mortal Thoughts, as Lindsay Lohan’s mom in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and as Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s mother in his 2013 directorial debut Don Jon. She recently played Emma Watson’s mother in The Circle opposite the recently-departed Bill Paxton, who played Watson’s father. She will appear opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Morgan Freeman in Ron Shelton’s action comedy Villa Capri, due for release in November.
Headly was shooting a part in Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen’s upcoming Hulu comedy sci-fi series Future Man, starring Josh Hutcherson. The actor posted the following:
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
