Hollywood is mourning the loss of actress Kelly Curtis, the older sister of Jamie Lee Curtis and the eldest daughter of screen legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. Kelly Curtis died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 69.

The heartbreaking news was shared by Jamie Lee Curtis in an emotional social media tribute that celebrated not only her sister’s career, but the deep bond they shared throughout their lives.

“A warm aloha to my older sister, Kelly Lee Curtis. She passed away this morning. In her home. In nature. At peace,” Jamie Lee wrote.

“She was my first friend and lifelong confidant. She was jaw droppingly beautiful, and a talented actress.”

Born in Santa Monica in 1956, Kelly Curtis was Hollywood royalty from the start. She made her screen debut as an infant in the 1958 epic The Vikings, starring her famous parents.

While her younger sister Jamie Lee would later become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, Kelly quietly built a career of her own in film, television, and later documentary filmmaking.

Many fans remember her role alongside Jamie Lee in the 1983 comedy Trading Places. She also appeared in projects including Magic Sticks, The Devil’s Daughter, False Arrest, and the television movie Thanksgiving Day. On the small screen, she guest-starred in series such as The Equalizer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Judging Amy, and The Sentinel, where she played Lieutenant Carolyn Plummer.

But according to Jamie Lee, Kelly’s greatest legacy wasn’t found on a movie set.

“She played a mean game of hearts, collected turtles, loved her family, nature, music, thrifting, travel, Facebook, and Pokémon Go. She was proud of her Danish roots and Hungarian Jewish ancestry and was a devoted American patriot.”

Her signature way of saying goodbye

Jamie Lee’s tribute painted the portrait of a woman known for her warmth, independence, curiosity, and unforgettable personality.

“She will be remembered for her loving generosity, fierce opinions, endless curiosity, unique style, and her powdered, almond, crescent cookies at Christmas, hence her name, Auntie Cookie.”

The actress also revealed that Kelly had a signature way of saying goodbye. According to Jamie Lee, her sister ended messages with the Hungarian phrase “Isten Veled,” meaning “God is with you.”

“Isten Veled to my sister of the sun and the moon, my Tai. I’ll see you on down the line.”

In a second reflection, Jamie Lee opened up about the complicated but enduring relationship they shared as sisters. Like many siblings, they experienced rivalry growing up after their parents’ divorce, and their lives eventually took them in different directions.

“My sister and I were close as children but also had that sibling competition for divorced parents’ attention and love and we were wildly different and lived apart for many years,” she wrote.

Their bond strengthened again when Kelly attended Jamie Lee’s 1984 wedding to actor Christopher Guest.

“But she came back to be with me at my wedding and never really left again.”

Over the years, Kelly became an integral part of Jamie Lee’s life and family. She even worked as her assistant on films including Freaky Friday, Christmas with the Kranks, and You Again.

“She worked for me at one point when she was in between jobs as my as-sister-aunt and became an integral part of my family structure. I miss her today but am buoyed by the knowledge that she is at peace.”

In her later years, Kelly shifted her focus behind the camera, directing documentaries including Marby Jets Are Go and Curling in Stanley, projects that reflected her curiosity about people, communities, and everyday stories.

No cause of death has been publicly disclosed.

For Jamie Lee Curtis, however, the loss goes far beyond Hollywood. It is the loss of a sister, a confidant, and a lifelong companion whose presence shaped her life from the very beginning.

And as she said goodbye, she did so with Kelly’s own favorite blessing:

“Isten Veled.”

God is with you.

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