US actress Piper Laurie – best known for her roles in The Hustler and Carrie films – has died aged 91, her manager has said.
Marion Rosenberg told the Associated Press that the three-time Oscar nominee passed away in her Los Angeles home.
She described the actress as “a superb talent and a wonderful human being.”
Her talents were not limited to acting – Laurie took a 15-year-break from acting to campaign for the civil rights movement.
She was nominated for an Oscar for the first movie she starred in upon her return – Carrie.
Born as Rosetta Jacobs, she was born in Detroit, Michigan to parents of Russian and Polish heritage.
She was signed by Universal Studios at the age of 17 – earning a contract and a new name: Piper Laurie.
However, Laurie became frustrated with the acting industry and being cast in the same roles, and broke her Hollywood contract – moving to New York to pursue other roles.
She later stepped away from the profession on what became a 15-year-break and focussed her attentions on the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War.
During that time she also married film critic Joe Morgenstern, and had a daughter.
Laurie also starred in numerous TV shows including Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and played George Clooney’s character’s mother on ER.
