Olivia Hussey, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ actress, dies aged 73: ‘A remarkable person’

Olivia Hussey, the star of the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” died on December 27 at the age of 73.

Hussey, who rose to fame as a star in the ’60s film and later became an animal rights activist, was mourned in a lengthy tribute on her verified Instagram account on Friday.

“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom and pure kindness touched the lives of everyone who knew her,” the obituary said. “Born April 17, 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Olivia lived a life full of passion, love and devotion to the arts, spirituality and kindness to animals.”

Hussey is survived by her children Alex, Max and India, as well as rock singer David Glen Eisley, to whom she has been married for 35 years. She also leaves behind a grandson, Greyson.

The film stars from “Romeo and Juliet” take second place Lawsuit over 1968 nude scene as a minor

Earlier this year, Hussey and her “Romeo & Juliet” co-star Leonard Whiting filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Paramount Pictures following the film’s digital re-release in February, claiming the re-release was “digitally enhanced” and “displayed her private areas in such detail that the unnecessary display was offensive, lascivious and degrading to her,” says the lawsuit, obtained by USA TODAY.

Hussey and Whiting – who were 15 and 16 at the time of filming and 72 and 73 at the time of filing – claim in the lawsuit that nothing in their contracts allowed Paramount, then known as BHE Productions, Ltd have “photographs” of her acting “to recreate, republish or redistribute in any medium or format other than 35mm analog.”

This story is developing.

Contributor: Naledi Ushe

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olivia Hussey, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ actress, dies at 73