Oscar-winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Louise Fletcher dies at 88 due to natural causes at her home in France

Louise Fletcher, whose riveting performance as the cruel Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest set a new standard for screen villains and won her an Academy Award, died on September 23, at age 88.

Louise Fletcher has died at the age of 88. Her family confirmed in a report that the Oscar-winner died of natural causes at her home in Montdurausse, France. She was known for playing Nurse Ratched in the Milos Forman-directed 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which also starred Jack Nicholson. She had won an Academy Award for best actress in a leading role in 1976 for her role.

Louise Fletcher, a cast member in Shameless, poses at the premiere of the second season of the television series in Los Angeles in 2012.  (AP)

Louise’s acting career spanned more than 60 years, and included numerous performances in both television and in films. She was seen in a recurring role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Bajoran religious leader Kai Winn Adami. She was also known for her roles in Picket Fences and Joan of Arcadia. As per a report, Louise died in her sleep, surrounded by family, at the home she had built from a 300-year-old farmhouse.

Louise’s death was reported by Deadline. Although no cause was specified by her family, her agent David Shaul said that on September 23, she had said to her family about her beloved home, “I can’t believe I created something so meaningful to my well-being.”

Louise was born July 22, 1934, in Birmingham, a city in Alabama, US, to deaf parents. Louise began her acting career in the late 1950s with TV series such as Lawman, Bat Masterson, Maverick, The Untouchables and 77 Sunset Strip.

Louise was married to film producer Jerry Bick from 1959 until their divorce in 1977. As per Deadline, she is survived by sons John and Andrew Bick; granddaughter Emilee Kaya Bick; sister Roberta Ray and brother-in-law Edward Ray; and 10 nieces and nephews.