Golden Globe–winning actress Sally Kirkland has died at the age of 84, just one day after it was revealed she had entered hospice care. Her representative, Michael Greene, confirmed that she passed away early Tuesday morning and said she will be “deeply missed.” Kirkland had been admitted to a hospital in Palm Springs over the weekend. According to Greene, she had been battling dementia for the past year.
A GoFundMe page also revealed that she recently suffered rib and foot injuries following a fall in the shower. Born in New York City, Kirkland was the daughter of Vogue fashion editor Sally Kirkland Sr. and metals dealer Fredric M. Kirkland. She studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and was named one of Andy Warhol’s “13 Most Beautiful Women” in 1964.
She later made history as the first actress to appear fully nude on stage in the 1968 off-Broadway production Sweet Eros. Kirkland earned widespread acclaim for her starring role in the 1987 independent film Anna.
The performance won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and an Independent Spirit Award, along with an Academy Award nomination. The Los Angeles Times later ranked her performance among the best of the 1980s.
