Sally Kellerman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sally Kellerman
Kellerman in a publicity photo for The Third Day (1965)
Born	Sally Clare Kellerman (1937-06-02)June 2, 1937 Long Beach, California, U.S.
Died	February 24, 2022(2022-02-24) (aged 84) Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Actors Studio Los Angeles City College
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1957–2017
Spouse(s)	Rick Edelstein ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1972)​ Jonathan D. Krane ​ ​ (m. 1980; died 2016)​
Children	3

Sally Clare Kellerman (June 2, 1937 – February 24, 2022) was an American actress and singer. Her acting career lasted for 60 years. She was best known for her role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the film M*A*S*H (1970). This role earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

After M*A*S*H, she worked with director Robert Altman on several films. These included Brewster McCloud (1970), Welcome to L.A. (1976), The Player (1992), and Prêt-à-Porter (1994). Kellerman also appeared in other popular films like Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972) and Back to School (1986). She was in many TV series, such as The Twilight Zone (1963), The Outer Limits (1963 & 1965), and Star Trek (1966). She also voiced Miss Finch in Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985), which was one of her most important voice roles.

At 18, Kellerman signed a music contract, but her first album, Roll with the Feelin', was released in 1972. Her second album, Sally, came out in 2009. She also sang songs for movie soundtracks. Kellerman did voiceover work for commercials and animated shows like The Mouse and His Child (1977) and Dinosaurs (1992). In 2013, she wrote a book about her life called Read My Lips: Stories of a Hollywood Life.

Early Life and Education

Sally Kellerman was born in Long Beach, California, on June 2, 1937. Her mother, Edith Baine, was a piano teacher. Her father, John Helm "Jack" Kellerman, worked for Shell Oil. She had an older sister, Diana.

When Sally was in fifth grade, her family moved to Granada Hills. It was a quiet area with orange and eucalyptus trees. Later, during high school, they moved to Park La Brea, Los Angeles, where she went to Hollywood High School. She was quite shy and didn't make many friends. She got poor grades, except in choir and physical education. She did appear in a school play called Meet Me in St. Louis.

A high school friend helped Kellerman send a music demo to Verve Records. She signed a contract but decided not to pursue a music career at that time.

Kellerman attended Los Angeles City College. She also took acting classes with Jeff Corey. Within a year, she was in a play called Look Back in Anger. Her classmates included future stars like Jack Nicholson and Robert Blake. In the late 1950s, she joined the Actors Studio West. She made her first movie appearance in Reform School Girl (1957). To pay for her classes, she worked as a waitress.

Acting Career Highlights

The 1960s

Kellerman started her career with many appearances on TV shows. She was in the western Cheyenne and the sitcom Bachelor Father. She also performed on stage in plays like An Enemy of the People.

Kellerman and William Shatner in the Star Trek episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (1966)

She appeared in two episodes of The Outer Limits. In 1963, she was in "The Human Factor". In 1965, she played Judith Bellero in "The Bellero Shield". She also had a role in the film The Third Day (1965). She appeared with David Niven in his TV series The Rogues and in an Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode.

A year later, in 1966, she played Dr. Elizabeth Dehner in "Where No Man Has Gone Before". This was the second pilot episode for Star Trek. She also appeared on Broadway in the musical Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Towards the end of the 1960s, Kellerman guest-starred in The Invaders (1968). She played a victim in the Boston Strangler (1968). She was also in the romantic comedy The April Fools (1969) with Jack Lemmon. She appeared in the Hawaii Five-O episode "The Big Kahuna" (1969).

The 1970s

In 1970, Sally Kellerman got her most famous role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in Robert Altman's M*A*S*H. Her performance was highly praised. She received nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. She won the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won the Golden Laurel for Best Comedy Performance. Life magazine featured her.

She worked with director Altman again in Brewster McCloud as Louise, a guardian angel. She even sang "Rock-a-Bye Baby" for the film's soundtrack.

Her next film was Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972). She then appeared in the thriller A Reflection of Fear (1972). In 1973, she was in the road movie Slither with James Caan. She also played a journalist in the musical Lost Horizon and contributed to its soundtrack.

In 1975, she played Mackinley Beachwood in Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins. She also sang "Honky Tonk Angels" in the film.

In 1976, Kellerman appeared in The Big Bus, a comedy that made fun of disaster films. She also played a lonely real estate agent in Welcome to L.A., which was produced by Altman.

Towards the end of the 1970s, Kellerman played Maureen in Verna: USO Girl (1978). She was also in the TV film She'll Be Sweet (1978). She appeared in the miniseries Centennial (1978–1979). In 1979, she played Kay King in A Little Romance.

