Hollywood is in mourning following the passing of Sally Kirkland, an Oscar-nominated actress best known for her role in the 1987 film *Anna*. She died on November 11 at the age of 84, her representative Michael Greene confirmed to TMZ.
Kirkland had recently entered hospice care in Palm Springs, California, after battling dementia for the past year, Greene shared with TMZ on November 9, shortly before her passing. A GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover her medical expenses revealed that she had also been treated for bone fractures in her neck, right wrist, and left hip, as well as two separate life-threatening infections.
“Sally has been more than just a friend,” the message on the GoFundMe page read. “She has been a maternal figure, offering encouragement, wisdom, and love when it was needed most. For those who know Sally personally, she has been a limitless source of generosity, kindness, and unwavering spirit.”
The post continued, “While she has meant so much to so many around her, she has never had the luxury of a life partner or children to lean on in difficult times. She has always prioritized being there for others, giving everything she has to her craft, her church, her friends, and her community.”
Reflecting on her career, Kirkland once told the *Malibu Times* in 2006, “At the time, I was sort of a snob about acting. I started when I was 10 and by 17 I was doing Broadway. Andy used to say to me, ‘Just sit in front of the camera and do nothing,’ and I would say, ‘I’m a Strasberg-trained actress, what do you mean do nothing?’”
She made her major acting debut in Andy Warhol’s 1964 film *The 13 Most Beautiful Women*, the first of more than 200 onscreen projects throughout her career. Her other notable credits include *The Sting*, *Bruce Almighty*, *Tom in America*, *JFK*, and, of course, *Anna*, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1988.
“I’m fortunate. I’ve done lots of films and nearly one thousand hours of television,” Kirkland said. “I’ve had a lot of dreams come true.”
Though she never won an Oscar, Kirkland did win a Golden Globe for her performance in *Anna*. Her now-famous acceptance speech jokingly addressed the voters: “This is to the Hollywood Foreign Press. All 88 of you, I want to take each one of you home tonight. You have made my day, my week, my month, my year, my lifetime.”
Sally Kirkland’s talent, generosity, and enduring spirit leave a lasting legacy in Hollywood and beyond. She will be deeply missed.
https://www.eonline.com/news/1424886/sally-kirkland-dead-at-84-after-hospice?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories
