Tributes have poured in for Oscar-winning actor Louise Fletcher who has passed away at her home in France aged 88 after a career in movies and TV that spanned decades.
Fletcher is perhaps best known for her role as Nurse Ratched in the 1975 movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest where she starred alongside Jack Nicholson.
She won an Oscar for Best Actress for that performance and became the first person to use sign language during an Oscars acceptance speech at the 48th Academy Awards in 1976. Both her parents were deaf and she spoke to them directly from the stage.
Fletcher later had a recurring role as Bajoran religious leader Kai Winn in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from 1993 to 1999. Her character played a prominent role as an antagonist, turning into a major villain toward the show's end.
Oscar-winning actor Marlee Matlin tweeted: "Sad to read of the passing of Louise Fletcher. Brilliant actress & Academy Award winner, I remember her as the daughter of Deaf parents (CODA) who was the FIRST to sign her acceptance speech at the Oscars. And she was so lovely as my mother on 'Picket Fences.' RIP dear Louise."
"CODA" is an acronym meaning "child of deaf adult."
The official Twitter account of Star Trek Online, a popular video game based on the Star Trek franchise, shared an image of Fletcher in costume and makeup as Kai Winn.
"With the passing of Louise Fletcher, the world has lost a truly lovely woman, who made us all deeply love to hate her," they wrote.
Robert Hewitt Wolfe, a screenwriter who worked in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, tweeted: "It was an honor and a pleasure to write for Louise Fletcher, one of the absolute greats. A blazing talent and a compete class act. May she rest with the Prophets."
Wolfe was referencing the fictional Star Trek aliens known as the Prophets, who were worshiped as gods.
Christian Blauvelt, executive managing editor of IndieWire, shared the site's tribute to Fletcher and added: "Had to lead with 'Cuckoo's Nest' in this tribute but of course devote as much time to her extraordinary latter-day work on #StarTrekDS9 as a series-defining villain who also defied TV clichés about older women's sexuality. She was great."
Writer Tim Shorrock shared some of his own experiences in mourning Fletcher's passing.
"RIP Louise Fletcher. I was working at a school for deaf kids at the time of her Oscar and the kids and teachers were so ecstatic seeing someone sign on television. She was chillingly amazing in this film," Shorrock wrote.
"Rest In Peace Dear Louise Fletcher," tweeted actor Rosanna Arquette.
Updated on 09/24/22 at 6:53 ET to include further tributes.
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Darragh Roche is a U.S. News Reporter based in Limerick, Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. politics. He has ... Read more
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