# Sally Kirkland

Sally Kirkland Jr. (born October 31, 1941) is an American actress and producer. A former member of Andy Warhol's The Factory and an active member in 1960s New York avant-garde theater, she has appeared in more than 250 film and television productions during her 60-year career. Kirkland is the daughter of fashion editor of Life magazine and Vogue, Sally Kirkland.
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.
She also earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for her performance in the horror film The Haunted (1991). She is also known for her roles in Cold Feet (1989), Best of the Best (1989), JFK (1991) and Bruce Almighty (2003).

## Early life

Kirkland was born on October 31, 1941, in New York City. She was named after her mother, Sally Kirkland (born Sarah Phinney), who was a fashion editor at Vogue and LIFE magazines, and was raised in Oklahoma. Her father, Frederic McMichael Kirkland, worked in the scrap metal business. Kirkland started out as a Vogue model and then studied at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen. Kirkland graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1961.

## Career
### 1962–86: Initial work

Kirkland began acting Off-Broadway in 1963. She joined Andy Warhol's The Factory and appeared nude and tied to a chair for 45 minutes in the 1964 drama film The 13 Most Beautiful Women. By 1964, Kirkland was deeply involved in the New York's avant-garde movement and was also an active drug user until an attempted suicide frightened her into cleaning up her life through yoga and painting. Four years later, she returned to film, appearing in the western Blue, and the following year starred in the underground film Coming Apart (1969).
Kirkland spent the 1970s and most of the 1980s playing secondary roles in film include Going Home (1971), The Young Nurses (1973), The Way We Were (1973), The Sting (1973), Big Bad Mama (1974), Crazy Mama (1975), 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, 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 as "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, in addition to a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She next acted in second-grade films include Cold Feet (1989), Paint It Black (1989) and Two Evil Eyes (1990).
In 1990s, Kirkland starred in action comedy Bullseye! (1990) opposite Michael Caine, and played supporting roles in films Revenge (1990), JFK (1991), The Player (1992), Gunmen (1994), Excess Baggage (1997) and EDtv (1999). She starred in the erotic thrillers In the Heat of Passion and Double Threat in 1992, which found success in home video releases. She found better success on television, playing leading roles in a number of 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 guest-starred in Roseanne, Murder, She Wrote and The Nanny. In 1999, she had a recurring roles in Felicity and Days of Our Lives.

### 2000–present: Later career

In 2000s, she played supporting roles in films include Bruce Almighty (2003), Adam & Steve (2005) and Big Stan (2007).
Kirkland hosted a weekly program on the syndicated HealthyLife Radio Network. In 2019, she starred in the film Cuck. In 2020, she starred in the Amazon release film Hope For The Holidays with Robert Lasardo, Doug Hutchison, Alex Cubis and George Stults.

