Sally Kirkland, the vibrant and talented blonde actress renowned for her Oscar-nominated performance in the independent film “Anna” (1987), has sadly passed away at the age of 84. Her representative, Michael Greene, confirmed to Variety that Kirkland died early Tuesday morning in Palm Springs, California. Just last week, she had been placed on hospice care after sustaining serious injuries from a fall in her shower in October, which affected her ribs and foot. According to her GoFundMe page, she was also battling a bone infection that had spread to her bloodstream and had been diagnosed with dementia.
Beyond her celebrated work in film, Sally Kirkland also made a significant impact on television, featuring in recurring roles on popular series like “Felicity”, “Roseanne”, “Valley of the Dolls”, and “Days of Our Lives”. Kirkland's groundbreaking grassroots campaign caught the attention of Oscar-watchers when she earned a Best Actress nomination for her role in the modest independent comedy “Anna”. In this film, she brilliantly portrayed a Czech actress who mentors a younger actress, played by Paulina Porizkova. Her outstanding performance not only garnered her an Oscar nomination but also won her a Golden Globe and the L.A. Film Critics award for Best Actress.
Long before Andrea Riseborough’s recent success with “To Leslie”, Kirkland was a pioneer in advocating for herself in Hollywood. She did so at a time when social media did not exist, relying instead on writing heartfelt letters to the members of the L.A. Film Critics and leveraging her connection with Andy Warhol, who hosted a talk show at the time. A memorable encounter with film critic Rex Reed at the Cannes Film Festival led to a glowing endorsement: “Sally Kirkland devours ‘Anna’ like a raw steak and emerges a major star.”
In a 2012 interview with the Huffington Post, she reminisced about her experience at the Oscars. “At the Oscars, there were all these movie stars emerging from their limos, and then there was me. I felt like Cinderella,” she recalled. Kirkland expressed her gratitude for being nominated alongside her idols, including Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, and Cher, with whom she roller-skated in the ’70s. She passionately stated, “If you’re in independent films, and worked hard for years, and you don’t happen to be part of the mega-billion dollar system, it takes all the humanity out of Hollywood not to appreciate that.”
Born in New York City, Sally Kirkland honed her craft under the guidance of the legendary Lee Strasberg. She began her career in off-Broadway productions and avant-garde theater, leading her to join Andy Warhol’s Factory. Her film debut came in Warhol’s “The 13 Most Beautiful Women” in 1964. Kirkland went on to star in various films including the Western “Blue” and “Coming Apart”. During the 1970s, she made guest appearances on television shows like “Kojak”, “Baretta”, and “Three’s Company”, along with notable roles in major films such as “The Way We Were”, “Cinderella Liberty”, “The Sting”, and “A Star Is Born”.
Her first lead role came in the 1984 horror film “Fatal Games”. Following her success in “Anna”, Kirkland continued to contribute to cinema with roles in dozens of films, including “JFK”, “Bruce Almighty”, and “Hope for the Holidays”. In 2024, she was set to star as herself in “Sallywood”, an indie film centered around a writer who becomes her personal assistant. The film, directed by Xaque Gruber, was inspired by Gruber's own life experiences and included insights from Kirkland’s extensive career.
Sally Kirkland leaves behind a legacy of passion, resilience, and a profound influence in both film and television. She is survived by her godson, Coty Galloway (Bailey), close friends including Paige Dylan, Mel England, Leigh Taylor Young, Xaque Gruber, and Maggie Wagner, as well as her manager, Valerie McCaffery, agent Michael Greene, and her cousins Brookie, Katherine, and Tina Kirkland. Her contributions to Hollywood and independent cinema will be remembered and cherished by fans and peers alike.
