Oscar winner Louise Fletcher dies at 88

US actress Louise Fletcher, who had won an Oscar in 1976 for her unforgettable role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, died on Saturday at her residence. She was 88 years old.

While she was best known for her portrayal of Nurse Ratched, Fletcher’s career spanned six decades, including TV and film.

Fletcher was relatively unknown when picked to play Nurse Ratched in 1975’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. She began her acting career in the 50s but paused for more than a decade to raise her children.

The American Film Institute put Nurse Ratched behind only The Wicked Witch of the West, Darth Vadar, Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecter in its ranking of film’s greatest villains. She married producer Jerry Bick in the 1960s, before getting divorced in 1977. She is survived by two sons, John and Andrew.

Former colleagues and fans paid tribute to the actress, calling her an “absolute great”.