Actresses Whose Final Performance Was Released Posthumously

Some screen careers ended too soon, with a final role reaching audiences only after the performer was gone. This list gathers actresses whose last on-screen or voice work premiered posthumously—whether in a feature film, a TV episode, or a documentary series—along with key details on the project’s release and what was completed before they died.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher’s final appearance was crafted for ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ using previously unused footage shot during the earlier sequel’s production. She died in December 2016, and the film opened worldwide in December 2019. Editors and writers structured new scenes around the recovered material so she could remain central to the story. She received top billing and a dedication in the end credits.

Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy’s last feature to reach theaters was ‘Something Wicked’, which saw a limited U.S. release in 2014. She died in December 2009, after which the indie thriller spent years in post-production. Her earlier posthumous release was the TV movie ‘Abandoned’ in 2010, but ‘Something Wicked’ became the final film credit to premiere. Marketing for the film noted her participation and the delayed rollout.

Sharon Tate

Sharon Tate’s final completed film, ’12+1′ (also released as ‘The Thirteen Chairs’), premiered in Italy months after her death in August 1969. U.S. audiences saw it later under the alternate title. Production had wrapped prior to the tragedy, so no body doubles or rewrites were required for her part. The distributors referenced her performance when scheduling releases across territories.

Heather O’Rourke

Heather O’Rourke died in February 1988, and ‘Poltergeist III’ opened that June. She had completed principal photography, and post-production handled limited dialogue and continuity work. The studio added an on-screen dedication at the end of the film. Her performance stands as the concluding entry of her franchise role.

Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow passed away in June 1937 while ‘Saratoga’ was still in production. MGM finished the film using body doubles and existing footage to complete her scenes. It was released the next month and became one of that year’s biggest box-office draws. The studio included a note acknowledging the circumstances to audiences and exhibitors.

Carole Lombard

Carole Lombard’s last film, ‘To Be or Not to Be’, arrived in theaters in March 1942 after her death in January of that year. Principal photography had been completed before the plane crash that killed her. The wartime satire’s advertising was adjusted in tone for release. The studio added a dedication to Lombard in subsequent prints.

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood died in November 1981 during the production of ‘Brainstorm’. The release was delayed while filmmakers reworked scenes with stand-ins and rewrites to complete the narrative. The movie finally opened in 1983 with a dedication to Wood. Insurance and union clearances were part of the extended post-production process.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn’s final screen work was hosting and narrating the documentary series ‘Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn’, which premiered shortly after her death in January 1993. Episodes were filmed in Europe and the United States the previous year. The series aired on PBS and later saw home-video distribution with her charitable mission highlighted. Opening credits note her contribution and the production timeline.

Anne Bancroft

Anne Bancroft’s last feature credit was the animated film ‘Delgo’, released in 2008. She had completed voice work before her death in 2005. The project’s long post-production schedule meant several cast members’ performances were heard years later. Credits preserved her billing and noted earlier recording dates.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston’s final film role was in ‘Sparkle’, which opened in August 2012 after her death that February. She served as both actor and executive producer on the project. Principal photography had wrapped, so the release required no modification to her scenes. The film’s closing titles carry a memorial dedication.

Diana Rigg

Diana Rigg’s final film appearance was in ‘Last Night in Soho’, released in 2021 after her death in 2020. She completed filming on the London-set production before passing away. Marketing acknowledged her role, and the end credits include a tribute. She also had TV episodes that aired posthumously the same year.

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury’s final screen appearance was a cameo in ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’. She died in October 2022, and the film released in late 2022 with a limited theatrical run followed by streaming. The cameo was recorded earlier via a brief video call setup arranged by the production. The film includes a dedication to her and another late performer.

Sridevi

Sridevi’s last on-screen appearance was a special cameo in ‘Zero’, which premiered in December 2018 after her death in February that year. The cameo, filmed in Mumbai, features her among a group of industry figures. The producers retained the scene without alteration. Her final credit appears in the film’s cast list and promotional materials.

Dorothy Stratten

Dorothy Stratten’s final feature, ‘They All Laughed’, was released in 1981 following her death in August 1980. Principal photography had concluded in New York before the crime that killed her. The distribution path changed as the producers shifted release plans. Prints carried her credit as originally intended.

Divya Bharti

Divya Bharti died in April 1993, with multiple films releasing later that year. ‘Rang’ became one of the best-known posthumous titles, arriving months after her death. She had finished shooting her part, allowing the producers to proceed with standard post-production. Additional releases the same year consolidated her final credits.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah’s final role as an actress was in ‘Queen of the Damned’, which opened in early 2002 after her death in August 2001. She had completed principal photography and ADR sessions prior to the plane crash. The studio dedicated the film to her memory in the end credits. Soundtrack and promotional materials were timed around the revised release date.

Misty Upham

Misty Upham’s last widely released feature was ‘Cake’, which reached U.S. theaters in 2015 after a festival premiere the previous year. She died in October 2014, between the festival debut and the wide release. Her supporting role remained intact in the final cut. Credits and press notes list her work without alterations.

Anne Heche

Anne Heche had several projects release after her death in August 2022, with one of the final features being ‘Wildfire: The Legend of the Cherokee Ghost Horse’ in 2023. She had completed production on multiple titles, including earlier posthumous releases. The 2023 film preserved her performance as shot. Publicity cleared the timing of the release relative to her passing.

Kelly Preston

Kelly Preston’s last film role appeared in ‘Off the Rails’, which premiered in 2021 after her death in 2020. Filming had been completed in Europe prior to her illness becoming public. The release included a memorial dedication in her honor. International rollout began in the United Kingdom before additional territories.

Jessica Walter

Jessica Walter’s final performances were voice roles for ‘Archer’ episodes that aired after her death in March 2021. She had recorded session work for the season prior to passing away. The episodes were broadcast later that year with her credited as a main cast member. The season included an on-screen tribute to her legacy on the show.

If we missed someone meaningful to you, share the name and the final project in the comments so other readers can discover it too.