Actress Sally Kirkland has died at age 84 after entering hospice care following a dementia diagnosis and multiple injuries.
Kirkland’s rep Michael Greene told TMZ on Tuesday, November 11, that she died earlier that morning, days after it was reported that she entered hospice. A GoFundMe was previously set up for Kirkland following “two separate life-threatening infections” after she fractured multiple bones earlier this year.
“Sally has been more than just a friend,” read a message posted on the page. “She has been a maternal figure, offering encouragement, wisdom and love when it was needed most. For those who know Sally personally, she has been a limitless source of generosity, kindness and unwavering spirit.”
The post reflected on Kirkland’s hardships over the years.
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“And while she has meant so much to so many around her, she has never had the luxury of a life partner or children to lean on in difficult times,” the statement continued. “She has always prioritized being there for others, given everything she has to her craft, her church, her friends and her community.”
The fundraising site noted that Kirkland recently suffered several injuries.
“This past year Sally fractured her four bones in her neck, right wrist and her left hip,” read the post. “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.”
The Golden Globe winner’s publicist Dominic Friesen previously released a statement about her declining health.
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“[She has been] receiving medical care at a private facility where family and friends joined her on Halloween for a birthday celebration,” Friesen told the Daily Mail last month.
Kirkland studied at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg before she worked as a model, which included posing for Andy Warhol in the 1960s. She subsequently transitioned to acting with roles in The 13 Most Beautiful Women, The Sting, Bruce Almighty, Tom in America, JFK and the Anna, the last of which earned her an Oscar nomination for the leading role in 1988.
“At the time I was sort of a snob about acting. I started when I was 10 and by 17 I was doing Broadway,” Kirkland reflected during an interview with the Malibu Times in 2006. “Andy used to say to me, ‘Just sit in front of the camera and do nothing,’ and I would say, ‘I’m a Strasberg-trained actress, what do you mean do nothing?’”
Kirkland took pride in her work, adding, “I’m fortunate. I’ve done lots of films and nearly one thousand hours of television. I’ve had a lot of dreams come true.”
