Hollywood is mourning the death of actress Kelly Curtis, the oldest daughter of screen legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh and the older sister of Jamie Lee Curtis.
Kelly died peacefully at home on May 30, 2026. She was 69. In an emotional tribute, Jamie Lee Curtis shared the heartbreaking news, calling her sister her “first friend and lifelong confidant.”
For many, Kelly Curtis is best known because of her famous family. Her parents were two of the most recognisable stars of classic Hollywood and her younger sister Jamie Lee would go on to be one of the most beloved actresses of her generation.
But Kelly had a life and career of her own.
She was born in Santa Monica, California in 1956. Hollywood was in her life from the very beginning, being the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She made her film debut as a baby in the 1958 film The Vikings in which both her parents featured in the cast.
Kelly later went on to her own acting career. Her films include Trading Places, Magic Sticks, The Devil’s Daughter and Thanksgiving Day. She also had television appearances, including The Equaliser, Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Judging Amy, The Sentinel and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
And yet, Jamie Lee Curtis made it clear in her tribute that Kelly’s life was about so much more than acting.
She remembered her sister as a person of great personality, opinions, curiosity and generosity. Kelly was a lover of nature, music, travel, thrifting, card games, turtles, family, Facebook, and even Pokémon Go. She was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry as well.
Those little details make it feel very human, the tribute.”
They show a woman connected not just to Hollywood history, but to simple joys. She loved the people around her. She had her own way of moving through the world.
Jamie also said Kelly was known for her Christmas cookies, which earned her the nickname “Auntie Cookie” among the family. That kind of memory tells you much more than a list of film credits ever could. It’s the private side of someone, the side loved ones remember most clearly after someone is gone.
One of the most touching elements of Jamie’s tribute was her nod to Kelly’s go-to farewell phrase: “Isten Veled.” The phrase is a Hungarian blessing meaning “God be with you.” As Jamie said goodbye to her sister, the words came out of her mouth again.
Kelly and Jamie’s relationship was full of different seasons, like many sisters. They grew up in a famous family, experienced changes after their parents’ divorce, and went through the normal tensions and closeness that can come with sibling life.
But it was still important to them.
Later Jamie would remember special moments with Kelly including a trip they took to explore their family roots in Hungary and Denmark in 2012. Talking about the trip was helping her grieve, she said.
Kelly was also involved in Jamie’s personal and professional life. She was at Jamie’s wedding to Christopher Guest in 1984 and later worked behind the scenes on some of Jamie’s films including Freaky Friday, Christmas with the Kranks and You Again.
In later years Kelly would also turn to documentary filmmaking. Her work includes projects such as Marby Jets Are Go and Curling in Stanley, illustrating her fascination with stories away from the typical Hollywood glare.
It is a sad time for the Curtis family and those who knew her personally.
At this time, early reports did not share a detailed cause of death, publicly. However, Jamie said Kelly died at peace, in her home and surrounded by nature.
For Jamie Lee Curtis, the loss is more than just an actress or a famous Hollywood family member. She has lost a sister with whom she shared her childhood, her memories and many chapters of life.
That sort of grief is very private.
Kelly Curtis leaves behind a legacy of film, television, family history and the quiet impact she made on those who loved her. She may not have wanted the same level of fame as her family but her life was still filled with meaning, creativity and connection.
Jamie’s farewell words seem especially fitting as fans and friends offer condolences.
“Godspeed.”
God is in you.