Carol Kane, Who Introduced Shelley Duvall to Ja...

Carol Kane is paying tribute to her late friend Shelley Duvall

Published Time: 12.07.2024 - 16:31:13 Modified Time: 12.07.2024 - 16:31:13

Carol Kane is paying tribute to her late friend Shelley Duvall.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE about Duvall — who died at the age of 75 on July 11 from complications of diabetes — Kane, 72, opened up about how the actress was “supportive and kind” and "always a good friend."

Explaining that the duo met through actor Bud Cort when Kane came to Los Angles when she was "very young," the actress also highlighted to PEOPLE that Duvall previously credited Kane with introducing her to Jack Nicholson.

“I read an articleabout her that she credits me for bringing her to Jack Nicholson's house," Kane says. "And I don't really remember it, to tell you the truth, but it's very kind of her to remember it and I'm glad that it was significant for her."

Kane continues of the introduction, “It wasn't a party, it was just some of the guys were getting together to watch the game and I think at that point, Jack was generous enough to let me stay in his maid's room, which was called the Garfunkel Suite, because Art Garfunkel stayed there, too."

Duvall ended up starring alongside Nicholson, 87, in 1980's horror classic The Shining.

Kane also recalls to PEOPLE how she and Duvall used to have dinner together at a defunct restaurant called the Aware Inn on Sunset Boulevard “back in the day," which she also refers to as the "hippie days."

“One time I went, I had just gotten nominated for the Academy Award and I went to celebrate,” she adds. “She took me to dinner to -

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celebrate and I was so nervous that I got completely nauseous from fear and I stood up to go to the ladies room because I was so nauseous and I didn't make it.”

Kane says that despite her throwing up on a rug in the restaurant, Duvall was very “nonchalant about it.”

“Not critical, just supportive and kind,” she says. “She was a very, very kind person. Very kind and quite brilliant, all those Faerie Tale Theater things that she produced.”

“That was an extraordinary show that she put together,” Kane, who starred in the “Sleeping Beauty” episode of Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre live-action drama series, tells PEOPLE.

"I just remember that she was the ultimate professional producer, very supportive of anybody that was there working ... And also keeping all the balls in the air and keeping it going. It was kind of extraordinary."

"She was just a sweetheart," adds Kane.

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Duvall died at her home in Blanco, Texas, her long-term partner Dan Gilroy toldThe Hollywood ReporterandVariety.

“My dear, sweet, wonderful life partner and friend left us. Too much suffering lately, now she’s free. Fly away, beautiful Shelley," he told the outlets in a statement.