“Moonstruck” Oscar Winner Olympia Dukakis Has Died at Age 89

We are sad to report that actress Olympia Dukakis has died at age 89 as announced by the AP.

Photo Credit: The Academy

Dukakis was a stage and screen actress who won an Oscar for best supporting actress playing the role of Cher’s mother in the movie Moonstruck (1987).

She was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on June 20, 1931, to Greek immigrant parents. She studied physical therapy at Boston University where she earned her bachelor’s degree, later returning to study drama.

In 1960 she made her off-broadway debut leading to a Broadway debut two years later in "The Aspern Papers."

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Dukakis married actor Louis Zorich, moving to New York and then later Montclair, New Jersey to raise their three children where they co-found The Whole Theatre Company.

After multiple roles in tv and film including Moonstruck (1987), Steel Magnolias (1989), Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), The Simpsons (2002), and more, she went on to publish her autobiography "Ask Me Again Tomorrow: A Life in Progress" in 2003, talking about her life and the challenges she faced.

She could later be seen on shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011), and Tales of the City (2019).

Dukakis died Saturday, May 1 in her home in New York City. The cause of death was not released.

Dukakis’ Disney/20th Century work included: