Jamie Lee Curtis announced on Instagram that her older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis, died Saturday morning at her home in California at age 69, calling her “my first friend and lifelong confidant” in a heartfelt tribute.
Jamie Lee Curtis woke up to devastating news and shared it with the people who follow her most closely. On Saturday morning, the actress announced on Instagram that her older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis, died at her home in California.
Kelly was 69.
In the post. Jamie shared a throwback photo of Kelly—known for her role as the Magic Sticks star—and wrote. “A warm aloha to my older sister. Kelly Lee Curtis. She passed away this morning. In her home. In nature. At peace.” She added that her sister had been “my first friend and lifelong confidant. ” and praised her jaw-droppingly beautiful presence and her work as a talented actress.
Jamie also described Kelly’s everyday joys in the kind of detail that only comes from a life lived side by side. She wrote that Kelly played a “mean game of hearts. ” collected turtles. loved her family. nature. music. thrifting. travel. Facebook. and Pokémon Go. Jamie said her sister was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry. and described her as a devoted American patriot.
She remembered Kelly as someone who left a mark in both big and small ways. Jamie said she would be remembered for her “loving generosity, fierce opinions, endless curiosity, unique style,” and for her “powdered, almond, crescent cookies at Christmas,” explaining, “hence her name, Auntie Cookie.”
The tribute grew even more personal as Jamie ended with a Hungarian blessing she said Kelly used to sign off messages with: “Isten Veled, God is with you. Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai.” She added, “I’ll see you on down the line.”
At this time, no cause of death has been revealed.
Kelly Lee Curtis’ life in entertainment ran deep. Just like Jamie, Kelly followed their parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh into acting. In 1958, she made her acting debut in The Vikings with her mom and dad. She later starred in the 1983 movie Trading Places with her sister. before going on to work on Magic Sticks and The Devil’s Daughter.
Her screen credits also included appearances in episodes of The Equalizer, Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and more.
Jamie’s post landed with the force of a family loss, delivered in full view of the public—without pulling back on the love, the specifics, or the closeness she and Kelly shared.
Jamie Lee Curtis Kelly Lee Curtis Instagram post sister death California Magic Sticks Trading Places Tony Curtis Janet Leigh