Sally Kirkland, the Academy Award-nominated actress who once appeared on Days of Our Lives as Tracey Simpson, has died at the age of 84. The acclaimed performer, whose career spanned more than six decades, passed away in Palm Springs, CA, on November 11, after battling dementia and entering hospice care earlier this year.
Key Takeaways
- DAYS alum Sally Kirkland has died at 84 in Palm Springs.
- The Oscar-nominated actress won a Golden Globe for her role in Anna (1987).
- She appeared in films such as The Sting, A Star Is Born, Private Benjamin, and JFK.
- Kirkland’s DAYS role as Tracey Simpson intersected with Sami Brady’s death row storyline.
- Alison Sweeney credited Kirkland’s appearance as a defining moment in her DAYS career.
From Manhattan to Movie Stardom
Born in New York City on October 31, 1941, Kirkland grew up surrounded by creativity. Her mother, also named Sally, worked as a fashion editor at Vogue and Life, and Kirkland herself began modeling before turning to acting. She studied under the legendary Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen at The Actors Studio, debuting off-Broadway in 1963’s Bicycle Ride to Nevada.
Her early work drew the attention of Andy Warhol, who cast her in his underground film 13 Most Beautiful Women (1964). Kirkland became a fixture in Warhol’s artistic circle, where her boldness and charisma earned her a reputation as a fearless performer long before she reached Hollywood fame.
A Golden Globe and an Oscar Nod
By the 1970s, Kirkland had transitioned into mainstream film and television. She shared the screen with Paul Newman and Robert Redford in The Sting (1973), Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born (1976), and Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin (1980). Later roles included JFK (1991) and Bruce Almighty (2003).
Her crowning moment came in 1987 with Anna, the independent drama that earned her both a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Co-starring with Paulina Porizkova and Larry Pine, Kirkland’s performance was hailed as raw and unforgettable, cementing her place among Hollywood’s most respected talents.
Tracey Simpson and the DAYS Connection
In 1998, Kirkland briefly joined Days of Our Lives as Tracey Simpson, the eccentric woman who helped Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney, who shared a great BTS) escape capture after being sentenced to death for Franco Kelly’s murder. The role may have been short, but it became part of one of the most memorable chapters in Sami’s history.
A Lasting Legacy
In later years, Kirkland continued to work in both film and television, appearing in Falcon Crest, Roseanne, and, most recently, 80 for Brady (2023), alongside Jane Fonda and Sally Field.
Kirkland’s eclectic career and unwavering passion for performance left an indelible mark on both Hollywood and the soap world.
Soap Hub sends its deepest condolences to Kirkland’s family, friends, co-stars, and DAYS family at this time.
