Glenne Headly (1955-2017)
Friday, June 9, 2017 at 2:10PM By Nathaniel R
Terrible news to report this afternoon. The actress Glenne Headly has died rather suddenly at just 62.
Headly came to fame on the stage in acclaimed productions in the mid 80s like Balm in Gilead, Extremities, and The Philanthropist and big movie roles soon followed. At the peak of her fame in the late 80s and early 90s she co-starred in box office hits Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) and Dick Tracy (1990) and was Emmy nominated for the miniseries Lonesome Dove (1989) inbetween those twin peaks...
Our household mourns the sudden loss of beloved friend, actress, and comic genius, Glenne Headly.
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) June 9, 2017
Though always more of a serious actor than a "celebrity," she even briefly proved tabloid fodder when John Malkovich, her husband for the bulk of the 1980s, had an affair with Michelle Pfeiffer on the set of Dangerous Liaisons. They soon divorced.
For reasons I can't fully explain, once you get past her sly comic centerpiece in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (weirdly ignored by the Golden Globes but for Michael Caine) my next thought when I think of Headly is always Mortal Thoughts (1991). In that little seen thriller she co-headlined with Demi Moore as two women suspected in the murder of her husband.
There were recently signs of a shrewd worldweary supporting MVP style comeback brewing. She was excellent in the impressive ensemble of HBO's The Night Of (pictured left) and has a memorable brief role in Holly Hunter's recent festival bow Strange Weather. She was also just in theaters as part of the Tom Hanks/Emma Watson thriller The Circle. Her final role will be Diane Futterman, the pot-smoking mother of Josh Hutcherson's character in Hulu's new series Future Man. Her role will not be recast but her completed episodes will be aired.
She is survived by her husband Byron McCulloch and their 20 year old son Stirling.
Reader Comments (15)
She gives a really great supportive wife performance loving,frustrated,angry,happy,loyal so shaded in Mr Holland's Opus opposite Richard Dreyfuss.
She is an always will be Tess Trueheart...
I always remember her fondly from Mr. Holland's Opus, but she was a great actress of impressive range.
Very sad news. I'll always remember her from ER where she was simply luminous and despite being in just few episodes her grace was unforgettable.
So sad. She was a face I always loved seeing in films especially in "Dick Tracy" as Tess Trueheart. I had wondered about her, so it was a nice surprise to see her pop up recently on "The Night Of." She'll be missed.
She's one of my favorites. She was great in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as well as Dick Tracy where she managed to make an impression amidst the overwhelming barrage of star power. She is so going to be missed.
Can't believe this awful news! She was just in "The Night Of" like last summer! Cherish your loved ones while they're here. God knows they aren't promised to be here even tomorrow. :-(
I only know her from Dick Tracy.
Too many 80s and 90s figures living us rapidly.
I love her in every single thing I have seen her in.
She was great in The Night Of. What a shame. RIP, girl
One of those actresses who would pop up in a movie/show and instantly make me like it more. Sad news. 62 is way too young!
Side Note: I had no idea about the love triangle between her, Malkovich, and Pfeiffer! How scandalous!
"I know who she is. Hello, Ms. Mahoney."
Such a greatly sad line reading!
Such terrible news. She is very underrated. Brilliant work in The Night Of. I adore DRS. Rest In Peace.
RIP, Ms Headly...
She's the MVP of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!! stealing the show under the noses of two of the best comedy actors!!
Oh no! An interesting actress with a long and varied career.. I, too, thought she was great in 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'Mr Hollands Opus', but was also delighted a few years back when she showed up as Ben's mom on 'Parks & Rec'. RIP.