Sally Field, a renowned actress, has attained numerous prestigious awards including Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Awards. She has captivated audiences with her remarkable performances in blockbuster films such as “Forrest Gump,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Lincoln,” and in the TV series “Brothers and Sisters.”
In 1965, Sally Field embarked on her acting career with a leading role in “Gidget,” and since then, she has appeared in numerous television shows, movies, and Broadway productions.
Despite her successful career, Field has also shared her personal struggles with the public, including her experience of sexual abuse by her stepfather, and her struggles with depression, self-doubt, and loneliness, which she candidly discusses in her 2018 memoir “In Pieces.” Now at the age of 76, Field continues to inspire many with her talent and resilience
Sally Field, the American actress, was born on November 6, 1946, in Pasadena, California. Her mother, Margaret Field (née Morlan), was also an actress, while her father, Richard Dryden Field, worked as a salesman. Following her parents’ divorce, Margaret married Jock Mahoney, an actor and stuntman. Sally’s brother, Richard Field, and her half-sister, Princess O’Mahoney.
Sally Field has revealed that she suffered sexual abuse as a child for years by her stepfather and underwent a secret abortion at the age of 17. In an interview with the New York Times prior to the publication of her memoir ‘In Pieces’, Field explained that she remained silent about the abuse because she “didn’t know I had a voice”. She also shared that she eventually confided in her mother about the abuse that she had experienced until the age of 14. Sally, who is currently 71 years old, only spoke out about her traumatic experiences years later when her mother, Margaret Field, was terminally ill with cancer.
In her memoir ‘In Pieces’, Sally Field recounts how her mother responded to her confession of a decades-old secret about her stepfather’s sexual abuse. Despite her own grave prognosis, Sally’s mother offered her unwavering support and promised to be there for her daughter in her pain.
Sally reveals that her stepfather, whom she refers to as Jocko, was not a one-dimensional character. He had the ability to be charming and charismatic, often entrancing Sally’s family as his followers. However, Jocko also had a dark side and would call Sally to his bedroom alone. As Sally recounts in the excerpts from her memoir, published by the Times, “I knew.”
When Sally finally disclosed the abuse to her mother, she explained that it was not a one-time incident, but rather a pattern of offenses that lasted throughout her adolescence until she was 14 years old. Despite the weight of the confession, Sally’s mother remained a source of comfort and support for her daughter
During her teenage years, Sally Field experienced a challenging relationship with her stepfather. Nevertheless, he supported her passion for acting and even suggested that she take on the lead role in “The Flying Nun”.
After landing a role in “The Flying Nun” in 1968, Sally Field tied the knot with her high school sweetheart Steven Craig and subsequently gave birth to their first child, Peter, the following year. Four years later, she welcomed her second son, Elijah. However, the marriage ended in 1975
During the late 1970s, Sally Field started a romantic relationship with fellow actor Burt Reynolds. They went on to co-star in numerous successful comedy films. which she candidly discusses in her memoir
In her retelling, she describes his domineering demeanor and how he managed to persuade Field to skip the Emmy Awards ceremony, despite her win for her role in “Sybil.” Reynolds passed away shortly before the publication of her book. In his own memoir published in 2015, “But Enough About Me,” he referred to their failed relationship as “the greatest remorse of my life.”
In the interim, Field conveyed that she and Reynolds had not communicated for three decades prior to his demise. “I couldn’t bear to be in his presence,” she revealed. “He was toxic for me in every possible way. Although he had convinced himself that I held greater significance in his life than he initially believed, it was purely a desire for something he couldn’t have. I refused to entertain such drama.
Later she got married to Alan Greisman in 1984. Together they had a son named Samuel, but unfortunately, they divorced in 1994.
Currently, Sally Field stores her Oscars and Emmys in a television room, where she spends time playing video games with her grandchildren. Despite having a film titled “Spoiler Alert” set to release next week and “80 for Brady” scheduled for 2023, there are no indications that Field intends to retire anytime soon
Steven Spielberg, a close friend of hers and director of “Lincoln,” remarked, “As an actor, she challenged the entertainment industry to pigeonhole her, but she managed to break through every restrictive barrier to carve out her own path. Her aim wasn’t stardom, which I think she would reject, but rather to secure excellent roles in both cinema and television. With her unwavering good judgement and determined spirit, she has persevered through the constantly evolving landscape of our culture, withstood the test of time, and rightfully earned her unique place in history.”