Dr Phil defended his controversial interview with The Shining star Shelley Duvall a year before her death. The beloved actor, who died aged 75 on Thursday (July 11) from complications linked to diabetes , made a rare appearance on Dr Phil’s daytime talk show in 2016. At the time, Duvall had retired from acting and public life on a hiatus that lasted from 2002 to 2022.
Titled A Hollywood Star’s Descent Into Mental Illness: Saving The Shining’s Shelley Duvall , the infamous episode featured an hour-long sit-down interview in which Duvall made several troubling claims about having a “whirring disc” inside of her, as well as being threatened by “the sheriff of Nottingham.” She even spoke about her belief that her Popeye co-star Robin Williams, who had died two years prior, was still alive – as a shapeshifter. At one point during the segment, Duvall told Dr Phil point blank: “I’m very sick.
I need help.” “Well, that’s why I’m here,” the TV personality responded. On the show, he claimed that Duvall would receive treatment from the best specialists for her physical and mental illnesses.
Later on in the episode, though, he stated that “Shelley still refused to take any medications, and she would not sign the paperwork required to treat her.” He explained that “she was accompanied by trained professionals and was safely returned to her family and boyfriend at home.” Dr Phil faced major backlash for the interview, with Rosemary’s Baby actor Mia F.