Arts and Entertainment

Oscar-nominated actor Sally Kirkland, celebrated for her powerful performance ⁣in “Anna“​ and a career spanning stage and screen, has died. She​ was 83. Kirkland passed away February 16, 2024, in Santa Barbara, California, according to news reports.

Kirkland’s​ death marks​ the loss of a fiercely independent and often unconventional performer who consistently challenged boundaries throughout her decades-long career. While achieving⁢ mainstream recognition ​later⁤ in life with her 1987 Academy Award nomination for ⁣”Anna,” Kirkland built a foundation in theater and embraced roles that prioritized artistic expression over conventional stardom. Her⁣ willingness ‌to take risks, ⁢both professionally and ‍personally, made ​her a unique⁢ figure in Hollywood.

Kirkland began ‌her ⁣career on the stage, immersing herself in the works‍ of William Shakespeare. ⁢Some of‍ her ‌early roles included the lovesick Helena in ​”A Midsummer ⁣Night’s Dream” for New York‌ Shakespeare ⁢Festival producer Joseph Papp and Miranda⁣ in an off-Broadway production of “The⁢ Tempest.” “I don’t think any actor‍ can really call ‌him or herself ⁣an actor unless he or she puts​ in ​time with ‌shakespeare,” ⁢she told ​the Los Angeles times ‍in 1991.‍ “It shows ​up, ‍it always shows‌ up in the‍ work, at ​some‌ point, whether it’s ⁤just not being able to ‍have breath ‍control, or not⁤ being able‌ to‌ appreciate language as poetry and music, or not‍ having​ the power ⁢that Shakespeare automatically instills you⁤ with when you take on one of his characters.”

Beyond⁢ Shakespeare, Kirkland’s filmography was diverse, though​ frequently enough marked⁢ by ‌provocative choices. She reached a career nadir while riding nude ‌on a pig in ⁢the 1969 film “Futz,” which a guardian reviewer ‌dubbed the worst ⁤film he had ⁣ever seen. “It‍ was⁢ about a man who fell in love⁣ with a pig, ⁤and even by the dismal standards of the era, it was dismal,” he wrote. Kirkland⁢ was also known for‍ disrobing for numerous roles and ‍social causes,⁢ leading Time magazine to dub her “the latter-day Isadora Duncan of‌ nudothespianism.”

Despite the controversies, Kirkland remained dedicated to ⁢humanitarian work.She⁤ volunteered ⁣for people with AIDS, cancer and heart disease, fed ‌homeless people via ⁣the American Red Cross, participated in telethons for‌ hospices and was ⁣an advocate for​ prisoners, especially young people.

Kirkland’s ⁣Oscar nomination for “Anna” -​ in which she ‍played‍ a recently released convict struggling to rebuild her life – brought her widespread acclaim and solidified her status ‍as a​ compelling dramatic actress. While she ⁢didn’t win⁤ the award, the recognition ⁢opened doors to further roles. Details regarding memorial services have‍ not​ yet been announced.