Sally Kirkland Dead: Golden-Globe-Winning ‘Anna’ Actress Was 84
What To Know
- Golden Globe-winning actress Sally Kirkland, best known for her role in Anna (1987), has died at age 84.
- Kirkland’s career spanned decades, with notable roles in films such as The Sting, JFK, Bruce Almighty, and many appearances on TV shows.
- Fans paid tribute to Kirkland on social media.
Sally Kirkland — the actress known for her Golden-Globe-winning performance in Anna (1987) — is dead at 84.
On Tuesday, November 11, Kirkland’s rep, Michael Greene, confirmed that the actress died at 1:50 a.m. PST, per TMZ. He added that she “will be deeply missed.”
On Sunday, November 9, TMZ reported that Kirkland was in hospice care in Palm Springs, California, amid her dementia battle. A “dear friend” and former student, Cody Galloway, was by her side, Greene told the outlet.
A GoFundMe campaign for the actress explained that Kirkland suffered from serious health issues. “This past year Sally fractured her four bones in her neck, right wrist, and her left hip,” the description explained. “While recovering she developed two separate life-threatening infections. The combination of these injuries and infections have required extensive hospitalizations and rehab beyond the 100 days insurance will cover.”
Vestron Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
On November 7, a GoFundMe update announced, “Thank you for all your love and support. 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.”
Aside from Anna — for which she was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe — Kirkland was known for films like Cold Feet and Best of the Best (both 1989), The Sting (1973), JFK (1991), Bruce Almighty (2003), Tom in America (2014), and 80 for Brady (2023), among many others. She also appeared in TV shows such as Charlie’s Angels, Hawaii Five-O, Three’s Company, Roseanne, Murder, She Wrote, The Nanny, Felicity, and Days of Our Lives.
In the wake of Kirkland’s death, fans honored her with tributes on social media. One X user shared, “Devastated to hear of Sally Kirkland‘s passing. She was an indelible character actor and red carpet icon who was never anything short of memorable. Her awards season campaign for Anna, a powerhouse performance all should see, will always be the greatest. ❤️.”
Another fan shared via X, “RIP Sally Kirkland, thank you for your contribution to one of the most iconic moments in Oscar history,” alongside a clip of the actress rolling her eyes as Cher was announced the winner.
rip sally kirkland, thank you for your contribution to one of the most iconic moments in oscar history pic.twitter.com/LnTywUQLeQ
— 𝗲𝘃𝗮✨ (@kellmanstreep) November 11, 2025
Meanwhile, someone else wrote on X, “RIP to Sally Kirkland, a true Oscar legend!”
A film about Kirkland’s life, Sallywood, is streaming on Amazon Prime.