## Other work and activism

Kirkland is also a health activist including advocating for women harmed by breast implants. She founded the Kirkland Institute for Implant Survival Syndrome in August 1998.
Kirkland is an ordained minister in the church of Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness.
She is a gallery-shown painter and a noted acting teacher whose students have included Sandra Bullock, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Dwight Yoakam, and Roseanne Barr, among others.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | Blue | Sara Lambert | |
| 1969 | Coming Apart | Joann | |
| 1969 | Futz | Merry Lee | |
| 1971 | Going Home | Ann Graham | |
| 1973 | The Way We Were | Pony Dunbar | |
| 1973 | Cinderella Liberty | Fleet Chick | |
| 1973 | The Sting | Crystal | |
| 1975 | The Noah | Friday Anne (voice) | |
| 1975 | Bite the Bullet | Honey | |
| 1975 | Crazy Mama | Ella Mae | |
| 1975 | Breakheart Pass | Jane Marie | |
| 1976 | Pipe Dreams | Two Street Betty | |
| 1976 | A Star Is Born | Photographer | |
| 1977 | Flush | Janet | |
| 1979 | Hometown U.S.A. | Gwen | |
| 1980 | Private Benjamin | Helga | |
| 1980 | The Georgia Peaches | Vivian Stark | |
| 1982 | Human Highway | Kathryn | |
| 1984 | Love Letters | Sally | |
| 1984 | Fatal Games | Diane Paine | |
| 1987 | Anna | Anna | |
| 1989 | White Hot | Harriet | |
| 1989 | Paint It Black | Maria Easton | |
| 1989 | Cold Feet | Maureen | |
| 1989 | Best of the Best | Kathryn Wade | |
| 1989 | High Stakes | Bambi / Melanie Rose | |
| 1990 | Two Evil Eyes | Eleonora | Segment: "The Black Cat" |
| 1990 | Revenge | The Rock Star | |
| 1990 | Bullseye! | Willie | |
| 1991 | JFK | Rose Cheramie | |
| 1992 | In the Heat of Passion | Lee Adams | |
| 1992 | The Player | Sally Kirkland | |
| 1992 | Forever | Angelica | |
| 1992 | Hit the Dutchman | Emma Flegenheimer | |
| 1992 | Primary Motive | Helen Poulas | |
| 1992 | Double Threat | Monica Martel | |
| 1992 | Stringer | Joan | |
| 1993 | Paper Hearts | Jenny | |
| 1993 | Eye of the Stranger | Lori | |
| 1994 | Gunmen | Bennett | |
| 1995 | Guns and Lipstick | Danielle Roberts | |
| 1997 | Amnesia | Charlene Hunt | |
| 1997 | Excess Baggage | Louise Doucette | |
| 1998 | Wilbur Falls | Roberta Devereaux | |
| 1998 | Paranoia | Dr. Kurtzwell | |
| 1998 | The Island | Marilyn Monroe | |
| 1999 | EDtv | Jeanette | |
| 1999 | Starry Night | Det. Brook Murphy | |
| 2001 | Thank You, Good Night | Doreen | |
| 2001 | Out of the Black | Elizabeth Malby | |
| 2001 | A Month of Sundays | Katherine St. Croix | |
| 2001 | Wish You Were Dead | Penelope Wilson | |
| 2002 | The Rose Technique | Helen | |
| 2003 | Bruce Almighty | Anita Mann | |
| 2004 | Mango Kiss | Emilia | |
| 2004 | Bloodlines | Joyce | |
| 2005 | Neo Ned | Shelly Nelson | |
| 2005 | Adam & Steve | Mary | |
| 2005 | What's Up, Scarlet? | Ruth Zabrinski | |
| 2005 | Chandler Hall | Sally | |
| 2006 | Off the Black | Marianne Reynolds | |
| 2006 | A-List | Olga | |
| 2006 | Fingerprints | Mary | |
| 2006 | Coffee Date | Mrs. Muller | |
| 2007 | Big Stan | Jury Madam Foreman | |
| 2007 | Resurrection Mary | Lois | |
| 2007 | Blind Spot | Penelope Denmore | Short |
| 2008 | Richard III | Queen Margaret | |
| 2008 | Mollie & Friends | Elizabeth St. James | |
| 2008 | Oak Hill | Elizabeth St. James | |
| 2008 | Bald | Mrs. Elise Stern | |
| 2010 | House Under Siege | Pat Mazur | |
| 2010 | Lights Out | Rose | |
| 2011 | The Last Gamble | Sally | |
| 2011 | The Wayshower | Jeena | |
| 2011 | The Wishmakers | Mary | |
| 2011 | Division III: Football's Finest | Crystal Vice | |
