Photo: Mireya Acierto/Getty Images
Olympia Dukakis leaves behind a lifetime of memorable roles and an important legacy,following her deathon Saturday at 89.
The Academy Award-winning actress was recently the subject of a self-titled documentary, which premiered less than a year before her passing. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Olympia’s passing,“Olympiafilmmakers Harry Mavromichalis and Anthoula Katsimatides tell PEOPLE in a statement.
“She left an indelible mark on the hearts of everyone she met,” they add. “We feel so blessed that we were able to capture her in her golden years and to create the revealing and insightful documentary that celebrates not only her enduring legacy as an actress but also captures her courage and determination to find her singular voice as a woman.”
The documentary serves as a deeply personal cinema verite-style portrait of Dukakis' personal life, following her 80th birthday. It recounts the anti-Greek discrimination she faced before founding Whole Theater Co. in Montclair, New Jersey with her late husband of 55 years, Louis Zorich.
Olympia Dukakis.Theo Wargo/Getty Images
The film also tracks important moments from her career, including her groundbreaking portrayal of trans character Anna Madrigal inTales of the City(1993) and her breakout Oscar-winning role inMoonstruck(1987).
“I’m so worldly and sophisticated,” shetold PEOPLEahead ofthe Oscarsin 1988. “When I heard I’d been nominated, I jumped up and down 50 times, like a child.”
Cher, who played her daughter inMoonstruck, took toTwitteron Saturday topay tribute to Dukakis. “Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing Academy Award Winning Actress,” she wrote. “Olympia Played My Mom In Moonstruck,& Even Though Her Part was That Of a Suffering Wife, We 😂 ALL The Time.”
“She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis, Her Handsome Talented, Husband,” Cher concluded. “I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One.”
source: people.com
