Sally Kirkland

Sally Kirkland Jr. (October 31, 1941 – November 11, 2025) was an American actress and producer. A one-time member of Andy Warhol's The Factory, she was a part of 1960s New York avant-garde theater. She appeared in more than 250 film and television productions during a 60-year career. Kirkland was the daughter of Sally Kirkland, fashion editor of Life and Vogue.

Kirkland garnered widespread critical acclaim for her eponymous performance as a former popular actress in the independent comedy-drama Anna (1987), which earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film.

Kirkland was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in the horror film The Haunted (1991). She was also known for her roles in Best of the Best (1989), JFK (1991), and Bruce Almighty (2003).

Early life Kirkland was born in New York City on October 31, 1941, She also worked as a go-go dancer at the Peppermint Lounge in Los Angeles before studying acting at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen. Notably, Robert De Niro dated one of her roommates. Kirkland graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles in 1961.

Career

1962–1986: Initial work Kirkland began acting Off-Broadway in 1963. She joined Andy Warhol's The Factory and appeared nude while tied to a chair for 45 minutes in The 13 Most Beautiful Women., a 1964 drama film. and starred in the underground film Coming Apart (1969).

For the 1970s and most of the 1980s Kirkland had secondary roles in such films as Going Home (1971), The Young Nurses (1973), The Way We Were (1973), The Sting (1973), Big Bad Mama (1974), Crazy Mama (1975), Breakheart Pass (1975), Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story (1976; U.S. made-for-television movie which was also released theatrically overseas), A Star Is Born (1976), and Private Benjamin (1980). She played a leading role in the 1984 horror film Fatal Games. Her television credits include guest-starring roles on Hawaii Five-O (as Betty Rowan, S6, Ep: Murder is a Taxing Affair), Police Story, The Rookies, Three's Company, Kojak, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels, and Falcon Crest.

1987–1999: Critical acclaim and awards success In 1987, Kirkland received widespread critical acclaim for her eponymous performance as a former popular actress in the independent comedy-drama Anna. The Washington Post deemed her performance "superb" and the Los Angeles Times rated her as one of the best actresses of the decade. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. In 1989, she appeared in the sports drama Best of the Best.

In 1990s, Kirkland starred in the action-comedy Bullseye! (1990) opposite Michael Caine, and played supporting roles in Revenge (1990), JFK (1991), Gunmen (1994), Excess Baggage (1997), and EDtv (1999). Kirkland also co-starred in the 1989/1990 genre films including Paint It Black, Cold Feet, High Stakes, and Two Evil Eyes, as well as starred in the 1992 erotic thrillers In the Heat of Passion and Double Threat, which were successful as home video releases. Her career shifted to the small screen during this time, appearing in lead roles in several made-for-television movies, and starring in the syndicated soap opera Valley of the Dolls in 1994. In 1990, she also played Truvy Jones in the television adaptation of Steel Magnolias. For her performance in the television film The Haunted (1991), Kirkland received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film. She was a guest star on Roseanne, Murder, She Wrote, and The Nanny. In 1999, she had recurring roles in Felicity and Days of Our Lives.

2000–2025: Later career In 2000s, she played supporting roles in films including Bruce Almighty (2003), Adam & Steve (2005), and Big Stan (2007). She hosted a weekly program on the syndicated HealthyLife Radio Network. In 2019, she starred in the film Cuck. In 2020, she had a leading role in Hope For The Holidays on Amazon Prime Video with Robert Lasardo, Doug Hutchison, Alex Cubis, and George Stults.

In 2024, Kirkland starred as herself in the independent comedy film, Sallywood, a parody about a longtime fan of the actress who becomes her assistant and helps her in her quest to return to red-carpet glory.

Other work and activism Kirkland was a health activist whose work included advocacy for women harmed by breast implants. She founded the Kirkland Institute for Implant Survival Syndrome in August 1998. She was an ordained minister in the church of Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness.

She was a painter and a noted acting teacher whose students included Sandra Bullock, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Dwight Yoakam, and Roseanne Barr, among others.

Illness and death Kirkland later suffered from dementia. According to a fund raiser for her medical care, she had suffered a fall in October 2025 which resulted in injuries to her ribs and foot. She died in hospice care in Palm Springs, California, the following month, on November 11, 2025, aged 84.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1964 Beautiful Woman 1969 Coming Apart Joann Futz Merry Lee Price for Freedom Francine WayneGnaw (Apartment 212)Claudette 2018 Get Married or Die Margaret Stella Los Angeles Overnight Mrs. Chantilly Sarah Q Helena Wally Got Wasted Marilyn Tuttlebaum 2019 Cuck Mother Paint It Red Adele 2020 Hell Hole Dr. Parker Hope for the Holidays Georgia Invincible Dr. Quade 2021 The Trouble Ms. Greyson The Legend of Resurrection Mary Lois 2022 Bobcat Moretti Helene Moretti 2023 When It Rings Lesley Judd Altered Perceptions Theresa Morgan 80 for Brady Ida 2024 Skeltons in the Closet Madam FuturaAftermathDr. Jane Dunning Sallywood Sally Kirkland