| 2012 | Archaeology of a Woman | Margaret | |
| 2012 | Broken Roads | Mrs. Wallace | |
| 2012 | Posey | Posey | Short |
| 2013 | Awakened | Harriet Bendi | |
| 2013 | The Visitor from Planet Omicron | Jen | |
| 2014 | Ron and Laura Take Back America | Sally | |
| 2014 | The Bride From Vegas | Suzy 'The Salt Shaker' | |
| 2014 | Suburban Gothic | Virginia | |
| 2014 | Tom in America | Betty | Short |
| 2015 | Buddy Hutchins | Bertha | |
| 2016 | The Code of Cain | Elisabeth | |
| 2016 | Courting Des Moines | Maxine Jackson | |
| 2016 | Trash Fire | Florence | |
| 2016 | Buddy Solitaire | Hanna | |
| 2017 | Making a Killing | Dolores | |
| 2017 | The Most Hated Woman in America | Lena Christina | |
| 2017 | Price for Freedom | Francine Wayne | |
| 2017 | Gnaw (Apartment 212) | Claudette | |
| 2018 | Get Married or Die | Margaret | |
| 2018 | The Second Coming of Christ | Stella | |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Overnight | Mrs. Chantilly | |
| 2018 | Sarah Q | Helena | |
| 2018 | Wally Got Wasted | Marilyn Tuttlebaum | |
| 2019 | Cuck | Mother | |
| 2019 | Paint It Red | Adele | |
| 2020 | Hell Hole | Dr. Parker | |
| 2020 | Hope for the Holidays | Georgia | |
| 2020 | Invincible | Dr. Quade | |
| 2021 | The Trouble | Ms. Greyson | |
| 2021 | The Legend of Resurrection Mary | Lois | |
| 2022 | Bobcat Moretti | Helene Moretti | |
| 2023 | When It Rings | Lesley Judd | |
| 2023 | Altered Perceptions | Theresa Morgan | |
| 2023 | 80 for Brady | Ida | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1965 | New York Television Theatre | Barbara Fiers | "The Drapes Come" |
| 1973 | Hawaii Five-O | Betty Rowan | "Murder Is a Taxing Affair" |
| 1974 | Toma | Rita | "The Big Dealers" |
| 1974 | Kojak | Gloria | "Cop in a Cage" |
| 1975 | The Kansas City Massacre | Wilma Floyd | TV film |
| 1975 | Death Scream | Mary | TV film |
| 1975 | Bronk | Policewoman Haley / Billie | "Open Contract", "The Fifth Victim" |
| 1975 | Petrocelli | Joan Arnold | "Too Many Alibis" |
| 1976 | Baretta | Rita | "The Left Hand of the Devil" |
| 1976 | The Rookies | Carol Brenner | "From Out of the Darkness" |
| 1976 | Griffin and Phoenix | Jody | TV film |
| 1976 | Captains and the Kings | Aggie | "Chapter VIII" |
| 1977 | Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? | Della Bianco | TV film |
| 1977 | Three's Company | Sally | "Jack Looks for a Job" |
| 1978 | Kojak | Shirley | "May the Horse Be with You" |
| 1978 | Starsky & Hutch | Greta Wren / Dora Pruitt | "Photo Finish" |
| 1978 | The Incredible Hulk | Margaret Hollinger | "A Child in Need" |
| 1978 | Lou Grant | Dr. Eilene Peterson | "Slaughter" |
| 1979 | Visions | Yvette | "Ladies in Waiting" |
| 1979 | Supertrain | Katherine Sully | "A Very Formal Heist" |
| 1979 | Charlie's Angels | Lonnie | "Caged Angel" |
| 1980 | Willow B: Women in Prison | Kate Stewart | TV film |
| 1980 | The Georgia Peaches | Vivian Stark | TV film |
| 1981 | Charlie's Angels | Laurie Archer | "Taxi Angels" |
| 1982 | Lou Grant | Vicky Doppler | "Law" |
| 1982 | Insight | Ruth | "So Little Time" |
| 1983 | Falcon Crest | Ella | "Solitary Confinements", "The Betrayal" |
| 1989 | Trying Times | Agripina Gravanescu-Smith | "Death and Taxes" |
| 1990 | Heat Wave | Mrs. Canfield | TV film |
| 1990 | Steel Magnolias | Truvy Jones | TV film |
| 1990 | Largo Desolato | Suzana | TV film |
| 1991 | The Haunted | Janet Smurl | TV film |
| 1992 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Mary Morris | "Zero Hour" |
| 1992 | Raven | Flori | "Flori and Dori" |
| 1992 | Double Jeopardy | Det. Phyllis Camden | TV film |
