The Outlander Season 8 premiere ended with a tribute to Loulia Sheppard—but who was she and what happened to her?

On Friday, March 6, the highly anticipated eighth and final season of the Scottish time traveling, romance drama series kicked off on Starz. Let’s take a closer look at the tribute that has viewers curious.

Outlander Paid Tribute to Loulia Sheppard in the Season 8 Premiere

After the last scene, the text “Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore” was immediately displayed. That credit, however, was followed by the tribute: “In Loving Memory of our Friend and Colleague Loulia Sheppard.”

Who Was Loulia Sheppard?

Loulia Sheppard was an English hair stylist/hair designer whose work appeared in Outlander.

She also worked in the makeup and hair departments of many movies and TV series through the years. Some of her credits, per IMDb, include: The Three Musketeers (2011), The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), The League of Extraordinary Gentleman (2003), Loki, The Marvels (2023), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), The King’s Speech (2010), and many others.

On Instagram, she sometimes posted photos of her hair and makeup work, in addition to some of the celebrities with whom she worked.

A tribute on HairMakeup.org.uk described her as an “outstanding period hair stylist whose passion and dedication to her craft inspired and shaped the careers of many in the industry. It added that she was “incredibly hard working and generous with her expertise she was a master of every period style.”

During her 60-year career, Sheppard was nominated for three Primetime Emmy awards, a Gold Derby Award, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award for her work.

After Sheppard’s death, Creative Media Skills Institute posted a tribute via Instagram.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Lou Sheppard,” the post began. “A true icon in the world of hair and makeup design, Lou’s artistry graced some of the most celebrated films and television productions of our time. From crafting Reese Witherspoon‘s look in Vanity Fair to her Oscar-nominated work on Victoria & Abdul, Lou’s talent was unmatched.”

Other actresses Sheppard worked with included: Scarlett Johansson, Keira Knightley, Marion Cotillard, and Dame Judi Dench, among others.

What Happened to Loulia Sheppard?

Sheppard died on Jan. 28, 2025, in England, U.K.; the cause of death was not publicly shared.