"He's Large" Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl in Popeye

"He's Large" Performed by Shelley Duvall Written by Harry Nilsson. From the Robert Altman movie "Popeye".

[@juliabohemian]

Shelly Duvall is so utterly adorable in this film, mostly due to her ability to act, using her entire body. Her facial expressions are priceless. Did someone say she was ugly? She's not conventionally beautiful. But she's FAR from ugly.

[@ghostghostghst]

Shelly Duvall is the most beautiful woman who ever lived

[@ramencurry6672]

She’s actually very good looking.

[@Mlb9894]

100%

[@MultiKamil97]

She has this special, renaissence looking face. Gorgeous in a very "old" way.

[@lovelymix8056]

Yeah she’s very unique looking and it works for her

[@Argocity2006]

She was Olive Oyl , she brought that character to life and did a damn good job at it.

[@2003BMW325i]

She was a DAMN good actress period. Her dedication is incredible. The Shining still blows me away every time I watch it, she went through hell making that movie. Screaming, crying, running carrying a little boy, every day for a year, and the performer she gives is flawless

[@shaunamunoz-cacho6329]

My family calls me Olive Oly, they told me because how thin I was and beautiful but sometimes I look like her.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Great_Lake_Surfer]

​@@shaunamunoz-cacho6329 that's sweet of your family to say 😊

[@bigrigJim]

She was very convincing as a terrified and tormented woman in The Shining. I really can't imagine anyone doing a better job. @@2003BMW325i

[@divergentthg7925]

Now may she rest in peace

[@FLOLifer2248]

Here after finding out the tragic passing of Ms Duvall 💔 thank you Ms Duvall for all the laughter and great performances ❤️ rest easy 💔💔

[@taikey80]

Amen

[@Vortigern99]

Isn't it funny how many people think she's ugly (mostly I think because she's filmed unflatteringly in The Shining) -- but yeah, I agree, she's adorable.

[@blkcoverboy1049]

Vortigern99 I always thought she looked like a model! Her face is very unique! I love her

[@WobblesandBean]

Definitely adorable

[@junomay6341]

Vortigern99 in the shining she was pretty tho too

[@starrynight3649]

She was sexy in the shining too

[@bignollieshoveit]

Vortigern99 I thought she was hot in The Shining

[@TheTurkaderr]

I don't often cry when an actor dies, but I'm crying today. RIP Shelley Duvall. Thank you for bringing your gifts into the world.

[@cullendonahue8054]

Amen 🙏

[@dannymcdonald286]

For an actor to play a cartoon character they could have never picked someone better than Shelley Duvall to play olive oil she is the closest thing to looking like the true cartoon character out of anyone who ever played a cartoon character

[@jbrisby]

Jim Carrey as The Mask.

[@Eddierockification]

Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers.

[@SmelOdies]

Robin made a pretty good likeness for Popeye as well, matey.

[@SeaBreeze2247]

She made Olive Oyl into such a charming character that the man who drew the original Popeye cartoon would have been proud.

[@debusschere4817]

Rest in Peace 😢 she was special

[@brionbearclaw7476]

Rest in Peace, Shelley Duvall, age 75.

[@atworkstation]

RIP Shelly Duvall (1949-2024)

[@alonzo9772]

She was born for the role. I can't believe they were considering other actresses first.

[@Morgteck]

Part of the humour is that she's having a really hard time finding much of anything else positive to say about him, other than that he's " large"....

[@christineking8183]

Well she makes it clear to people that she doesn’t love him.

[@Argocity2006]

And the reason she's running away lol

[@robtank9900]

He’s got money and respect

[@shgnamaste7730]

As she's packing her bags 😂

[@jonathansmith8672]

@@robtank9900 That's true!

[@nostalgiamostalgia0319]

Popeye is now reunited with Olive.

[@jartober]

And you were larger than life in every role you played. RIP icon!

[@kickinbacknyc]

She stole every scene she was in. Shelly kept your attention. She always seemed so fragile and vulnerable. Rest in peace.

[@Akira625]

I watched this movie a million times when I was a kid, only Shelley Duvall could play Olive Oyl.

[@Nonamearisto]

That avatar is that weird "limbo" muppet, isn't it?

[@TartanCabbage]

@@Nonamearisto yes

[@bishoujoagogo6243]

You know I always thought it was kind of sweet when he picked up Olives mom and gladly said “mother!”

