One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest actor Louise Fletcher dies at 88

Louise Fletcher, who rose to fame playing the iconic Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, has passed away at the age of 88. Her portrayal of Nurse Ratched is considered to be one of the best on-screen villains in cinema, ultimately winning her an Oscar, BAFTA, and The Golden Globes Awards. She also received an Emmy nomination for a guest appearance in Joan of Arcadia.

She passed away at home in her sleep, surrounded by family members. She had spent the last moments of her life in a house that she had built, surrounded by a 300-year-old farmhouse. According to reports from her family members, her last words have been, “I can’t believe I created something so meaningful to my well-being.”

The legendary actor was also known for her portrayal as the religious leader Kai Winn Adami in the hit sci-fi series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She appeared in many iconic films and television series over the years including Cruel Intentions, Picket Fences, Joan of Arcadia, Once Upon a Time in America, Blue Steel, Exorcist II: The Heretic, The Lady in Red, The Cheap Detective, and Brainstorm.

She was born to deaf parents in Birmingham in 1934, and as a sign of respect for the hard of hearing, she used sign language in her Oscar acceptance speech, which went down in history as one of the iconic Oscar moments.