Lisa Blount was a talented and versatile actress who rose to fame in the 1980s with her memorable roles in movies like An Officer and a Gentleman, Prince of Darkness, and Great Balls of Fire. She later became a successful producer and won an Academy Award for her short film The Accountant in 2001. However, her life was cut short by a mysterious and tragic death in 2010. What was the cause of Lisa Blount’s death? How did she die? And what legacy did she leave behind? In this article, we will explore these questions and more.
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The Early Life and Career of Lisa Blount
Lisa Blount was born on July 1, 1957, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Margaret Louise Martin and Glen Roscoe Blount. She was raised in Jacksonville, Arkansas, where she developed a passion for acting and theater. She quit high school at age 16 and enrolled at the University of Arkansas despite not having a diploma. She later transferred to Valdosta State University in Georgia, where she landed some small television roles.
She returned to college in 1986, this time at San Francisco State University, where she completed her degree in Theater Arts and competed on the Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team. In the fall of 1987, she was cast as the female lead in the American Conservatory Theater’s revival of the musical Hair.
Blount’s film career began in 1977, when she was cast by director James Bridges to play a James Dean-obsessed goth girl in September 30, 1955. Her big break came in 1982, when she played Lynette Pomeroy, the cynical and ambitious best friend of Debra Winger’s character in An Officer and a Gentleman. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress.
She continued to appear in various movies and TV shows throughout the 1980s and 1990s, such as the cult horror film Prince of Darkness, the biopic Great Balls of Fire, the thriller Blind Fury, and the TV series Sons and Daughters and Profit. She also starred in several independent films, such as Box of Moon Light and South of Heaven, West of Hell.
The Oscar-Winning Producer and Wife of Ray McKinnon
Blount not only excelled as an actress, but also as a producer. In 2001, she won an Oscar for best live action short film for The Accountant, which she produced with her husband Ray McKinnon. McKinnon also directed and starred in the film, which was a dark comedy about a rural accountant who tries to save a family farm from bankruptcy.
Blount and McKinnon met in 1997 on the set of The Evening Star, a sequel to Terms of Endearment. They married in 1998 and formed their own production company called Ginny Mule Pictures. They collaborated on several projects, such as Chrystal, Randy and the Mob, That Evening Sun, and Footloose.
Blount also acted in some of these films, such as Chrystal, which also starred Billy Bob Thornton. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of a woman who struggles with addiction and trauma after losing her son in a car accident.
The Mysterious and Tragic Death of Lisa Blount
Blount’s life came to an abrupt end on October 27, 2010. She was found dead at her home in Little Rock, Arkansas, by her mother Louise Blount. Her husband Ray McKinnon was out of town at the time filming the remake of Footloose in Atlanta.
The Pulaski County Coroner did not release an official cause of death, but Louise Blount told RadarOnline.com that her daughter had suffered from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a rare blood disorder that causes low levels of platelets and prevents blood from clotting properly. This can lead to bleeding and bruising internally or externally.
Louise Blount said that Lisa had been diagnosed with ITP about 17 years before her death and had been taking medication for it. She also said that Lisa had been feeling ill for a few days before she died and had complained of back pain and nausea. She speculated that Lisa might have had a stroke or an aneurysm due to her condition.
The police report listed Lisa’s death as natural and said there were no signs of foul play or suicide. However, some sources claimed that Lisa had been suffering from depression and anxiety due to her health problems and career struggles. They also suggested that she might have overdosed on prescription drugs or alcohol.
Regardless of the exact cause of Lisa’s death, it was clear that she died too soon and left behind many grieving fans, friends, and family members. She was 53 years old.
The Legacy of Lisa Blount
Lisa Blount was a talented and versatile actress and producer who left a lasting impression on the film industry and the audiences. She was known for her beauty, charisma, intelligence, and courage. She was also a loving and devoted wife, daughter, sister, and friend.
She was honored with several awards and nominations for her work, such as the Golden Globe, the Oscar, the Independent Spirit Award, and the Saturn Award. She also received a posthumous star on the Arkansas Walk of Fame in 2011.
She is survived by her husband Ray McKinnon, her mother Louise Blount, her brother Greg Blount, and her cousin Carson Blount. She is also remembered by her fans and admirers who appreciate her contributions to the art of cinema.
Lisa Blount’s cause of death may remain a mystery, but her life and legacy will not be forgotten. She was an officer and a gentlewoman, a prince of darkness and a ray of light, a box of moonlight and a star of the night. She was Lisa Blount.