[@Scipio219]

I heard that Shelly Duvall at first turned down the role for this film, because she was made fun of by people in at school who called her Olive Oyl.

[@Morgteck]

Olive Oyl as depicted in the original stories was very feisty and strongwilled, but also rather innocent...a traditional girl in a traditional small town. Yes, the song has a lot of sexual innuendo in it, but Olive herself would not be aware of the innuendo...what she is referring to when she says that Bluto is large is simply his immense physical size and strength. Others, however, can find humour in the fact that the lyric has a double meaning. This was a great movie.

[@kristinscott8991]

What is wrong with you

[@gordon7478]

​@@kristinscott8991😅

[@2ridiculous41]

well thanks for explaining that, I am sure nobody else understood what it was about.

[@Qbal8]

I need to go back and watch this movie again. Rest in peace Shelley.😢

[@my1serafina]

Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl!

[@careywilliams1378]

I remember saying just that when we saw the movie. The song written by Harry Nilsson - brilliant!

[@VinnieGer]

Rest in peace Shelley Duvall. I love this song so much and have played it so much over the years. It’s just so funny how Olive has nothing nice to say except he’s large lol.

[@khaosx4260]

RIP LEGEND

[@djehoti]

She sang this perfectly!!

[@NateKyng]

RIP Duvall...thank you for childhood memories like this to always look back on. Everyone knows you more so for the Shining, but I know you more so from this. You'll be missed!

[@jimboswamps5602]

Rip Shelley Duvall. You will always be treasured. ❤️

[@TheSteflou64]

Rest in peace Shelley.✝️🙏🏼🦋❤️

[@marknewman3809]

Always had a crush on Shelley, she was an inspired choice for Olive Oyle. Who else could play the part?Like Wis Dom I don't much care for the perfect people of Hollywood, it's the imperfections that make someone interesting!

[@jeffbassplays]

Mark Newman She was distinguishedly attractive

[@grvonny]

Yep!

[@christineking8183]

She is very beautiful especially her smile!

[@sigourneypodgorny]

RIP. I 1st heard this song 35+yrs ago and this song has regularly popped in my head❤

[@kasumi421]

At first I wasn't a big fan of this movie, but now I absolutely adore it. They chose the right lady for Olive Oyl. She hit it spot on. Who'd a thunk, there was an actual woman who could play Olive Oyl. Go Duvall.

[@andrewcolinwilson1]

Shelley Duvall is so funny.

[@miapiare]

Andrew Wilson she sucks. Especially In the shining

[@DanielMazahreh]

+Reck Ssel Screw you. She was great in both The Shining and this movie.

[@raviolipizzarollie1935]

@@miapiare she was the best you try fucking doing 127 retakes

[@bignollieshoveit]

Reck Ssel you’re a dim wit

[@divergentthg7925]

Rip though 😢

[@stormy4812]

I love this movie so much! No one was more perfect for this role than her! So sorry to hear of her passing - RIP!

[@divergentthg7925]

Rest in peace Shelly

[@smittycal]

RIP Shelley Duvall. I always loved this part of Popeye

[@SesameBatiBot]

Who all came here for Shelley Duvall’s passing? I found out when I opened my Twitter page to is morning.

[@OldManZolla]

R.I.P Shelly

[@AmySorrellMusic]

RIP Shelley. It was a hard life. 🥺💚

[@G1Grimlock94]

Rest in Peace Shelley Duvall 😢

[@estyle40]

Where`s the part, "And he`s mine!" "YOU CAN HAVE HIM!!!" Funniest part of the whole song, to this day!!!

[@Kdija89]

Yeah, where's the rest of the song?

[@mitchellcota7381]

RIP Shelly Duvall 1949-2024

[@powerglover2021]

Rip you wonderful lady

[@boccs9925]

RIP to a damn fine actress and the only person that could ever be Olive Oyl

[@HBarnill]

RIP Shelly Duvall

[@tbascoebuzz4782]

Just heard the sad news of the passing of Ms. Duvall and immediately came here to listen to this adorable song. Nobody could’ve done it better. RIP Shelly..

[@Diggy22]

R.I.P. Shelley Duvall 🙏🏽

[@Vortigern99]

This has got me giggling to no end. I haven't seen this movie for 20+ years and I'm just loving watching clips from it. Harry Nilsson (the composer) is a genius!

