May 30, 2026, 4:47 p.m. ET
Kelly Lee Curtis, an actress, documentarian and sister of Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis, died on Saturday, May 30, at age 69.
Jamie Lee Curtis, 67, shared a tribute on Instagram and dedicated a “warm aloha to my older sister,” who she said died in her home, “in nature. At peace.”
“She was my first friend and lifelong confidant. She was jaw droppingly beautiful, and a talented actress,” Jamie wrote in the post’s caption, sharing a portrait of her. “She played a mean game of hearts, collected turtles, loved her family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook, and Pokémon Go.”
The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actress said her sister, who she described as a “devoted American patriot,” was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry.
“She will be remembered for her loving generosity, fierce opinions, endless curiosity, unique style, and her powdered, almond, crescent cookies at Christmas, hence her name, Auntie Cookie,” Jamie added. “Kelly always signed off any message or fare thee well with a Hungarian blessing. Isten Veled, God is with you.”
She continued: “Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai. I’ll see you on down the line.”
Kelly Curtis acted alongside Jamie in a 1983 film
Kelly Lee Curtis was born in Santa Monica, CA, on June 17, 1956, as the first daughter of “Spartacus” actor Tony Curtis and “Psycho” star Janet Leigh. In her first year of life, she made her on-screen debut in “The Vikings,” a 1956 action-adventure film starring her parents.
In 1972, Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. She worked as a stockbroker before following in the steps of her Hollywood titan parents by pursuing acting. She practiced her craft at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and later appeared in several movies.
She had a small role in 1983’s comedy film “Trading Places,” in which Jamie Lee co-starred, and starred in the German comedy movie “Magic Sticks” in 1987 and the 1991 Italian horror film “The Devil’s Daughter.”
In the TV realm, she played Lt. Carolyn Plummer on the first season of the ’90s crime thriller series “The Sentinel,” and also guest-starred on shows like “Judging Amy,” “The Equalizer,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Silk Stalkings,” among others.
Kelly Curtis worked behind the camera as a documentarian and assistant
She later took her passion and talent behind the camera when she directed the 2018 documentary “Marby Jets Are Go,” which chronicled an Australian high school track team. She’s also long supported her younger sister as an assistant on several Jamie Lee movies, including 2003’s “Freaky Friday,” 2004’s “Christmas With the Kranks” and 2010’s “You Again.”
Tony Curtis and Leigh married in 1951, welcomed Jamie Lee in 1958 and divorced in 1962.
Leigh later married financier Robert Brandt and the pair stayed together until she died in 2004 at 77, while Brandt died in 2009 at 82. Tony Curtis died in 2010 at 85.
