Sally Field: Oscar Winner, Osteoporosis Advocate & More

There are few actresses who can claim two Academy Awards, a beloved TV character from the 1960s, and a role in one of the most quotable movies of all time—all before launching a second career as a health advocate. Sally Field has done exactly that. Her diagnosis with osteoporosis in 2005 turned her into the face of bone health awareness, while her performances in Norma Rae and Forrest Gump remain touchstones of American cinema.

Born: November 6, 1946 (age 78 as of 2025) ·
Occupation: Actress ·
Academy Awards: 2 (Norma Rae, Places in the Heart) ·
Known For: Norma Rae, Forrest Gump, Sybil ·
Health Condition: Osteoporosis (diagnosed 2005) ·
Net Worth: Approximately $65 million

Eight key facts distill a career that spans television comedy, dramatic Oscar roles, and health advocacy.

What medical condition does Sally Field have?

How was Sally Field diagnosed with osteoporosis?

• Field was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2005, a year before she disclosed it publicly (HealthDay).
• She had taken calcium since her 40s, but a bone density test revealed bone loss (Newswise).
• Her risk factors included being over 50, Caucasian, thin, small-framed, and having a family history (HealthDay).

Field recalls being shocked because she had taken calcium for years, assuming that was enough. “I thought I was doing everything right,” she said in an interview with UConn Health.

What treatments does Sally Field use?

• Boniva (ibandronate) medication (Academy of Achievement)
• Calcium and vitamin D supplements
• Weight-bearing exercise

After her diagnosis, Field became a spokesperson for Boniva, a once-monthly bisphosphonate drug. She has also emphasized the importance of staying active and maintaining adequate calcium intake.

What has Sally Field said about living with osteoporosis?

• “Osteoporosis is a threat to women of her generation” (UConn Health)
• “I didn’t think I had to worry about it despite my family history” (UConn Health)

Field has been remarkably open about her condition, helping to normalize bone density screening for women over 50.

Why this matters: Field’s transparency helped demystify a disease that often goes undiagnosed until a fracture occurs, especially among postmenopausal women.

Where does Sally Field live today?

Does Sally Field still live in California?

• Field grew up in Southern California, attending Birmingham High School in Van Nuys (Academy of Achievement).
• She has maintained a residence in the Los Angeles area for most of her adult life.

Although she keeps details private, Field has long been associated with the Pacific Palisades, a coastal neighborhood of Los Angeles. Her son Eli Craig and stepsons also live nearby, underscoring her deep roots in the region.

What kind of home does Sally Field own?

Field’s home is a traditional-style house, but she rarely shares images of it. She has stated that she values her privacy away from Hollywood.

The implication: Field’s choice to remain in the same region and avoid flashy real estate moves aligns with her grounded, family-oriented public persona.

What is Sally Field most famous for?

What are Sally Field’s most acclaimed movies?

• Norma Rae (1979) – won Academy Award for Best Actress (Biography.com)
• Places in the Heart (1984) – won second Academy Award (Biography.com)
• Forrest Gump (1994) – iconic role as Mrs. Gump
• Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) – comedic turn
• Steel Magnolias (1989) – ensemble drama

Why is Sally Field known for the role of Norma Rae?

Field played a textile mill worker who becomes a labor union organizer, a role that required her to shed her wholesome image. Her performance earned her the first of two Oscars. Her emotional acceptance speech—”You like me!”—became one of the most memorable moments in Oscar history.

What iconic TV roles has Sally Field played?

• Gidget (1965) – breakout role as a surf-obsessed teen (Biography.com)
• Sybil (1976) – Emmy-winning portrayal of a woman with multiple personality disorder (Biography.com)
• Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) – primetime drama

The pattern: Field repeatedly defied typecasting, moving from surf-girl TV to heavy dramatic roles to comedy, always with a grounded intensity.

Who was the love of Sally Field’s life?

Was Sally Field ever married?

• Steven Craig (1968–1975) – two children, Peter and Eli (IMDb)
• Alan Greisman (1984–1994) – one son, Samuel (IMDb)

What was Sally Field’s relationship with Burt Reynolds?

Field and Reynolds met on the set of Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and began a relationship that lasted on and off for nearly a decade. Field has called Reynolds “the love of my life” in interviews (People). The relationship ended in the early 1980s, and they had a famously strained later relationship.

Who are Sally Field’s ex-husbands?

Her two ex-husbands are Steven Craig, a film producer, and Alan Greisman, a film producer. She has remained on neutral terms with both, but has not remarried.

What this means: Field’s romantic life has been the subject of intense tabloid interest, yet she has consistently prioritized her children’s privacy and her own independence.

Why did Sally Field stop talking to Burt Reynolds?

Did Sally Field and Burt Reynolds reconcile?

No. After their breakup, the two did not remain in contact. Reynolds’s 2015 memoir, But Enough About Me, included details about their relationship that Field reportedly found invasive.

What did Burt Reynolds say about Sally Field in his memoir?

Reynolds wrote affectionately about Field, but she felt the memoir violated their private history. In a 2018 interview, Field said she never spoke to him again after the book’s release (People).

The catch: The estrangement between two of Hollywood’s most beloved stars remains one of the industry’s enduring mysteries, with both sides offering only fragments of the full story.

“I felt like I had to do something. I couldn’t just keep it to myself.”

Sally Field, National Osteoporosis Foundation campaign

In a 2018 interview with People, Field said of Reynolds: “He was the love of my life, but I can’t talk to him anymore.”

For Sally Field, the choice has been clear: use her platform to advocate for bone health while continuing to take on roles that challenge convention. The result is a legacy that extends beyond the screen—one that has helped normalize conversations about a disease that affects millions of women. For fans, the lesson is that even Hollywood icons face the same health risks and personal conflicts as the rest of us.

Related reading: Kirk Douglas Biography: Family, Health, and Lasting Legacy · Dustin Hoffman: Health, Career, Movies, Personal Life

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