[@yak9989]

RIP, Shelley Duvall.

[@quinnrollen]

RIP Shelly.. Thanks for sharing your incredible gift with us ❤

[@okllo]

RIP beautiful Shelley, you deserved better 💔

[@deniseglickler8683]

R.I.P. Ms. Duvall. You were amazing!

[@youforget1000thingsaday]

My grandpa passed not too long ago. He was from Puerto Rico and couldn't really speak a lot of English, but Popeye was his favorite cartoon and movie. Rest in Heavenly peace, Shelley Duvall. My only Olive Oyl. ❤ I know he's up in heaven with you and Robin now.

[@ericfarrar9185]

Shelley Duvall use to make me laugh when she played Olive Oyl I just love her Method acting and she’s so good at it. It’s too bad she never went further on and I my heart goes out to her and her family who is now taking care of her. Plus she’s a Cancer like me I wish I had interviewed her instead of Dr Phil because I think her and I could relate. I know what it’s like to be tormented by some people who didn’t like me and had to fight both physically and verbally. I have went through depression time and time again because it’s hard for me sometimes to get things off my chest and to talk to someone when half of the time it isn’t a soul to talk to. Shelley you are a legend and I hope you are still getting the help your getting. I can tell you have a family that loves you and I’m pretty sure some fans would still recognize you and still respect you as the sweet kind person you are

[@jbro8934]

So sad what happened to both Shelly and Robin 💔😢

[@christineking8183]

May these two Rest In Peace.

[@jasonpp1973]

@@christineking8183 Shelley is still alive

[@edwardpark8293]

Yeah she still is. She retired in 2002. It’s only robin williams who died already. It’s just that she doesn’t do acting 🎭 anymore.

[@ManuelGuzman067]

Yes very 😢 not fair

[@edwardpark8293]

@@ManuelGuzman067 what do you mean? That Robin Williams died? Well it happened to him. But Shelley Duvall is still alive.

[@TheODLawson23]

R.I.P to Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl, Robin Williams as Popeye, Ray Walston as Poopdeck Pappy and Paul L. Smith as Bluto.

[@cullumab]

RIP, Shelly 😢you were Olive!

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

R.I.P. Shelly Duvall. ❤🌹🙏🏽🕯

[@addiemclaurin]

RIP Shelley. A true talent.

[@jacobmrley]

RIP Shelley

[@hyedore]

such an angel. she will be missed. i'll tell my grandchildren about her im devastated

[@eleanorwilliams769]

My mom used to get called Olive Oyl at work because she used to wear boots and roll down her socks. One year for Christmas, she made dolls for me and my older sister and they both looked like Olive Oyl. I took such good care of mine while my sister kicked hers, tore out it’s eyes, yelled at it, ignored it, and then when I took it away and fixed it up and hid it she cried for months thinking she had lost it. I waited for fifteen years to give it back to her, on Christmas. She didn’t recognize it at first. Then when she realized what it was she cried again.

[@holzerisms]

Haha! I like this story!! I hope ur still good friends as sisters

[@eleanorwilliams769]

@@holzerisms we are, we're actually a lot closer now then we were when we were younger.

[@blowba]

Great story!

[@SeaBreeze2247]

It was good that you rescued your Mom’s lovingly created doll from eventual destruction and that you returned it to your sister so she could treasure it forever.

[@unperson5713]

Shelly Duvall was the star of this movie, perhaps her greatest (if not most well known) role. This scene has lingered in my mind for forty years. Fully realizing a, literally, two dimensional character while preserving the initial characterization is no mean feat. See also Matthew Lillard as Shaggy.

[@HBarnill]

And John Goodman as Fred Flintstone.

[@spudskie3907]

RIP Shelley Duvall.

[@tabe8850]

How this song came into existence is just a case that magic is real. So funny and just perfect.

[@DerrickLee1455]

She was absolutely perfect in this movie!!! RIP

[@KingRaider74]

I’ve never seen such perfect casting as Shelly Duvall as Olive Oil

[@priscamolotsi]

Watched this 30 years ago. Loved it then, love it now!!!

[@NelloToTheDello]

the perfect Olive Oyl? I think so

[@Krookedhands]

I don't like musicals and I never thought of Popeye ever being one but I will always love this movie and sing along with all the songs.

