Former Santa Barbara Star Shirley Anne Field Dies

Shirley Anne Field, who portrayed the original Pamela Capwell Conrad on the now-defunct NBC soap opera Santa Barbara, has died. She was 87.

Shirley Anne Field Remembered

The British actress, who starred in the films Alfie opposite Michael Caine and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning with Albert Finney, segued into daytime when she was cast as Mason’s (Lane Davies) mother and CC’s (Jed Allan) ex wife in October 1987. However, she chose to exit the show after a few short months. Field was immediately replaced by daytime vet Marj Dusay.

“It is with great sadness that we are sharing the news that Shirley Anne Field passed away peacefully on Sunday… surrounded by her family and friends,” Shield’s family announced. “Shirley Anne will be greatly missed and remembered for her unbreakable spirit and her amazing legacy spanning more than five decades on stage and screen.”

Born in Forest Gate, Essex, on June 27, 1936, Field began her career as a model in the 1950s, appearing in pin-up magazines like Reveille and Tidbits. She was ultimately spotted by Bill Watts, who ran a theatrical agency and began submitting her for small, and usually uncredited film roles. Field’s first movie role was as an extra in 1955’s Simon and Laura.

Having moved into acting, Field began performing in stage, film, and television productions. She was featured in the 1956 comedic film, Loser Takes, All, and the musical, It’s A Wonderful World. However, her breakout role came in 1960, when director-producer Tony Richardson chose her to play model Tina Lapford in The Entertainer, opposite Sir Laurence Olivier.

Field went on to star in numerous films, television series, and stage productions over the decades. Her TV credits include guest spots on The Bill, Doctors, Murder She Wrote, Last of the Summer Wine, and Upstairs, Downstairs. She also appeared in the hit film The War Lover with Steve McQueen and Robert Wagner in 1962 and the 1985 romantic comedy, My Beautiful Laundrette, with Daniel Day-Lewis.

Soap Hub’s thoughts are with Field’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.