Louise Fletcher, ‘Nurse Ratched’ actress, dies at 88
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Louise Fletcher, the actress who gained an Academy Award for enjoying the villainous Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” died Friday in France, in keeping with her agent David Shaul. She was 88.
Shaul stated Fletcher died of “pure causes,” with out offering additional particulars. She was surrounded by household at her dwelling in Montdurausse.
Shaul, who stated he labored with Fletcher over the previous few a long time, stated she lived in a transformed a 300-year-old farmhouse there and likewise had a residence in Los Angeles.
“France was her favourite place on the planet; she constructed a house in a wonderful place that she cherished,” he stated. “She was an ideal girl – what a profession.”
Fletcher’s Oscar got here for her second film after an extended break from performing to boost her kids.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” starred Jack Nicholson as a brand new affected person at a psychological establishment, the place Mildred Ratched – performed by Fletcher – reigns as an authoritarian, controlling nurse.
In her Oscar speech, Fletcher sweetly thanked her “Cuckoo’s Nest” colleagues after which, utilizing signal language, acknowledged her deaf dad and mom watching at dwelling.
“I need to say thanks for educating me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true,” she informed them.
The movie swept the highest 5 Oscars for 1975 – for Best Picture, director Milos Forman, tailored screenplay, actor Nicholson and actress Fletcher.
Her position grew to become thought to be considered one of movie historical past’s best villains, No. 5 on the checklist compiled by the American Film Institute, behind the likes of Hannibal Lecter and the Wicked Witch of the West.
In 2020, Fletcher’s position impressed a by-product, the Ryan Murphy TV collection “Ratched.”
Fletcher additionally had a seamless position within the “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” collection and performed Helen Rosemond within the 1999 movie “Cruel Intentions,” amongst many different movie and TV credit. Most just lately, she appeared within the Netflix comedy collection “Girl Boss” and on the collection “Shameless.”
Fletcher is survived by her two sons, John and Andrew Bick; her sister, Roberta Ray; and a granddaughter. Fletcher was married to Jerry Bick in 1959 and the couple divorced in 1977.