Condolence messages have swept across Hollywood as the industry mourns the loss of one of its finest veterans, Piper Laurie. The seasoned performer, who earned critical acclaim for her depiction of the religiously zealous mother in “Carrie” and the despondent lover of Paul Newman in “The Hustler,” breathed her last at the age of 91, according to her manager.
News of her passing broke early Saturday in Los Angeles, but the details surrounding her death remain undisclosed. Marion Rosenberg, her manager, fondly remembered Laurie as “a superb human being” and hailed her as “one of the finest actresses of her generation.”
Turner Classic Movies, embedded in the Warner Brothers Discovery family like CNN, lauded Laurie as an actress of renown and resilience in the last half-century. The network commended her for powerful portrayals of women characterized by their flaws and often ferocity.
Launching her career as a teenager in the 1950s, Laurie temporarily retreated from Hollywood after growing disenchanted with the industry’s treatment of her and the lackluster female roles available. Upon her return more than a decade later, she swiftly regained her stature through compelling portrayals of multifaceted and frequently distressed females.
Her exceptional work was noted by both critics and contemporaries, with Oscar nods for her mesmerizing performances in “The Hustler” and “Carrie.” Her role as a guilt-ridden mother in “Children of a Lesser God” also secured her another Oscar nomination.
The industry recognized her prowess further with a Golden Globe for her role in the TV series, “Twin Peaks,” along with two Emmy nominations. Also known as Rosetta Jacobs, Piper was nudged toward the stage name ‘Piper Laurie’ by a manager during the early days of her professional acting career.
After assuming her new identity, she starred alongside heavyweights like Newman, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, and Ronald Reagan, soon after signing a contract with Universal-International (which has now evolved into Universal Studios) at just 17.
Laurie battled disillusionment early in her career. Despite her struggle to bring authenticity to her characters, she felt her roles were often rendered cartoonish, void of complexity and wrapped in an innocent, sexualized image, regardless of her co-stars. Thwarted by restrictive contracts, she felt stereotyped into playing narrow feminine characters with limited nuanced depths.
Breaking ties with Universal in the mid-1950s, Laurie struggled to secure Hollywood roles, prompting a transition to television movies and series. It was only in 1961 when her role in “The Hustler” briefly revived her silver screen career. This was followed by a decade-long hiatus, after which she resurfaced in 1976 with the unforgettable portrayal in “Carrie.”
Laurie speaks fondly of the experience, citing it as the first time she genuinely enjoyed being on a film set. The respect and warmth she received from the crew created a conducive environment that enabled her to deliver her performance freely.
Laurie’s personal life included a marriage to film critic Joe Morgenstern in the early 1960s, though the couple eventually parted ways. They have a daughter together. As Hollywood remembers Piper Laurie, her indomitable spirit and meticulous craft continue to inspire generations.
