Losing a filmmaker and performer at an elderly age is one thing; but the death of director, writer and producer Lynn Shelton is that much more shocking because she was only 54.
Born in Oberlin, Ohio and growing up in Seattle, Shelton attended Oberlin College and the University of Washington before heading to New York and a Master of Fine Arts degree in photography and related media at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. While she's enjoyed a successful career and become one of the leading names in American indie circles, Shelton didn't start making movies until her mid-30s, inspired by a talk given by France's Claire Denis.
Shelton kicked off by writing and directing We Go Way Back, which scored the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance in 2006, and My Effortless Brilliance, which won her the Independent Spirit "Someone to Watch" award.
Next was Humpday, which would launch her career to a new level, and spurred a creative partnership with actor/writer/director Mark Duplass. Her other films included Your Sister's Sister, Outside In and Sword Of Trust. In addition to her film work, Shelton enjoyed a healthy career in TV, working on Mad Men, Glow, The Morning Show and, more recently, Little Fires Everywhere. Shelton died Friday from complications of a previous unidentified blood disorder and represents a big loss to the filmmaking world.