Golden Globe Winner Sally Kirkland Faces Devastating Health Update

Academy Award-nominated actress Sally Kirkland is now in hospice care following a devastating year marked by multiple severe injuries, infections, and a dementia diagnosis. The 84-year-old Hollywood legend, whose career has spanned over six decades, is currently resting at a Palm Springs hospital hospice, surrounded by close friends and loved ones. According to her representative, Michael Greene, Kirkland’s condition has worsened over the past several months after she suffered a fractured neck, wrist, and hip, followed by two life-threatening infections. Kirkland, who has spent more than 60 years in the spotlight, is best remembered for her Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning role in 1987’s "Anna," as well as appearances in classics like "The Sting" and "The Way We Were."

Greene told Daily Mail that he is traveling from New York’s JFK Airport to be by her side, saying, “She will not go until I’m holding her hand.” Kirkland’s dear friend and former student, Cody Galloway, is currently with her at the facility.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist with Kirkland’s growing medical expenses, revealing the full extent of her recent health battles. “This past year Sally fractured four bones in her neck, right wrist, and her left hip,” the page explains. “While recovering, she developed two separate life-threatening infections.”

The campaign adds that these devastating injuries and complications required extensive hospitalizations and rehabilitation beyond the 100 days covered by her insurance plan. The fundraiser is now seeking donations to help with continued medical care, hospice support, and living expenses as the beloved star nears the end of her journey.

According to the campaign, Kirkland is now “resting comfortably” at the hospice.

Known for her fearless artistry and charisma, Sally Kirkland’s career has spanned more than six decades across film, television, and theater. She rose to fame in the 1970s with memorable performances in "The Sting" (1973) and "The Way We Were" (1973), later solidifying her place in Hollywood history with her acclaimed role in "Anna" (1987), which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award.

Even in her later years, Sally Kirkland continued to bring her signature warmth, wit, and artistry to the screen. In one of her final interviews last year, the "Anna" actress opened up to Deadline about her independent film "Sallywood," a heartfelt story inspired by her real-life friendship with filmmaker Xaque Gruber.

“The minute I read it, I was in love with the script and his memories and couldn’t wait to do it,” Kirkland shared. “There was a whole long audition process to find Tyler to play Zack. We had many, many young men come in, and then the last one who came in was this funny little guy named Tyler Steelman, and he just blew us all away. That was so exciting, to find him.”

Kirkland went on to reflect on the deep bond that inspired the project. “[Xaque and I had had] like a 12-year relationship, me being Sally Kirkland and him being my assistant," she added. "And when he wrote this, I was just really amazed that he turned it into gold.”

When asked by Deadline to look back on the moments that defined her six-decade career, Sally Kirkland’s response perfectly captured the charm and candor that made her one of Hollywood’s most fascinating personalities.

“Well, going way back to the beginning, it was really great being with Andy Warhol in 1964 and being one of The 13 Most Beautiful Women for him,” Kirkland recalled. “I asked him to do publicity for 'Anna.' We didn’t really have any budget for publicity, and Andy had a television show called [Andy Warhol’s 'Fifteen Minutes'], and he let me and Paulina Porizkova come on the show and interview each other. So that was fun and exciting…”

The actress also reflected on the wisdom and encouragement she received from one of Hollywood’s legendary producers.

“David O. Selznick had been my mentor since I was 18, and he was giving me advice. He was telling me from when I started, when I was a kid, ‘You’re not going to make it as an ingénue because you’re too tall and men don’t like tall women, so you’re going to have to wait until you’re middle-aged and then they’re going to let you be a star.’ Sure enough, I was 44 years old when I did 'Anna.'”

That patience and her willingness to persevere through an industry that often overlooked women of her stature and spirit ultimately paid off, earning Kirkland her long-overdue recognition and solidifying her as one of Hollywood’s most respected and resilient talents.