Olympia Dukakis (1931-2021)
Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 6:33PM by Nathaniel R
Olympia Dukakis as "Anna Madrigal", one of three iconic roles
Olympia Dukakis, the much-loved Oscar winning actress of stage and screen, has died just a month shy of her 90th birthday. The Los Angeles Times has a lovely article which goes in depth into her early career and backstory. On her devotion to theater, which often pulled her away from mainstream success, she's quoted as saying:
I did not become an actor in order to become famous or rich. I became an actor so I could play the great parts.
I regret that I never had the opportunity to see her on stage. Like the rest of the world, I fell in love with her first via "Rose Castorini" in Moonstruck (1987), a role she initially and surprisingly didn't think too highly of. Nevertheless she aced it, becoming one of the most beloved and famous screen moms of that era -- a screen mom to Cher no less!
But I'm not here to talk about Moonstruck. Have you ever had a actor that reminded you specifically of one exact person in your life? I don't mean an actor who looked like a loved one in some small way, but a star who always brought a real loved one immediately to mind...
For me there are a few but Olympia Dukakis is the most forceful. I literally cannot chance upon her in anything without thinking of the ex-boyfriend. He adored her. We began dating in 1998 which was coincidentally the year where she first reprised her beloved role as the trans matriarch "Anna Madrigal" in PBS Tales of the City. (She would revive that act a third time for Netflix in 2019). We had both seen the earlier PBS miniseries and loved it. In the mid-Aughts we'd attempt to see the Broadway revival of "Steep Magnolias" but left at intermission. The movie performances were too seared into our brains and it felt like the stage cast knew that. It was like watching a karaoke version or, if that's too harsh, a Disney stage show where you feel you're watching a reenactment rather than a unique piece of art.
He regularly pulled my DVD of Steel Magnolias from the shelf to rewatch despite hundreds of choices. Though I'd defended the film for years (and female-focused films are always in need of that -sigh) I eventually grew to dread it from the constant rewatches! I vowed to take a long break from the movie after we broke up but someday I'll be ready to go back because the cast was always bliss. Dukakis and Shirley Maclaine in particular were having fun. They were basically playing their own very raucous mini-comedy within the deep fried, hmmm, what do we call it, "melodramedy?"
Dukakis' "Clairee" was as impishly delightful as her "Rose" had been melancholy-funny and as "Anna" had been theatrically wise. The utterly human and relatable through-line of her three most famous characters was Olympia's considerable talent. Her earthy comic bite, inspired line readings, and no-nonsense unforced way of selling an arc were things of beauty. The audience was always too busy giggling or nodding or relating to notice the heavier lifting of the acting to create these lively miracles just to the side of the central plot.
My last vivid Dukakis memory came ten years ago at a Norman Jewison retrospective at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Moonstruck, of course, had pride of placement. I was just there to revisit and reassess Moonstruck ("yup, still perfect!") but knew that Norman Jewison would be speaking. I can't remember if I knew that Dukakis was also attending and used it to coerce The Boyfriend into coming with me or if it was a happy surprise. But either way the evening was almost as fun as the movie.
He'd gone to awards shows with me. He'd met celebrities both in his line of work and as my plus one at events. He even took smoke breaks with a few very famous movie stars (remember when people used to smoke?). And yet I'd never before seen him even half as starstruck.
Certain actors just hit us differently, you know. Certain losses, too.
Reader Comments (34)
R.I.P. Olympia. When I was a drama student, she covered for my acting teacher several times and the woman was a bold, profane force of nature.
I'm not sure where it might be available to view, but she is incredible as Pauline in the 1974 Williamstown production of The Seagull, recorded for Great Performances and also starring Lee Grant, Frank Langella, Blythe Danner, Kevin McCarthy, Marian Mercer and Louis Zorich (Olympia's husband).
A wonderful tribute. Olympia is one of my favorite winners of Best Supporting Actress. Be at peace.
"Who died?"
A great lady.
I know Look Who's Talking is irrelevant to you but she's the 2nd major cast member to die -- the 1st being George Segal.
May she RIP.
I was so terribly saddened when my niece (I had led her to the Tales of the City books and via them the mini and she became as big a fan as I) called me today with the news. Not sad for Olympia because she had a very fulfilling life and had been ill, but for myself and the arts. Yet another gargantuan loss after a year of so many!!
Like most my first real familiarity with her was Moonstruck, though she was briefly on the soap Search for Tomorrow which my Mom watched so I had a little awareness of her from there, and she was magnificent.
Then Steel Magnolias where she is a delight, I had a better experience with the stage play, I saw it in its initial run Off Broadway before the film was made. The core of it and the film remain the same but obviously the play was more restricted since it all took place within Truvy's salon.
But then came Anna Madrigal and Tales of the City and the dye was cast. So perfect was she that after seeing the first series whenever I saw her in anything my first thought was "It's Mrs. Madrigal!"!! It's exactly the same with the Lovely Laura Linney and Mary Ann Singleton. The connection was strengthened even more since I hadn't read the books before the miniseries so as I did I pictured Olympia throughout.
Even though that association is so strong it never diminished my enjoyment of her many other performances. An acting great.
Beautiful article Nathaniel. A lovely tribute to a formidable presence and the ways in which cinema enriches our lives.
andrew -- thank you.
/3rtful -- i've never seen it.
working stiff -that's so cool. teaching acting must be one of the hardest things to do.
Oh Nat, you’re making me cry. I had somehow failed to watch Moonstruck AND the entire Tales of the city anthology up until this past year. Of course I had seen endless clips and read about them and about her work in particular, but somehow today I am stricken with grief unlike I find with most actors. The humanity and generosity that radiated from her acting was as if I knew her for years, like she was part of the family. Like a loving aunt you’d see once every 3 years when you go back to your country of origin.
