Actress Kelly Lee Curtis, the older sister of Jamie Lee Curtis and daughter of legendary actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, died on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the age of 69.
Kelly passed away peacefully at her home in California, according to Jamie Lee Curtis in a tribute posted on Instagram. The cause of death has not been disclosed at this time. In the post, Jamie described her sister as her “first friend” and lifelong confidante. The Oscar winner also highlighted Kelly’s beauty, talent, unique style and love for her family, nature, music, and her Danish and Hungarian-Jewish roots.
Kelly Lee Curtis was the eldest daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, two historic names in Hollywood. She was born in Santa Monica, California, and made her first film appearance as a child in the 1958 movie The Vikings, which featured her parents in the cast.
Throughout her career, Kelly also appeared in productions such as Trading Places, the 1983 film that also featured Jamie Lee Curtis in the cast. On television, she appeared in series including The Equalizer, Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Sentinel.
In addition to her work as an actress, Kelly also worked behind the scenes and served as her sister’s assistant on some film projects, according to the U.S. press. She is survived by her husband, Scott Morfee.
Jamie ended the tribute with a Hungarian blessing used by Kelly in her farewell messages: “Isten Veled,” an expression that means “God be with you.”
Source: Instagram/Jamie Lee Curtis, People and Entertainment Weekly. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