| 1992–93 | Roseanne | Barbara Healy | "It's No Place Like Home for the Holidays", "It's a Boy" |
| 1993 | The Woman Who Loved Elvis | Sandee Sloop | TV film |
| 1993 | Jack's Place | Peg | "Play It Again, Jack" |
| 1993 | Double Deception | Anita Cortez | TV film |
| 1994 | Valley of the Dolls | Helen Lawson | Main role |
| 1995 | Picture Windows | Blossom | "Song of Songs" |
| 1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Evelyn Colby | "The Scent of Murder" |
| 1996 | High Tide | Matilda | "The Curse of the High Tide" |
| 1996 | Goode Behavior | Molly | "Goode Golly, Miss Molly" |
| 1997 | Women: Stories of Passion | Annie | "Hotel Magic" |
| 1997 | The Hunger | Mrs. Garington | "Bridal Suite" |
| 1997 | Get a Clue | Sydelle Pulaski | TV film |
| 1998 | Brave New World | Linda | TV film |
| 1999 | Days of Our Lives | Tracey Simpson | Supporting role (22 episodes) |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Wanda | "Simple Wooden Boxes" |
| 1999 | Felicity | Prof. Annie Sherman | Guest role (season 2) |
| 2000 | Another Woman's Husband | Roxie | TV film |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine | Stella Riggs | "Donors" |
| 2001 | Resurrection Blvd. | Mrs. De La Vega | "El Que Necesita" |
| 2002 | Night of the Wolf | Rose Handy | TV film |
| 2002 | Another Pretty Face | Sylvie Tucker | TV film |
| 2005 | Wanted | Sheila Beckwith | "The Promise of Darkness" |
| 2007 | The Simple Life: Goes to Camp | Herself |
| 2010 | The Agency | Max | TV series |
| 2010 | Criminal Minds | May Walden | "Reflection of Desire" |
| 2011 | Paul Cruz: Latin Actor (A Mockuseries) | Sally Kirkland | "Arrested No Development", "The Brother's Grim", "The Stereotype" |
| 2013 | Bennington Gothique | Grand Wentworth (voice) | TV series |
| 2014 | Theatre Fantastique | Louisa Mae | "The Happy Home of the Murderous Mahones" |
| 2014 | All I Want for Christmas | Gwen | TV film |
| 2015 | 40's and Failing | Flora | TV series |
| 2017 | Conversations in L.A. | Evelyn James | "First Step" |
| 2017 | Good Samaritans | Olivia De Mills | "What Do You Say We Get You a Puppy?" |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1987 | 13th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress (tied with Holly Hunter for Broadcast News) | Anna | Won |
| 1988 | 60th Academy Awards | Best Actress | Anna | Nominated |
| 1988 | 45th Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Anna | Won |
| 1988 | 3rd Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Lead | Anna | Won |
| 1992 | 49th Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film | The Haunted | Nominated |
| 1997 | California Independent Film Festival | Best Actress | Blind Spot | Won |
| 1999 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Supporting Actress in a Daytime Serial | Days of Our Lives | Won |
| 2003 | DVD Exclusive Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Wish You Were Dead | Nominated |
| 2005 | La Femme International Film Festival | Lifetime Achievement Award | | Won |
| 2013 | Fort Myers Beach Film Festival | Best Actress | Posey | Won |
| 2013 | Studio City Film Festival | Best Actress: Short Film | Posey | Won |
| 2013 | Wild Rose Independent Film Festival | Best Actress – Short Film | Posey | Won |
| 2015 | Madrid International LGBT Film Festival | Special Mention (shared with Burt Young) | Tom in America | Won |
| 2015 | Long Island International Film Expo | Best Actress | Tom in America | Won |
| 2015 | Maverick Movie Awards | Best Actress: Short | Tom in America | Nominated |
| 2016 | Queens World Film Festival | Best Actress in a Short | Tom in America | Nominated |