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Jamie Lee Curtis’ sister Kelly Lee Curtis dies at 69 By Tylor Brooks | USA Herald

Actress Kelly Lee Curtis, the older sister of Oscar-winning star Jamie Lee Curtis and the eldest daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, died Saturday at her home in California. She was 69 years old. Jamie Lee Curtis announced the passing in an emotional social media statement, confirming her sister passed away peacefully surrounded by nature, though a specific cause of death has not yet been released.

Jamie Lee Curtis Mourns Her 'Lifelong Confidant'

The Halloween star broke the news to the public on May 30, sharing a poignant tribute to her late sibling on Instagram. Alongside a black-and-white photograph, the actress expressed her profound grief while celebrating the vibrant life her sister led.

"A warm aloha to my older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis. She passed away this morning. In her home. In nature. At peace," Jamie Lee Curtis wrote in the online post. She went on to describe the late actress as her very first friend and her lifelong confidant.

The tribute painted a picture of a woman with diverse passions, a deep love for her heritage, and an unwavering devotion to her family. According to her younger sister, Kelly was fiercely proud of her Danish roots alongside her Hungarian Jewish ancestry, and she regularly signed off her personal messages with a traditional Hungarian blessing: Isten Veled, meaning "God is with you."

A Hollywood Pedigree And Screen Career

Born in Santa Monica, California, Kelly Lee Curtis grew up immersed in the entertainment industry as part of a classic Hollywood dynasty. She was the firstborn child of silver-screen icons Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, whose high-profile marriage captivated mid-century America.

While her sister Jamie achieved global superstar status, Kelly forged her own distinct path in the industry as both a performer and a crucial behind-the-scenes support system. Key milestones in her life and Hollywood career include:

• 1958 Cinema Debut: She made her first uncredited screen appearance as a child alongside her famous parents in the historical epic film The Vikings.

• 1983 Collaboration: She shared the screen with her sister Jamie in the classic John Landis comedy Trading Places, playing a minor role.

• Television Portfolio: Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she built a steady television career with guest and recurring roles on prominent shows such as The Equalizer, Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and The Sentinel.

• Production Support: Beyond acting, she worked directly within her sister's cinematic orbit, serving as a personal assistant to Jamie on multiple major film sets.

Extended Family Navigates A Sudden Loss

The passing marks another somber chapter for the famous Hollywood lineage. Kelly was the eldest of the two daughters born to Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh before the couple divorced in 1962. Through her father's subsequent marriages, she belonged to a large blended family of siblings.

Her extended family includes half-sisters Alexandra and Allegra Curtis, as well as her half-brother Benjamin. She was preceded in death by her half-brother Nicholas, who died in 1994 at the age of 23. Kelly Lee Curtis spent her final years away from the intense Hollywood spotlight, living with her husband, Scott Morfee, who survives her.

As fans and colleagues offer condolences online, representatives for the Curtis family have not indicated whether a public memorial or private family service will take place in the coming days.