Jamie Lee Curtis is mourning a devastating family loss.
The Oscar-winning actress revealed Saturday that her older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis, has died at the age of 69.
In an emotional Instagram tribute, the Halloween and Freaky Friday star shared a black-and-white photo of Kelly Lee smoking a cigarette while getting her hair styled. Alongside the striking image, Jamie wrote a farewell that was filled with love, memories, and heartbreak.
“A warm aloha to my older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis,” Jamie wrote.
She said Kelly Lee died “this morning” at her home, surrounded by nature and “at peace.”
The loss marks a painful goodbye for Jamie, 67, who described her sister as much more than family. Kelly Lee, she wrote, was her “first friend and lifelong confidant.”
Jamie also remembered her sister as “jaw droppingly beautiful” and a talented actress with a bold personality, deep passions, and a memorable sense of style.
Kelly Lee, the daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, grew up in the glare of old-school movie fame. But according to Jamie’s tribute, she was also a woman with simple joys and strong opinions.
“She played a mean game of hearts, collected turtles, loved her family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook, and Pokémon Go,” Jamie wrote.
The actress also said her sister was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry, calling her “a devoted American patriot.”
Jamie painted a vivid picture of a woman who loved fiercely, spoke her mind, and left her own mark on everyone around her.
She said Kelly Lee will be remembered for her “loving generosity, fierce opinions, endless curiosity, unique style,” and her famous powdered almond crescent cookies at Christmas. The holiday treats were so beloved that they earned her the family nickname “Auntie Cookie.”
Jamie also shared that Kelly Lee often ended her messages with a Hungarian blessing: “Isten Veled,” meaning “God is with you.”
The True Lies star ended her tribute with one final goodbye.
“Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai,” Jamie wrote. “I’ll see you on down the line.”
Kelly Lee Curtis was born in 1956, the first daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, two of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Tony and Janet married in 1951 and divorced in 1962 after 11 years together.
Kelly Lee and Jamie were raised in Los Angeles, surrounded by the movie business that made their parents famous. Both sisters eventually followed the family path into acting.
Kelly Lee appeared alongside Jamie in the 1983 comedy Trading Places. She also worked as a production assistant on Jamie’s 2003 remake of Freaky Friday.
Her television credits included appearances on Judging Amy, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Equalizer, and other shows.
Kelly Lee married playwright Scott Morfee in 1989.
She is survived by her husband and her siblings, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Alexandra Curtis, Allegra Curtis, and Benjamin Curtis. Another brother, Nicholas Curtis, died in 1994.
For fans of classic Hollywood, Kelly Lee Curtis was part of one of the industry’s most famous families. But for Jamie Lee Curtis, she was something far more personal: a sister, a confidant, and a lifelong friend.
Now, Jamie is saying goodbye with the same blessing Kelly Lee carried through life.
God is with you.
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