Sally Kirkland, the Oscar-nominated actor celebrated for her fearless performances and prolific career on both stage and screen, died Tuesday morning at a hospice in Palm Springs, California, according to her representative, Michael Greene. She was 84.
Born in New York City, Kirkland was named after her mother, a fashion editor for Vogue and LIFE magazines. She began her career as a model before moving into avant-garde theatre and film, with early appearances in works by Andy Warhol and Terrence McNally, and later graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and trained under renowned mentors Philip Burton and Lee Strasberg.
Kirkland appeared in over 250 film and television productions during her 60-year career. Her mainstream breakthrough came in the 1970s with supporting parts in “The Sting” (1973) alongside Paul Newman and Robert Redford and in Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were.” She went on to appear in a wide range of films, including “Private Benjamin,” “Revenge,” “JFK,” “EDtv,” “Bruce Almighty,” and “Heatwave.”
Kirkland’s most acclaimed performance came in 1987’s “Anna,” where she portrayed a fading Czech actress rebuilding her life in New York while mentoring a younger immigrant, played by Paulina Porizkova. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win.
Kirkland’s television credits include roles on “Charlie’s Angels,” “Roseanne,” “Criminal Minds,” “Falcon Crest,” and “Lou Grant.” She was also a series regular on “Valley of the Dolls.” Her final film appearance was in the 2023 comedy “80 for Brady,” alongside Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field.
Outside acting, Kirkland led a deeply spiritual and humanitarian life, and was a member of several New Age groups. Kirkland was an ordained minister in the Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness and a teacher with the Insight Transformational Seminars. A passionate advocate, she volunteered for causes supporting people with AIDS, cancer, and heart disease, and worked with the American Red Cross to help feed the homeless.
Kirkland had recently entered hospice care in November 2025 after a period of significant health challenges, including infections and falls, and had been living with dementia. Friends had recently established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with her medical expenses after she developed complications that required hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Per PEOPLE, Kirkland was married twice — in 1975 to musician Michael Jarrett and in 1985 to jazz producer Mark Hebert. Both marriages lasted less than three years.
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