Olympia Dukakis was often an audience’s favorite part of a film. She didn’t become a household name until her incredible turn as Cher’s mother in the brilliant 1987 romantic comedy “Moonstruck.” That role brought her an Oscar and deservedly launched her to stardom. She became a reliable choice for any film that needed an actress who could walk the line between drama and comedy. And she stole every single scene. Olympia Dukakis was 89 years old when she died today.
Here’s how to stream her best films.
The Best of Olympia Dukakis
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Tales of the City
June 7, 2019Mary Ann returns to present-day San Francisco and is reunited with her daughter and ex-husband, twenty years after leaving them behind to pursue her career. Fleeing the midlife crisis that her picture-perfect Connecticut life created, Mary Ann is quickly drawn back into the orbit of Anna Madrigal, her chosen family and a new generation of queer young residents living at 28 Barbary Lane.
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The Thing About My Folks
June 2, 2005Ben’s dad Sam shows up one night with a note from Ben’s mother (Sam’s wife of 46 years), that she has left. While Ben’s wife and his three sisters try to find her, Ben takes Sam on a day trip to see a farmhouse that’s for sale. The day trip turns into a road trip while dad and son explore their past, their relationship, and why Sam’s wife might have left him. The road trip includes fishing, drinking, playing pool, sleeping under the stars, and frank discussion. Anger simmers close at hand, as do love and hope. Where Sam’s wife is - and why she left - leads to the movie’s resolution.
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Jane Austen's Mafia!
July 24, 1998Takeoff on the Godfather with the son of a mafia king taking over for his dying father.
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Mr. Holland's Opus
December 29, 1995In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it’s just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life’s purpose.
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Steel Magnolias
November 15, 1989A young beautician, newly arrived in a small Louisiana town, finds work at the local salon, where a small group of women share a close bond of friendship and welcome her into the fold.
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Dad
October 27, 1989A busy executive learns during a meeting that his mother may be dying and rushes home to her side. He ends up being his father’s caretaker and becomes closer to him than ever before. Estranged from his own son, the executive comes to realize what has been missing in his own life.
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Look Who's Talking
October 12, 1989Mollie is a single working mother who’s out to find the perfect father for her child. Her baby, Mikey, prefers James, a cab driver turned babysitter who has what it takes to make them both happy. But Mollie won’t even consider James. It’s going to take all the tricks a baby can think of to bring them together before it’s too late.
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Moonstruck
December 16, 198737-year-old Italian-American widow Loretta Castorini believes she is unlucky in love, and so accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Johnny, even though she doesn’t love him. When she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, an emotional and passionate man, she finds herself drawn to him. She tries to resist, but Ronny, who blames his brother for the loss of his hand, has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls for Ronny, she learns that she’s not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
Dukakis won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress in this incredible movie.
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As the news broke, the acting community poured out their remembrances on social media.
Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing,Academy Award Winning Actress.Olympia Played My Mom In Moonstruck,& Even Though Her Part was
— Cher (@cher) May 1, 2021
That Of a Suffering Wife, We😂ALL The Time.She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis,Her”Handsome Talented,Husband”.I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One pic.twitter.com/RcCZaeKFmz
Brilliant, strong, hilarious soul. An actor’s actor. Rest In Peace Olympia Dukakis. https://t.co/4ZAwcBBd2O
— (((Bradley Whitford))) (@BradleyWhitford) May 1, 2021
Olympia Dukakis has departed our company. We were Moonstruck by her, as she told us great Tales of the City. A true Steel Magnolia within a more common forest. Ah, what a life force, her later years her best. Rest now among the heavens, Olympia.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 1, 2021
RIP to my old Montclair neighbor, beautiful artist and co-founder of the Whole Theater company, Olympia Dukakis. pic.twitter.com/YQOLCz4hj4
— Alex Winter (@Winter) May 1, 2021
RIP Olympia Dukakis…the consummate actor. You made all around you step up their game. A joy to work with. Rest well. “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”.💛💛💛https://t.co/9uC2Ld4rTU
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) May 1, 2021
Ugh. RIP OLYMPIA!!! ❤️❤️ https://t.co/qLq9jj87Wp
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) May 1, 2021