Piper Laurie, best known for her roles in The Hustler, Carrie and Twin Peaks, has passed away at the grand age of 91.

The multi-award-winning actress’s death was confirmed by her ex-husband, the critic Joe Morganstern.

Born Rosetta Jacobs in Detroit, Michigan in 1932, Laurie changed her name after moving to Hollywood and signing with Universal Pictures in 1949. She made her film debut opposite future American president Ronald Reagan in the romantic comedy Louisa (1950).

Her next batch of films included the likes of Frances Goes to the Races (1951), Son of Ali Baba (1952), The Mississippi Gambler (1953), The Golden Blade (1953), Dangerous Mission (1954), and Johnny Dark (1954) though a majority of those were deemed mediocre. As a result of this, she negotiated herself out of her contract with Universal in the mid-’50s and followed that up by appearing in Until They Sail (1957) opposite future co-star Paul Newman.

With two Emmy nominations already under her belt from her television work in the late 1950s, Laurie then moved to New York to study acting before returning to Hollywood with her most lucrative role yet as Sarah Packard, the alcoholic girlfriend of Newman in the acclaimed sports drama The Hustler (1961).

Her performance received strong praise and earned her the first of three Oscar nominations as well as a sole BAFTA mention.

After a mixed run of screen roles in the 1960s, Laurie then married Morganstern before making the decision to leave showbusiness in order to raise a family.

Ten years later, she made a terrific comeback to film with her memorable turn as Margaret White, the cruel and religious-obsessed mother of telekinetic teenager Carrie White in Brian DePalma’s big-screen adaptation of the Stephen King novel Carrie (1976). Laurie later received her second Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category as well as a Golden Globe nod.

From then on, she continued to find work with roles in the likes of Ruby (1977), Rainbow (1978), and the series Skag (1981). That was swiftly followed by her Emmy-nominated turn as Magda Goebbels in the historical mini-series The Bunker (1981).

After starring in the Hollywood-based biopic Mae West (1982), Laurie then scored Golden Globe and Emmy nods for her turn as Anne Mueller in the acclaimed mini-series The Thorn Birds (1984).

The 1980s continued to bring more lucrative work for her that included guest roles in St. Elsewhere (1983), Murder, She Wrote (1984) and The Twilight Zone (1985-86) as well as a brief appearance as Aunt Em in the Wizard of Oz sequel Return to Oz (1985).

Laurie then received her third and final Oscar nomination for her performance as Mrs. Norman, the neglectful mother of a deaf student in the romantic drama Children of a Lesser God (1986). The following year, she won her sole Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series for her role as sympathetic neighbour Annie Gilbert in the television film Promise (1986).

Having made guest appearances in Matlock (1986) and Beauty and the Beast (1989), Laurie then delivered another stirring performance as the devious Catherine Martell in David Lynch’s acclaimed mystery drama series Twin Peaks (1989-91). Once again, she garnered the plaudits and landed a Golden Globe win as well as another two Emmy nominations.

Laurie went on to appear in films like The Crossing Guard (1995), The Faculty (1998) and Inherit the Wind (1999) while also popping up in programmes like ER (1995-96), Diagnosis Murder (1996) and Will & Grace (2000). During that period, she also delivered a memorable guest turn as the cantankerous Mrs. Mulhern in the hit sitcom Frasier (1999).

In the post-Millennium, she returned to independent work with roles in Hounddog (2007), Another Harvest Moon (2010), and White Boy Rick (2018). Her final acting credits came with her voice-work in two episodes the podcast series Around the Sun (2022-23).

Laurie is survived by her daughter, Anna Grace Morgenstern.