Louise Fletcher, Oscar-Winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Star, Dies at 88

Veteran actress Louise Fletcher has died. Fletcher, who has been widely celebrated for her memorable role as the cruel Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, died in her sleep while surrounded by family at her home in Montdurausse, France. A specific cause of death was not specified, per 10TV. Fletcher was 88 years old.

Fletcher was born on July 22, 1934. She had ventured into acting in the 1950s with roles in classic TV shows like Perry Mason and Untouchables. In 1974, she appeared in the Robert Altman film Thieves Like Us, which had gotten her noticed by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest director Milos Forman. Recognizing her potential, Forman cast Fletcher in the role of Nurse Ratched, and the rest is history.

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Fletcher would go on to appear in many feature films in subsequent years with her work including Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Lady in Red, Brainstorm, Firestarter, Invaders From Mars, Blue Steel, High School High, Cruel Intentions, and Aurora Borealis. Her last movie role was for the 2011 film Cassadaga, though films she had appeared in that were shot many years earlier, A Perfect Man and Grizzly II: Revenge, were respectively released in 2013 and 2020.

Meanwhile, Fletcher had also garnered accolades for her television roles. This would include a run as Kai Winn Adami in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Fletcher would also earn Emmy nominations for her roles in Picket Fences and Joan of Arcadia. In more recent years, she had a memorable stint on Shameless as the mother of William H. Macy’s Frank Gallagher. Some of her other television appearances include roles in The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, The Boys of Twilight, Fantasy Island, 7th Heaven, ER, and Heroes. Fletcher’s final acting role was for the short-lived Netflix series Girlboss which was released in 2017 on the streaming platform

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Louise Fletcher Won a Well-Deserved Oscar

United Artists

Fletcher’s Nurse Ratched character from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest set a new standard for on-screen movie villains. Because of how expertly she played the role, Nurse Ratched remains one of cinema history’s all-time most effective antagonists. It was well deserved when she wound up winning the Oscar for Best Actress at the Academy Awards in 1976 for her part in the film, surpassing other big names in the business like Ann-Margret, Isabelle Adjani, Glenda Jackson, and Carol Kane.

When she accepted her Oscar, Fletcher noted how this must mean that the people hated her so much as Nurse Ratched, and that she was grateful to have been honored with an award for her performance.

“Well, it looks like you all hated me so much, that you have given me this award for it, and I am loving every minute of it,” Fletcher said in her acceptance speech.

At this time, our thoughts are with the family and friends of Fletcher. May she find peace as her legacy lives on. Rest in peace, Louise Fletcher.

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