Shirley Douglas, Lolita actress and mother to Kiefer Sutherland, has died at the age of 86 from pneumonia complications.
Kiefer shared the sad news on Twitter, and explained his “extraordinary” mother has been ill for some time and hadn’t passed away from coronavirus.
He wrote: “Early this morning my mother, Shirley Douglas, passed away due to complications surrounding pneumonia (not related to COVID-19).
“My mother was an extraordinary woman who led an extraordinary life. Sadly she had been battling for her health for quite some time and we, as a family, knew this day was coming.
Actor, activist and actor Kiefer Sutherland’s mother, Shirley Douglas has died aged 86 (Image: WireImage)
He added: “To any families who have lost someone unexpectedly to the Coronavirus, my heart breaks for you, please stay safe.”
The film and stage actress and activist began her career in 1950 with a role in the Regina Little Theatre entry at the Dominion Drama Festival, where she won the best actress award.
In 1952, she relocated to London for several years performing for theatre and television, before returning to Canada in 1957.
Shirley Douglas died from pneumonia complications (Image: Brent Perniac/AdMedia / SplashNews.com)
She appeared in a number of notable and critically acclaimed films including Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of novel Lolita in 1962, and David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers in 1988.
The Canadian native also starred in television series Wind at My Back, Hagar Shipley in Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel, and even characters in popular science fiction series like The Silver Surfer and Flash Gordon.
Alongside her acting, Shirley became heavily involved in the American Civil Rights Movement, the campaign against the Vietnam War, and later on behalf of immigrants and women.
Tha actress campaigned for a publicly funded health care system in Canada (Image: Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Following her divorce from Donald Sutherland, she left the US in 1977 and moved to Toronto with her three children.
After taking up residence in the Canadian city, the star, daughter of Tommy Douglas, who brought Medicare to Canada, was also one of Canada’s most prominent activists in favour of the publicly funded health care system over privatised care.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
