Sally Field, an Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning actress, has captivated audiences for decades with her unforgettable roles in films and TV shows like Forrest Gump, Brothers and Sisters, Lincoln, and Steel Magnolias. At 76, Field reflects not only on her storied career but also on the personal challenges that have shaped her life. Her 2018 memoir, In Pieces, offered an unflinching look at her experiences, including sexual abuse by her stepfather and struggles with depression, self-doubt, and loneliness.
The Early Years
Born on November 6, 1946, in Pasadena, California, Sally Field grew up in a family touched by show business. Her mother, Margaret Field, was an actress, while her father, Richard Dryden Field, worked as a salesman. After her parents divorced, her mother married actor and stuntman Jock Mahoney. Sally, her brother Richard, and their half-sister, Princess O’Mahoney, lived in a complex household dynamic.
Field’s career began in 1965 with the titular role in the sitcom Gidget. Though the series was canceled after one season, it marked the start of a long and prolific career. She gained greater visibility starring in The Flying Nun, which ran for three seasons. Field later admitted she struggled during this time, battling depression while navigating a role she disliked. “I just had to put my head down and go to work and do the very best job I could,” she recalled.
Field’s big-screen debut came in 1967 with The Way West. A decade later, her role in Smokey and the Bandit alongside Burt Reynolds catapulted her to stardom. The 1979 drama Norma Rae earned her first Academy Award, followed by a second Oscar for Places in the Heart in 1984. Field’s portrayal of the loving yet strong-willed mother in 1994’s Forrest Gump, a film that won six Oscars, remains one of her most iconic performances.
A Complicated Personal Life
Sally Field’s personal life has been as complex as her career. She married Steven Craig in 1968, and the couple had two sons, Peter and Eli, before divorcing in 1975. Her second marriage to Alan Greisman in 1984 produced a son, Samuel, but ended in 1994.
Field’s romantic relationship with Burt Reynolds, which lasted from 1976 to 1980, was tumultuous. In her memoir, she described Reynolds as controlling and manipulative, revealing how he convinced her to skip the Emmy ceremony where she won for Sybil. The two hadn’t spoken for 30 years before Reynolds’ death in 2018.
In In Pieces, Field also opened up about the abuse she endured from her stepfather, Jock Mahoney, during her teenage years. Her mother, she later discovered, had known about the abuse but chose to believe Mahoney’s false claims that it happened only once while he was drunk. Writing the memoir, Field explained, was her way of understanding her mother and ultimately finding forgiveness. “It was the only way I was going to find the pieces of my mother that I couldn’t put together,” she shared.
A Lasting Legacy
Today, Sally Field treasures time spent with her grandchildren, often playing video games with them in the same room where she keeps her Oscars and Emmys. Despite her illustrious career, Field shows no signs of slowing down. Her recent film Spoiler Alert and her role in the 2023 release 80 for Brady are testaments to her enduring passion for storytelling.
Director Steven Spielberg, who worked with Field on Lincoln, praised her legacy: “As an actor, she dared this town to typecast her, and then simply broke through every dogmatic barrier to find her own way — not to stardom… but to great roles in great films and television. Through her consistently good taste and feisty persistence, she has survived our ever-changing culture, stood the test of time, and earned this singular place in history.”
Sally Field’s journey is a testament to resilience, talent, and the power of authenticity, leaving an indelible mark on both Hollywood and the hearts of her audience.
A MAN QUICKLY REGRETS THE NIGHT HE SPENT WITH A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
Have you ever been in a situation where you weren’t happy with a purchase and wanted a refund or some form of satisfaction? Well, a young man experienced just that, and it’s humorously recounted in a story. When he agreed to spend the night with a woman for $500, he found himself dissatisfied and decided to take action.
Life doesn’t always go as planned, and sometimes, our attempts to rectify a situation can lead to unexpected surprises. This man in the story learned this lesson when he received a response to his letter.
Ayoung man met a beautiful girl and agreed to spend the night with her for $500.
So they did. Before he left, he told her that he did not have any cash with him, but that he would have his secretary write a check and mail it to her, calling the payment
“RENT FOR APARTMENT.”
On the way to his office, he regretted it and decided it wasn’t worth the price. So, he had his secretary send a check for $250 and enclosed the following note:
“Dear Madam,
Enclosed, find a check in the amount of $250 for rent of your apartment. I am not sending the amount agreed upon because when I rented the apartment I was under the impression that:
It had never been occupied
That there was plenty of heat
That it was small enough to make me cozy and feel at home.
Last night, however, I found it had been previously occupied, that there was no heat, and it was entirely too large.”
Upon receipt of the note, the girl immediately returned the check for $250 with the following note:
Dear Sir, first of all, I cannot understand how you expect a beautiful apartment to remain unoccupied indefinitely.
As for the heat, there is heat if you know how to turn it on.
Regarding the space, the apartment is, indeed, of regular size, but if you don’t have enough furniture to fill it, please don’t blame the landlady!
Please be so kind as to send a check for the full amount of $500, or I’ll be forced to contact your current landlady.
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