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R.I.P. Susan Tyrell 1945 - 2012

Written by Whitney Scott Bain Sunday, 24 June 2012

Movie News

Susan Tyrell, who starred as Stacy Keach's alcoholic love interest in John Huston's Fat City about the quiet lives of desperate people and Richard Elfman's surreal film, Forbidden Zone as Queen Doris of the Sixth Dimension, has passed away.

Born Susan Jillian Creamer, Miss Tyrell began acting with New York's prestigious Lincoln Repertory Company playing ingénue when fate intervened and she got the chance to portray a saucy, naughty character in a play. The die was cast and she began gravitating towards more outlandish character roles which she found more appealing to her skills.

Miss Tyrell starred in a series of successful movies such as Islands In the Stream, Andy Warhol's Bad, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, Big Top Pee-Wee and the John Waters film Cry-Baby with Johnny Depp.

Tragedy struck in 2000 when she developed a rare blood disease called thrombocythemia. The result was the amputation of both her legs below her knees.

She kept active focusing on her painting career as well as making the rare public appearance.

A self-confirmed outcast, she gravitated towards the obscure and odd rather than the beautiful people of Hollywood which she found more interesting.

Miss Tyrell was a one-of-a-kind actress who lived her life to the fullest and will be remembered for the unique roles she portrayed for years to come.