[@StarWarriorCentral]

In this role, Shelley Duvall is like Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark: born to be Olive Oyl.

[@jccw227]

I just loved how Olive ran out of adjectives to describe Bluto so quickly.

[@Quillons1]

Thank you for being part of my childhood era, Shelley. Rest peacefully, Olive.

[@walternavarro595]

Shelley Duvall IS Olive Oyl. No other actress can portray Olive Oyl to the Tee! R.I.P. Queen!

[@wickedfeylady]

She doesn't normally sing like this- she's trying to sound like Olive, and she's spot on in that respect. Gotta love Shelley.

[@JohnWJones]

Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl. She killed it. RIP!!!!

[@greedo2660]

Rest in Peace Shelley Duvall!

[@jmart4197]

R.I.P. Shelley Duvall 🙏 R.I.P Robin Williams 🙏 R.I.P. Paul L Smith 🙏

[@petedako]

SO adorable… the wonderful Shelly Duvall singing Nilsson

[@lu11039]

I like when she says he is tall and large

[@meazy6352]

Them olive oyl boots from popeye look crazy

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

One of the great moments from a sadly underrated film

[@curlytoes79]

She was executive producer of Faerie Tale Theater in the 80s, as well as some other children's shows. She acted in a few of the episodes. She did small parts here and there in the 90s but hasn't acted since the early 2000s.

[@tmctrockband]

I quote this so much and hardly anyone understands XP

[@dawolfman5548]

RIP 😢 thanks for the great childhood memories 🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@catshugging]

woke up thinking about this

[@KanishQQuotes]

Shelly Duvall was selectively bred to play this role

[@milk1535]

When you tryna hit the word count

[@blacksquirrel4008]

Shelley Duval was born to play Olive Oyl. She was perfect.

[@youforget1000thingsaday]

She was absolutely perfect as Olive. I used to love this movie!

[@Hotdog22958]

when I'm feeling down, I watch this movie and it cheers me up. Love shelly. Perfect fit for Olive Oyl

[@alscoolstories3]

Olive Oyl, singing: He's Large. Me, overhearing singing from outside: Not where it counts, Olive.

[@themad8088]

this is likely the best performance of Shelley Duvall in all her career (after the shining), she matches to perfection with the character, it's as if Olive Oil, was created for be portrayed only by her, (and truly only she could do it ), thus adding more fun to this funny and classic movie.

[@treesny]

Well, she's certainly wonderful in the much-maligned "Popeye" - her solo turn in "He Needs Me" is the high point of the film for me - but having just watched Altman's "3 Women" and "Thieves Like Us" I'd be really hard pressed to have to choose between her performances. Her performing rapport with Sissy Spacek in the former and Keith Carradine in the latter is fantastic.

[@deloreswilson1798]

They could've done better with Wimpy..Bluto looks like Bluto(Brutus) though.🤔

[@bloodsoakedsocks]

RIP Shelley Duvall (1949-2024) Forever our Olive Oyl ❤🕊️

[@mrhockey2k]

I love this movie! ...and LARGE!

[@ericisback13]

shelley duvall and robin williams are amazing i love them both

[@SeaBreeze2247]

“Oh, Sweet Haven, God must love us…” I saw this with my boys when they were little. An under appreciated movie that had so many memorable characters and quotable moments. Pap’s tantrum on the boat was a favorite, and the “You owe me an apology!” by Olive’s father.

[@wolfsburg88]

I have to squeeze him each night to keep him warm HAHAHA

[@ocean87841]

“But he’s large!”

[@HorrorCritical]

With how Kubrick was treating Shelly in the set of The Shining, it’s kinda surprising that she was also working on Popeye the same year. I wonder how she transitioned from both sets

[@captiancosmo9222]

Way back in 1980 this was my favorite movie. Still love it. now I'm a lot older and look like Bluto. hehe

[@keythdanielsen8316]

Joseph Carter Is someome singing this song about you?

[@TheNecessaryEvil]

Back then, Shelley could get it. I might be the only dude who thinks that

[@zebell33]

aaargh i love her voice...*dreamy eyed*

[@DeadRaymanWalking]

Shelly Duvall sure does look like Olive Oyl...I know someone who is my sister's age (and was my dance teacher in 2010-2011), and she bears an uncanny resemblance to Olive Oyl, too.