The 1980s

Kellerman at the 1979 premiere of The Rose

In the 1980s, Kellerman played Mary, a mother raising a daughter (Jodie Foster) in Foxes (1980). She was also Martha in Serial and Mrs. Liggett in Loving Couples. She appeared in the film Head On and the TV film Big Blonde (both 1980). She also starred in a play called Holiday.

On February 7, 1981, Kellerman hosted Saturday Night Live. She performed in several comedy sketches. Her next roles were in TV films. She played Maxine Cates in Dempsey and a dance-hall owner in September Gun. She also acted in a stage play called Women Behind Bars.

Later in the decade, she was in the TV film Secret Weapons (1985) and the movie Moving Violations (1985). She played Rodney Dangerfield's love interest in the comedy Back to School (1986). She was also in That's Life (1986) and Three for the Road (1987). She appeared in Someone to Love (1987).

The 1990s

In 1992, Kellerman worked with director Robert Altman for the fourth time in The Player, where she played herself. She had supporting roles in Younger and Younger (1993) and Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance (1994). She also appeared in Murder She Wrote (1993).

She was in another Altman film, Prêt-à-Porter (1994), playing Sissy Wanamaker, an editor. She also played the main role in the stage musical Mame in 1995. Around this time, she performed in plays in Boston and Edmonton.

In 1996, Kellerman was in an episode of The Naked Truth. In 1997, she worked with Altman for the last time in an episode of his TV series Gun. She also helped produce and starred in a film version of her Canadian stage role in The Lay of the Land.

Kellerman appeared in the 1998 Columbo episode "Ashes to Ashes".

The 2000s

At the start of the new century, Kellerman performed in a cabaret show at Feinstein's at the Regency. She sang a variety of songs. In 2002, she performed in Los Angeles for a benefit concert for breast cancer research. That year, she also played Judge Marcia Blackwell in the TV film Verdict in Blood. She performed another cabaret show in Palmdale, California.

In 2004, Kellerman played Madame ZinZanni in Teatro ZinZanni. She also received the Susan B. Anthony "Failure is Impossible" Award, which honors women in film who have overcome challenges. She returned to the stage for another benefit concert. In 2005, she played Dolores Montoya in a Los Angeles play called The Wild Party. She was also Sandy in Boynton Beach Club. In 2006, she appeared as herself in the TV series The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.

Kellerman at Robert Altman: Celebration of an American Icon in January 2010

In 2008, Kellerman recorded a song with Ray Brown Jr. called "I Thought About You". In 2009, she released her jazz and blues album, Sally. This was her first album since 1972. The album featured her versions of songs by many famous artists. That year, she also played Donette in the TV film The Wishing Well.

The 2010s

In 2011, Kellerman starred with Ernest Borgnine and Mickey Rooney in Night Club. Her performance as a woman with Alzheimer's won an Accolade Competition Award for Best Supporting Actress. That year, she had a recurring role as Lola, an artist, in the TV series Chemistry. She also guest-starred on the teen drama 90210 as Marla, an aging Hollywood actress. In 2012, Kellerman appeared on the show Celebrity Ghost Stories.

On April 30, 2013, she released her memoir, Read My Lips: Stories of a Hollywood Life. In the book, she shared stories about her life in Hollywood. She made appearances to promote her book. Soon after, she played Marc Maron's mother in an episode of his comedy series Maron.

Kellerman later received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. In September 2013, she starred in a short film called Joan's Day Out. She played a grandmother who helps her teenage granddaughter. In 2014, Kellerman returned for the second season of Maron. She also appeared in a documentary about Robert Altman.

In October 2014, Kellerman was cast in the TV show The Young and the Restless. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Actress in a Guest Role. In 2016, she continued her role on Maron and appeared in the series Decker.

Personal Life

After her role in MASH, Sally Kellerman married producer Rick Edelstein in 1970. They later divorced in 1972.

In 1976, Sally adopted her niece, Claire. Claire's father passed away, and Sally became her legal guardian.

On May 11, 1980, Kellerman married producer Jonathan D. Krane. In 1989, they adopted newborn twins, Jack Donald and Hanna Vaughan. The family lived in Jupiter, Florida, for a while before moving back to Hollywood.

Jonathan Krane passed away in 2016. Sally Kellerman died on February 24, 2022, at the age of 84.

Filmography

Television

Awards and Nominations

Discography

• Roll with the Feelin' (Decca, 1972)
• Sally (The Music Force, 2009)

See also

In Spanish: Sally Kellerman para niños