Sally Kirkland, Oscar-Nominated Actress Known for ‘Anna,’ ‘The Sting,’ Dies at 84

Sally Kirkland, an acclaimed actress known for her Oscar-nominated role in the 1987 film “Anna,” has died at the age of 84.

Kirkland died early Tuesday morning in Palm Springs, California, just days after entering a hospice facility, her representative, Michael Greene, told TMZ.

SAG-AFTRA, an entertainment and media labor union that represented Kirkland since 1961, also confirmed her death online, calling the actress “a true mentor and champion for actors.”

“SAG-AFTRA honors Sally Kirkland, a fearless performer whose artistry and advocacy spanned more than six decades,” the union wrote on X, adding that “her generosity and spirit will continue to inspire.”

Greene said Kirkland had been battling dementia over the past year. She had also been recovering from several bone fractures and two life-threatening infections, according to a November 2024 GoFundMe page that was set up to cover her health-related expenses.

The fundraiser noted that the actress had been struggling with mounting medical bills after SAG-AFTRA canceled supplemental insurance for members over the age of 65 in 2021.

“The combination of these injuries and infections have required extensive hospitalizations and rehab beyond the 100 days insurance will cover,” the GoFundMe page reads. “As the days pass, lack of proper care greatly diminishes Sally’s chance of a full recovery. However, with the right medical support, we know she has a strong chance of overcoming this setback and returning to the work she loves.”

As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser had raised nearly $61,000 of her $65,000 goal. The actress previously expressed gratitude to those who had donated, sharing in a Nov. 20, 2024, voice message that she was “touched beyond words.”

“I’m blown away by how quickly you have responded financially to my needs,” she said. “I love you, and I’m so, so, so grateful. Just overwhelmed with gratitude.”

Screen and Stage Luminary

Kirkland was born on Oct. 31, 1941, in New York City. Her mother, a fashion editor at Vogue and Life magazine, encouraged her to get into modeling at a very young age.

After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she made her off-Broadway debut in Robert Thom’s 1963 production of “Bicycle Ride to Nevada.” She went on to land her first on-screen role, appearing in Andy Warhol’s 1964 film “The 13 Most Beautiful Women.”

With more than 250 acting credits to her name, Kirkland is best known for starring alongside Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and Robert Earl Jones in the 1973 caper “The Sting” and for portraying the titular role of a waning Czech actress in the 1987 indie film “Anna.”

Her performance in the latter earned her a Golden Globe in 1988 as well as an Oscar nomination for best actress.

Some of her other movie credits include “The Way We Were” (1973), “Fatal Games” (1983), “JFK” (1991), “Excess Baggage” (1997), “Bruce Almighty“ (2003), and “The Walk” (2022).

Many of Kirkland’s peers took to social media to share tributes to the screen and stage star in the wake of her death.

Actress Jennifer Tilly—who worked with Kirkland on her final project, the 2024 film “Sallywood”—said the actress was “funny, feisty, vulnerable, and self-deprecating.”

“She never wanted anyone to say she was gone. ‘Don’t say Sally died, say Sally passed on into the spirits,’” Tilly wrote on X. “Safe passage, beautiful lady.”

Actor and comedian John Fugelsang called Kirkland “a beloved friend and confidant.”

“God bless the beautiful and brilliant Miss Sally Kirkland,” he wrote on X. “Oh the stories she had. Thank you, Sally, for making life and art more beautiful.”