Louise Fletcher, Who Played Nurse Ratched In 'Cuckoo's Nest,' Dies At 88

MONTDURAUSSE, FRANCE — Louise Fletcher, who left her mark on cinema history as the villainous Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” is dead at 88, her agent confirmed Friday to the Associated Press. She died surrounded by family at her home in Montdurausse, France.

Fletcher was born July 22, 1934, in Birmingham, Alabama. She skyrocketed to fame relatively late in her career when she was cast opposite Jack Nicholson in 1975’s “Cuckoo’s Nest,” based on the Ken Kesey novel of the same name, as the icy Mildred Ratched, who oversees a mental ward where Nicholson’s R.P. McMurphy is committed.

Fletcher won the 1976 Academy Award for best actress for her performance in the film, and, in a touching tribute, thanked her parents, who are deaf, in American Sign Language during her acceptance speech, after telling moviegoers that, “I’ve loved being hated by you.”

“Well, it looks like you all hated me so much that you’re giving me this award for it, and I’m loving every minute of it,” she said.

Nurse Ratched was ranked No. 5 in the villains category of the American Film Institute’s 100 Years … 100 Heroes & Villains list. The character also inspired a 2020 Netflix series called “Ratched” that starred Sarah Paulson and was produced by Ryan Murphy.

Fletcher had a long career after “Cuckoo’s Nest,” including recent roles on “Girlboss” and “Shameless.”

For much of the 1990s, she appeared on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” as the cunning Bajoran religious figure Winn Adami. Star Trek’s official website referred to Adami as “a fan-favorite villain” in an online post Friday remembering Fletcher’s work and offering condolences.

“I would say that my mail is 40 percent Cuckoo’s Nest, 40 percent Star Trek, and 20 percent other shows and movies,” Fletcher told StarTrek.com in 2012, according to the website. “And that’s great. I’m glad I did Star Trek. I’m so glad I’m part of that whole happening.”

Fletcher is survived by two sons, the Associated Press reported.