Yahoo Movies Celebrities pay tribute to Olympia Dukakis following her death
Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis passed away on Saturday, May 1 at the age of 89 in New York City.
"After many months of failing health she is finally at peace and with her Louis," brother Apollo Dukakis wrote in a Facebook post, remembering her husband Louis Zorich who passed in 2018.
Leading the online tributes was Cher, who starred with Dukakis in Moonstruck, for which the late actress won her Academy Award in 1988.
"Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing,Academy Award Winning Actress. Olympia Played My Mom In Moonstruck,& Even Though Her Part was That Of a Suffering Wife, We😂ALL The Time.She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis,Her”Handsome Talented,Husband”.I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One,” the singer wrote on Twitter.
In a second post, she remembered speaking to Dukakis recently and described her as "weak but happy".
Viola Davies celebrated her colleague from The Pentagon Wars by calling Dukakis "the consummate actor" before adding: "You made all around you step up their game. A joy to work with. Rest well."
Dukakis's Steel Magnolias castmate Sally Field also shared a message of condolence: "What can I say but I loved her? Everyone loved her. She was a gift… unique and talented and one of a kind. Rest in peace my friend Olympia."
Actor Michael McKean, who studied acting under Dukakis at New York University, remembered her as "the acting teacher who spoke to me (and many, many others) with clarity and humor and NO censor."
He continued: "She would tell us: don't forget that the reason you wanted to do this was that it looked like fun. And it is. Amid the sweat and the angst, don't forget the fun. Rest in peace, Olympia."
Posting on Twitter to remember Dukakis were also Kirstie Alley (who played opposite her in Look Who's Talking), Ray Wise (who worked with her on Fire in the Dark) and Paul Riser (who got to play her son on both The Thing About My Folks and My Beautiful Son).
Many other actors and organisations also paid their respects.
Olympia Dukakis has departed our company. We were Moonstruck by her, as she told us great Tales of the City. A true Steel Magnolia within a more common forest. Ah, what a life force, her later years her best. Rest now among the heavens, Olympia.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 1, 2021
So very sad to hear this. Olympia Dukakis, such a wonderful actress & beautiful person. #RIP https://t.co/wr0uy38oFe
— Betty Buckley (@BettyBuckley) May 1, 2021
It was 33 years ago that we gave her and @cher the Golden Globe for “Moonstruck” but I’ll never forget how gracious she was. Olympia Dukakis was pure class and tons of talent. RIP. pic.twitter.com/jiUpQLTZpQ
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) May 1, 2021
Olympia Dukakis brought warmth, humor and wit to the stage and screen for almost 60 years, including a stellar run of unforgettable roles in "Steel Magnolias" "Tales of the City" and "Moonstruck," for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She will be missed. pic.twitter.com/TLuNTx32PI
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) May 1, 2021
We’re so sorry to hear about the passing of Olympia Dukakis. She was a legend, an actor’s actor, and a valued trustee. We were blessed to have her on the Geary stage as well as in A.C.T. classrooms. Our love is with her family. (Photos from A Mother, Hecuba, and Vigil) pic.twitter.com/idvd7Uu1Yg
— American Conservatory Theater (@ACTSanFrancisco) May 1, 2021
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