Actress Kelly Curtis Dies at Age 69

Kelly Curtis died Saturday morning at age 69. Jamie Lee Curtis announced the death in an Instagram post and stated that her sister passed "In nature. At peace." The cause of death was not disclosed. Born Kelly Lee Curtis on June 17, 1956, she was the older of two daughters of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Jamie Lee Curtis was born on November 22, 1958.

Curtis began her screen career with a guest role on the ABC series The Renegades in April 1983. Two months later she appeared in a supporting role in the film Trading Places. She worked primarily in television, with guest appearances on Hunter, Silk Stalkings and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

She also had starring roles in the television movies Kojak: Ariana, Thanksgiving Day and False Arrest, and a recurring role in the first season of the series The Sentinel in 1996. Her final screen appearances were guest roles on LateLine and Judging Amy, both in 1999.

In addition to acting, she co-directed two documentary features with her husband.

In the Instagram post, Jamie Lee Curtis described her sister as her first friend and lifelong confidant. She noted that Kelly Curtis was known for her generosity, opinions, curiosity, style, and holiday cookies. The post also stated that Kelly Curtis was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry and signed messages with the Hungarian blessing "Isten Veled."