Stage and Screen Star of ‘Anna,’ Oscar-Nominated Actress, Dies at 84

Sally Kirkland, an actress who worked on stage, film, and television for decades, has died at the age of 84. Her representative, Michael Greene, said she passed away Tuesday morning at a hospice in Palm Springs.

Kirkland’s friends recently started a GoFundMe page to help cover her medical costs. They said she had broken four bones in her neck, her right wrist, and her left hip. While she was recovering, she developed several infections that led to more hospital stays and rehab.

Before she became known as an actress, Kirkland worked as a model. She later built a long and varied career, appearing in many popular movies and TV shows.

She was best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in the 1987 film Anna, where she played a former Czech movie star trying to rebuild her life in America while guiding a younger actress. Her role earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination alongside Cher for Moonstruck, Glenn Close for Fatal Attraction, Holly Hunter for Broadcast News, and Meryl Streep for Ironweed.

Over the years, Kirkland appeared in many other films, including The Sting with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, The Way We Were with Barbra Streisand, Revenge with Kevin Costner, Cold Feet with Keith Carradine and Tom Waits, Ron Howard’s EDtv, and Oliver Stone’s JFK. She also had parts in Heatwave with Cicely Tyson, High Stakes with Kathy Bates, and Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey. Fans might also remember her brief appearance in Mel Brooks’ comedy Blazing Saddles.

Kirkland’s wide-ranging career made her a familiar face in Hollywood for more than half a century. Though she often played supporting roles, her performance in Anna remains one of her most celebrated achievements.

Her death was confirmed by her representative, Michael Greene

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