I remember, watching the last episode of the recent Tales of the city, when Anna dies, that I would feel just as moved when Dukakis would as well. I’m just lucky to have discovered her work in time.
P.S.: your lovely tribute above may have spoilers about Anna, for those who don’t know
I love her, but the first thing that came to my mind was that wonderful Seinfeld episode in which his girlfriend wants to meet Dukakis backstage
This was lovely.
My favourite best supporting actress win ever with the permission of Rita and Dianne.
One of her more recent stellar performances was in Away From Her, as the wife of Michael Murphy’s character. She only has a few scenes, but perfectly captures the resigned but nonetheless resilient spirit of an Alzheimer’s spouse. Truly one of the greats.
G.ShaQ, your comment may have Anna spoilers, ahem, thank you very much... 😞
@ Nathaniel
The kind of teaching practiced by Olympia, her mentor Peter Kass and all the teachers they trained was intense for them as well as the students, but they had their methods (no pun intended) for shaking it all off once class was over to avoid burnout.
A lovely tribute, Nathaniel. I've always enjoyed her work, and her performance in Moonstruck is one of the greats. R.I.P.
I have to confess I didn't think much of Moonstruck. But I did enjoy Olympia's performances in Steel Magnolias and the Tales of the City series.
A very fine charactor actor and will be missed.
Her second nomination should have been for Away From Her. Wonderful actress
I agree with the others praising her performance in Away From Her. She completely stole the movie. I know supporting actress awards were kind of all over the place that year, but she deserved much more credit then she got for that film.
That was lovely. We hold such memories of movies, people, places to loved ones. Even once those relationships have ended, that doesn't erase the memories.
The documentary about her, OLYMPIA, was nice. A bit scrappy, but showed that fierce theatrical devotion and her love of her homeland. I recommend it anybody feels they don't necessarily want to rewatch Steel Magnolias or Moonstruck.
You're ready to revisit Steel Magnolias now. What a great piece you would write. It has the potential to be Claudio-esque.
Adored Dukakis and wish she wasn't so underused in film. She was great popping up in Away From Her and the T.V. film Big Diver.
"Your life is going down the toilet!" - I've said that line to myself so many times.
Lovely Tribute.Forever Clairee Belcher.
G.Shaq please be less of a spoiling douchebag. Just say her final episode of Tales of The City touched you. Or you may have intended it in which case *flips bird*
Dukakis would want you to show class at her passing. R.I.P.
I really appreciated your tribute to this strong minded, brilliant actress. I saw the news when I was scrolling on the internet, and checked twitter. Cher wrote that she had called Olympia 3 weeks ago because she knew she was sick. This is one of her tweets below:
"You never think about Friends,Loved Ones Leaving,But Thank God We Can See Them."
Rose”DO YOU LOVE HIM LORETTA?
Loretta”NO”
Rose “GOOD”.”CAUSE WHEN YOU LOVE THEM THEY DRIVE YOU CRAZY,BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN”
Olympia lived up to her name, and for any film fan she will always be immortal. RIP.
She also gave memorable performances in two Thom Fitzgerald films: the AIDS triptych 3 Needles and the marriage equality story Cloudburst (with Brenda Fricker).
This is a wonderful piece, thank you.
I agree with those who say she is one of the greatest (perhaps my favorite) Supporting Actress winners ever.
What a beautiful tribute.
As a child of the early 90s, I first knew and loved Olympia Dukakis as Kirstie Alley's wise-cracking momma in the LOOK WHO'S TALKING trilogy, haha. Soon though I watched and adored her more iconic work in STEEL MAGNOLIAS and MOONSTRUCK (an all-time favorite), and later enjoyed her small but effective role in AWAY FROM HER. As a lover of political history, I also became fascinated by the fact that she was first cousin to (should've-been President) Michael Dukakis.
Somehow I've not seen TALES OF THE CITY, but it sounds like I must do so very soon.
RIP, great lady.
I hope you enjoy Tales, Orwell. I adore a particular scene in which she's having a small picnic with Donald Moffat--they played beautifully off each other in that exchange, but she's great throughout.
Oracle -- i have no desire to be anyone-esque. I'm happy being myself
Orwell -- yes you're in for a treat. Especially the first season from the early 90s
LadyEdith -- "she lived up to her name"... aw, awesome word choice. Wish I'd thought of it :)
PP & Tom G -- interesting. i only have vague memories of AWAY FROM HER. I will revisit it someday.
Everyone -- thanks for all the kind comments! xoxo
Oracle -- i have no desire to be anyone-esque. I'm happy being myself
Orwell -- yes you're in for a treat. Especially the first season from the early 90s
LadyEdith -- "she lived up to her name"... aw, awesome word choice. Wish I'd thought of it :)
PP & Tom G -- interesting. i only have vague memories of AWAY FROM HER. I will revisit it someday.
Everyone -- thanks for all the kind comments! xoxo
A wonderfully written tribute, R.I.P. Olympia! Like everyone else, Moonstruck and Steel Magnolias are the two standouts for me. She's great in both.
Richard - sorry, that piece was widely communicated when the last series came out.
Show Class - sorry you were triggered, take a few deep breaths, and have a wonderful evening.
She came to speak at my theatre school around 2009 and was just wonderful. Gracious, warm and FUNNY with some excellent advice. Truly unaffected by fame and a total boss b*tch
LORETTA enters the room, dancing theatrically...
ROSE: Are you drunk?
LORETTA: No. Are you drunk?
ROSE: No, but I have a hangover.
It's the highest The Film Experience compliment you can get! Don't be precious now. You create a supernova and it will get mentioned occasionally.