Renowned actress Shelley Duvall made a rare public appearance when she sat down for an interview with Dr. Phil back in 2016. This marked her first interview in several years since retiring from acting.
The episode, titled From Hollywood Star to Near Isolation: Helping The Shining’s Shelley Duvall, sparked controversy and backlash even before it aired. Stanley Kubrick’s daughter, Vivian, took to Twitter to express her disgust, calling the interview exploitative and cruel.
During the interview, viewers noticed that Duvall appeared unwell, leading her to make troubling statements about her health. She expressed that she was very sick and in need of help, mentioning concerns about threats and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Despite Dr. Phil’s attempts to offer mental health treatment in California, Duvall refused and returned home to Blanco, Texas, with her life partner, Dan Gilroy. Vivian Kubrick set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Duvall’s treatment and wellbeing.
Following the interview, Duvall criticized Dr. Phil, stating that she had a negative experience with him. On the other hand, Dr. Phil’s spokesperson defended the episode, saying they aimed to provide relatable and useful information to their audience without stigmatizing mental illness.
In the aftermath, CBS canceled Dr. Phil’s show in 2023, and Duvall sadly passed away on July 11, 2024, due to health complications related to diabetes.
