Margaret Keane Cause of Death Revealed: Tim Burton's 'Big Eyes' Subject Dead at 94

By Alexandria Reeves

Margaret Keane, "Big Eyes" artist who became a subject of Tim Burton's film, died. She was 94.

Keane's daughter first confirmed the news to The New York Times (via The Hollywood Reporter) and said that the renowned painter died on Sunday at her home in Napa, California.

The same statement confirmed Margaret Keane's cause of death, saying that she died of heart failure. It remains unknown whether she suffered other heart-related issues or different health problems before her death.

According to UChicago Medicine's website, heart failure in older adults causes shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and abdomen, and congestion. There are ways to manage heart failure in adults, but some cases can be fatal.

Her official Facebook page also announced the heartbreaking news to the painter's followers, most of which learned about her life through Tim Burton's "Big Eyes" movie.

"We're sad to announce that Margaret Keane, 'The Mother of Big Eyes, our Queen, a Modern Master and Legend' peacefully passed away Sunday morning at her home in Napa, CA, she was 94," it said.

Her fans also took their time to pay tribute to the late artist.

Margaret Keane Remembered

After the news about her death emerged, her fans immediately shared their pain online and remembered Keane's contribution to the industry.

"Her art lives on, so sorry for your lose. She will only have a short nap in that sleeping of death. Prayers and thoughts to family," [sic] one said.

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Keane studied design in New York City before starting to paint baby cribs in the 1950s. She then created her art before meeting Walter Keane in 1955.

However, he took the credit on her trademark paintings and sold them to comedy clubs.

Stars like Dean Martin and Joan Crawford became her biggest fans who bought her original paintings. She also scored Andy Warhol's positive comments.

But in 1964, some art critics called her Tomorrow Forever painting "tasteless hack work," which broke the painter's heart.

When she and Walter divorced, she told the world that she was the actual artist of the big eyes paintings. She sued both her ex-husband and USA Today for claiming that Walter was the one who created the paintings.

She won the case but did not receive the $4 million damages from Walter as he proclaimed bankruptcy.

Still, her life story inspired people that even Burton created the 2014 film "Big Eyes," that led to the paintings' resurgence of popularity.