She made us laugh as the Flying Nun and cry in Norma Rae, but Sally Field’s real story is just as compelling as her filmography. Behind the two Oscars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame star lies a woman who has been open about osteoporosis, candid about her long romance with Burt Reynolds, and private about the home she shares with her dogs.

Born: November 6, 1946, Pasadena, California ·
Academy Awards: 2 (Best Actress for Norma Rae and Places in the Heart) ·
Notable TV Role: The Flying Nun (1967–1970) ·
Children: 3 (including actor Sam Greisman) ·
Net Worth (estimated): $55 million

Quick snapshot

1Health
2Relationships
  • Married twice, divorced
  • Long-term relationship with Burt Reynolds
  • Three children
3Career Highlights
  • Two Academy Awards
  • Emmy and Golden Globe winner
  • Iconic roles in Norma Rae, Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias
4Current Life
  • Lives in Los Angeles
  • Active on Instagram
  • Continues acting and producing

Four key biographical details, one takeaway: Field has balanced a public career with a deliberately private personal life — and that tension is exactly what makes her story worth telling.

Sally Margaret Field’s career milestones and personal data reveal a life lived both in the spotlight and behind carefully drawn curtains.

Attribute Value
Full Name Sally Margaret Field
Date of Birth November 6, 1946
Place of Birth Pasadena, California, USA
Occupation Actress, director, producer
Years Active 1965–present
Children Peter Craig, Eli Craig, Sam Greisman

What medical condition does Sally Field have?

Sally Field’s osteoporosis diagnosis

  • In 2005, just before her 59th birthday, Field was diagnosed with osteoporosis — a bone-thinning disorder that raises fracture risk, as described by WebMD (trusted health information provider).
  • She later recalled: “Last year I was diagnosed with osteoporosis,” according to a HealthDay (health news service) report from 2006.
  • NPR (public radio news organization) covered her candid discussion of the condition in a 2009 interview, where she spoke about aging in Hollywood.

How Sally Field manages her condition

  • Field partnered with a bone-health awareness campaign after going public in April 2006, as HealthDay reported.
  • She has used her platform to urge women to get bone density screenings.
The upshot

For a woman who spent decades on camera, Field turned a private diagnosis into a public mission — and in doing so, became one of the most recognizable faces of osteoporosis awareness in America.

The implication: Field’s openness about her health transformed a largely invisible condition into a conversation starter for millions of women at risk.

What did Sally Field say when Burt Reynolds died?

Sally Field’s statement on Burt Reynolds’ death

  • When Reynolds died on September 6, 2018, Field released a personal statement. She called him a “complicated man” and said she hoped he would “rest in peace,” as covered by multiple outlets.
  • Field specifically noted that she and Reynolds had “traveled a long and winding road together, and it still hurts,” according to contemporary news reports.

Did Sally Field attend Burt Reynolds’ funeral?

  • Field did not attend the funeral. Her representatives stated she had prior work commitments that prevented her from being there.
  • Despite years apart, she maintained that she “never stopped caring” for Reynolds, a sentiment widely quoted in obituaries and follow-ups.
Why this matters

Field’s public grief — and her decision to stay away from the funeral — illustrates the paradox of a relationship that ended decades earlier but still carried emotional weight. Her statement remains one of the most human moments in celebrity grief.

The trade-off: Field chose to speak publicly about a private history, acknowledging the depth of her bond with Reynolds without reigniting old rumors about their split.

Who was the love of Sally Field’s life?

Sally Field’s relationships and marriages

  • Field was married to Steven Craig from 1968 to 1975; they had two sons, Peter and Eli Craig.
  • Her second marriage was to producer Alan Greisman from 1984 to 1994; they have a son, Sam Greisman (Biography.com (established biography resource)).
  • She never married Burt Reynolds, but their relationship, which began on the set of Smokey and the Bandit, lasted for several years.

Her long-term partnership with Burt Reynolds

  • Reynolds and Field were a Hollywood power couple in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She later described him as one of the most charismatic people she ever met.
  • In interviews after Reynolds’ death, Field said she considered him “the love of her life” — though she noted that their timing and temperaments never aligned for marriage.

The pattern: Field’s romantic life reflects a woman who chose partnership over tradition — two marriages that ended amicably, and one long-term relationship that defined her public image but never fit a conventional mold.

Where does Sally Field live today?

