Sally Kirkland, the actress who earned a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the 1987 film “Anna,” died Tuesday at age 84. TMZ confirmed her death after she entered hospice care in Palm Springs.
Her representative, Michael Greene, had previously disclosed that Kirkland was receiving hospice care. A GoFundMe page created to help with her medical expenses was updated Friday with a message stating, “Sally is grateful for your kindness and love. Sally is on hospice now and is resting comfortably. Please hold and send the light for Sally.”
The fundraising campaign was launched in late 2024 to cover substantial medical costs after Kirkland suffered multiple fractures, including broken bones in her neck, and developed two life-threatening infections, according to Parade. An Oct. 2 update noted she had fallen in the shower, injuring her ribs and foot, which required 24-hour care in a specialized facility.
Born in New York City in 1941, Kirkland launched her career off-Broadway after training with renowned acting coach Lee Strasberg, Parade noted. She became a fixture in the city’s avant-garde theater scene and appeared in experimental films directed by Andy Warhol before transitioning to mainstream film and television work.
Her performance in “Anna” earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress and an Oscar nomination in the same category.
Throughout her decades-long career, Kirkland appeared in films including “The Sting,” “Private Benjamin,” “JFK” and “Bruce Almighty.” She maintained a television presence with recurring roles on “Felicity,” “Days of Our Lives” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
“Sally Kirkland leaves behind a legacy of diverse and acclaimed work that reflected her commitment to her craft and versatility as an actor,” said Joey Morona, an entertainment writer for cleveland.com.
This story was written with the assistance of AI.
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