Television Year Title Role Notes 1965 New York Television Theatre Barbara Fiers Episode: "The Drapes Come" 1973 Hawaii Five-O Betty Rowan Episode: "Murder Is a Taxing Affair" 1974 Toma Rita Episode: "The Big Dealers"197478 Kojak Gloria/Shirley 2 episodes 1975 Wilma Floyd TV film Death Scream Mary Bronk Policewoman Haley / Billie 2 episodes Petrocelli Joan Arnold Episode: "Too Many Alibis" 1976 Baretta Rita Episode: "The Left Hand of the Devil" Carol Brenner Episode: "From Out of the Darkness" Griffin and Phoenix Jody TV film Captains and the Kings Aggie Episode: "Chapter VIII" 1977 Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? Della Bianco TV film Three's Company Sally Episode: "Jack Looks for a Job" 1978 Starsky & Hutch Greta Wren / Dora Pruitt Episode: "Photo Finish" Margaret Hollinger Episode: "A Child in Need" Lou Grant Dr. Eilene Peterson Episode: "Slaughter" 1979 Visions Yvette "Ladies in Waiting" Supertrain Katherine Sully "A Very Formal Heist" 19791981 Charlie's Angels Lonnie/Laurie Archer 2 episodes 1980 Willow B: Women in Prison Kate Stewart TV film Vivian Stark 1982 Lou Grant Vicky Doppler Episode: "Law" Insight Ruth Episode: "So Little Time" 1983 Falcon Crest Ella 2 episodes 1989 Trying Times Agripina Gravanescu-Smith Episode: "Death and Taxes" 1990 Heat Wave Mrs. Canfield TV film Steel Magnolias Truvy Jones Largo Desolato Suzana 1991 Janet Smurl 1992 Mary Morris Episode: "Zero Hour" Raven Flori Episode: "Flori and Dori" Double Jeopardy Det. Phyllis Camden TV film 199293 Roseanne Barbara Healy 2 episodes 1993 Sandee Sloop TV film Jack's Place Peg Episode: "Play It Again, Jack" Double Deception Anita Cortez TV film 1994 Valley of the Dolls Helen Lawson Main role 1995 Picture Windows Blossom Episode: "Song of Songs" Murder, She Wrote Evelyn Colby Episode: "The Scent of Murder" 1996 High Tide Matilda Episode: "The Curse of the High Tide" Goode Behavior Molly Episode: "Goode Golly, Miss Molly" The Nanny Tattoo Lady Episode: "Tattoo" 1997 Women: Stories of Passion Annie Episode: "Hotel Magic" Mrs. Garington Episode: "Bridal Suite" Get a Clue Sydelle Pulaski TV film 1998 Brave New World Linda 1999 Days of Our Lives Tracey Simpson Supporting role (22 episodes) Chicken Soup for the Soul Wanda Episode: "Simple Wooden Boxes" Felicity Prof. Annie Sherman Guest role (season 2) 2000 Another Woman's Husband Roxie TV film 2001 Strong Medicine Stella Riggs Episode: "Donors" Resurrection Blvd. Mrs. De La Vega Episode: "El Que Necesita" 2002 Night of the Wolf Rose Handy TV film Another Pretty Face Sylvie Tucker 2005 Wanted Sheila Beckwith Episode: "The Promise of Darkness" 2007 The Simple Life: Goes to Camp Herself 2010 Max TV series Criminal Minds May Walden Episode: "Reflection of Desire" 2011 Paul Cruz: Latin Actor (A Mockuseries) Sally Kirkland 3 episodes 2013 Bennington Gothique Grand Wentworth (voice) TV series 2014 Theatre Fantastique Louisa Mae Episode: "The Happy Home of the Murderous Mahones" All I Want for Christmas Gwen TV film 2015 40's and Failing Flora TV series 2017 Conversations in L.A. Evelyn James Episode: "First Step" Good Samaritans Olivia De Mills Episode: "What Do You Say We Get You a Puppy?"

Awards and nominations Award/association Year Category Nominated work Result Academy Awards 1988 Best Actress Anna California Independent Film Festival 1997 Best Actress Blind Spot DVD Exclusive Awards 2003 Best Supporting Actress Fort Myers Beach Film Festival 2013 Best Actress Posey Golden Globe Awards 1988 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Anna 1992 Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film The Haunted Independent Spirit Awards 1988 Best Female Lead Anna La Femme International Film Festival 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award Long Island International Film Expo 2015 Best Actress Tom in America Los Angeles Film Critics Association 1988 Best Actress Anna Madrid International LGBT Film Festival 2015 Special Mention Tom in America Maverick Movie Awards 2015 Best Actress: Short Online Film & Television Association 1999 Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Serial Days of Our Lives Queens World Film Festival 2016 Best Actress in a Short Tom in America Studio City Film Festival 2013 Best Actress: Short Film Posey Wild Rose Independent Film Festival 2013 Best Actress – Short Film