Hollywood was paying tribute to actress Olympia Dukakis Saturday after the actress died at the age of 89.
Dukakis died in New York City after months of failing health, her agent said.
“Olympia Dukakis brought warmth, humor and wit to the stage and screen for almost 60 years, including a stellar run of unforgettable roles in `Steel Magnolias’ `Tales of the City’ and `Moonstruck,’ for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She will be missed,” the Academy of Motion Pictures tweeted Saturday.
“Brilliant, strong, hilarious soul. An actor’s actor. Rest In Peace Olympia Dukakis,” actor Bradley Whitford tweeted.
“Olympia Dukakis has departed our company. We were Moonstruck by her, as she told us great Tales of the City. A true Steel Magnolia within a more common forest. Ah, what a life force, her later years her best. Rest now among the heavens, Olympia,” tweeted actor George Takai.
“RIP to my old Montclair neighbor, beautiful artist and co-founder of the Whole Theater company, Olympia Dukakis,” actor Alex Winter tweeted.
“Oympia Dukakis was a great actress who loved the work and loved the theatre. She was the acting teacher who spoke to me (and many, many others) with clarity and humor and NO censor,” actor Michael McKean tweeted.
The longtime star of New York stage was best known nationally for her role as the mother of Cher’s character in 1987’s “Moonstruck,” for which she won an Oscar for best supporting actress. Other popular movies included “Working Girl,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” “Look Who’s Talking,” “Look Who’s Talking Too” and “Look Who’s Talking Now.”
On television, Dukakis has appeared in more than 40 series and miniseries, including “Tales of the City” and its sequels “More Tales of the City” and “Further Tales of the City”; “Sinatra”; “Last of the Blonde Bombshells”; “Joan of Arc”; and “Bored to Death.”
She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013 for her work in the live theater.
Dukakis was born June 20, 1931, in Lowell, Mass., the daughter of Greek immigrants. She was also the cousin of Michael S. Dukakis, the former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee.