Oscar-nominated actress Penelope Milford has died at 77, leaving behind a legacy defined by quiet brilliance rather than celebrity spectacle. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she passed away on October 14 while living in a rehabilitation facility in Kingston, New York, following complications from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this summer. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Milford showed artistic promise early on, attending New Trier High School before moving to New York City to study acting at the American Place Theatre. Her film debut came as an extra in Maidstone, directed by Norman Mailer—a modest beginning to a career rooted in substance over spotlight.

Milford earned widespread respect through powerful stage work in productions like Lenny and Shenandoah, later transitioning into film with roles in Valentino, Endless Love, and the cult favorite Heathers. Her most celebrated performance came in Coming Home, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Beyond acting, she ran an art gallery, taught aspiring performers, and eventually settled into a quieter life in upstate New York. Briefly married to Michael Lally, Milford is remembered not just for her talent, but for a life devoted to creativity, mentorship, and artistic integrity.