Joan Fontaine, the legendary Oscar-winning actress, died on Sunday at her home in Carmel, Calif. She was 96.

Joan Fontaine Dies

Fontaine rose to fame during Hollywood’s Golden Era in the 1930s and ‘40s, starting off in supporting roles before landing the lead in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca. The part earned the actress her first Academy Award nod. Her second time teaming up with Hitchcock, for 1941 film Suspicion in which she starred opposite Cary Grant, saw her take home the statuette for best actress in a leading role.

Following the pair of Hitchcock films, Fontaine’s career maintained its steam with The Constant Nymph, earning her third Oscar nomination. The actress went on to receive praise for her turns in the titular role in Jane Eyre (1944), Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948), September Affair (1950), Ivanhoe (1952) and Island in the Sun (1957).

Throughout the ‘60s, Fontaine made a number of TV appearances and was honored with a daytime Emmy for playing Paige Williams on soap opera Ryan’s Hope. She made her last TV appearance in 1994 for the made-for-TV movie Good King Wenceslas, in which she played Queen Ludmilla.

Fontaine, who was long estranged from her sister and fellow Oscar-winner Olivia De Havilland, was married and divorced four times throughout her life. She is survived by her sister, 97, and two daughters.

– Chelsea Regan

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