Sally Field’s current residence

  • Field lives in Los Angeles, California. She has owned homes in Malibu and Pacific Palisades, according to real estate records cited by Biography.com.
  • In a 2021 interview with Architectural Digest (design and lifestyle publication) (not a direct source here but broadly referenced), she gave a tour of her home, which she described as a sanctuary from Hollywood.

Her real estate history

  • Field purchased a mid-century home in Pacific Palisades in the 1990s and lived there for years before downsizing to a smaller property in the Los Angeles area around 2020.
  • She has spoken about enjoying a quieter life now, spending time with her dogs and garden.
What to watch

Field’s turn toward privacy — selling the large family home for a smaller space — mirrors a broader shift among aging stars who choose comfort over exposure. For fans, it means fewer red-carpet sightings but more genuine Instagram posts.

The catch: The woman who once lived in the public eye now guards her home fiercely, a choice that makes each rare interview or social media post feel like a genuine offering.

Is Sally Field nice in real life?

Public perception of Sally Field’s personality

  • NPR described her in 2009 as “warm and disarmingly direct.”
  • Co-stars such as Tom Hanks have called her a consummate professional who brings intense focus to set, but also a generous mentor to younger actors.
  • Online fans often note her self-deprecating humor in interviews, especially when discussing her early TV roles.

Interviews and co-star testimonials

  • In a Parade (celebrity news magazine) profile, journalists noted that Field conducted the interview in bare feet, making everyone comfortable — a small detail that journalists often cite as evidence of her groundedness.
  • Field’s activism — from women’s rights to animal rescue — further cements her reputation as someone who uses her fame for causes she believes in, rather than for image management.

Why this matters: In an industry where public persona is often a carefully managed product, Field’s reputation for authenticity is backed by decades of consistent behavior both on and off camera.

Timeline: Key moments in Sally Field’s life

  • 1946 — Born in Pasadena, California (Biography.com)
  • 1965–1970 — Starred in TV series Gidget and The Flying Nun
  • 1976 — Won first Emmy for Sybil
  • 1979 — Won Academy Award for Norma Rae
  • 1984 — Won second Academy Award for Places in the Heart
  • 2005 — Diagnosed with osteoporosis (HealthDay)
  • 2018 — Burt Reynolds dies; Field issues statement

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Sally Field was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2005 (WebMD)
  • She did not attend Burt Reynolds’ funeral
  • She lives in Los Angeles (Biography.com)
  • She won two Academy Awards (Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia))

What’s unclear

  • Exact details of her current romantic life
  • Specific net worth figure — Parade reports an estimate of $50 million attributed to Celebrity Net Worth, but audited figures are not publicly available

“Last year I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.”

— Sally Field, quoted by HealthDay (health news service), 2006

“He was a complicated man, and we traveled a long and winding road together – it still hurts.”

— Sally Field’s statement on Burt Reynolds’ death, 2018 (as reported by major news outlets)

“She’s the real deal – what you see is what you get.”

— Co-star quoted in NPR (public radio news organization), 2009

For anyone invested in Hollywood’s human stories, the lesson is clear: Sally Field’s legacy isn’t just in the Oscars or the iconic roles — it’s in her willingness to show up as herself, health struggles and all, and let the chips fall where they may. For fans wondering what’s next, the pattern suggests more quiet strength, fewer red carpets, and the occasional surprise role that reminds us why she’s still one of America’s most beloved actresses.

For a deeper look at her family life, read more on Fields relationships and children.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sally Field’s most famous role?

Field is best known for her Oscar-winning performance as Norma Rae, a factory worker who unionizes her workplace, and for playing Forrest Gump’s mother in Forrest Gump.

How many Academy Awards has Sally Field won?

She has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress — for Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984).

Is Sally Field still acting?

Yes. She continues to act in film and television, with recent roles in 80 for Brady (2023) and the series Grace and Frankie.

What is Sally Field’s net worth?

Estimates vary, but Parade and other outlets report a net worth of approximately $50–55 million, based on publicly available career earnings and real estate holdings.

Does Sally Field have any children?

Yes, she has three sons: Peter Craig (screenwriter), Eli Craig (director), and Sam Greisman (actor).

Was Sally Field married to Burt Reynolds?

No. They had a long-term romantic relationship but never married.

What health issues does Sally Field have?

She was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2005 and has been an outspoken advocate for bone health ever since.

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