Sally Field: Biography, Health Diagnosis, and Relationships

Sally Field has been a constant presence on screen for more than six decades, yet the woman behind the Oscar speeches and beloved characters remains surprisingly private. This article looks at her health journey, her complex relationship with Burt Reynolds, and the family she raised away from the Hollywood spotlight — with facts drawn from interviews, official records, and her own public statements.

Born: November 6, 1946 (Pasadena, California) ·
Age: 77 (as of 2024) ·
Academy Awards: 2 (Norma Rae, Places in the Heart) ·
Notable TV Role: The Flying Nun ·
Notable Film: Forrest Gump

Eight key facts, one pattern: Field’s career spans child-star innocence, dramatic Oscar wins, and later-life advocacy, all rooted in a steady personal foundation.

What has Sally Field been diagnosed with?

When was the diagnosis made?

• According to her biographical entry on Wikipedia, Sally Field was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2005. She was in her late 50s at the time.
• She later revealed that she had already suffered a small fracture before the diagnosis, which prompted her to get a bone-density scan.

How has she managed the condition?

• Field publicly disclosed her condition to raise awareness and created the “Rally with Sally for Bone Health” campaign (Wikipedia).
• She has urged women over 50 to get bone-density scans and to discuss prevention with their doctors.

What did Sally Field say when Burt Reynolds died?

Did Sally Field attend Burt Reynolds’ funeral?

• Field did not attend Reynolds’ funeral in 2018. She told Delaware Public Media (public radio interview) that she chose to remember him privately and that the relationship had been “hugely important in my own existence.”
• A Fox News report covered her statement that Reynolds was both “wonderful and frightening” and that he tried to control her career during their on-and-off relationship from 1977 to 1982.

What was Burt Reynolds doing at the time of his death?

• Reynolds died on September 6, 2018 at the age of 82. According to Wikipedia, he was working on the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and had been in and out of rehabilitation centers for heart and back issues.

Does Sally Field have any biological children?

Who are her children?

• Field has three biological children: Peter Craig (born 1969), Eli Craig (born 1972), and Sam Greisman (born 1987) — all from her two marriages (Wikipedia).
• Peter and Eli are from her first marriage to Steven Craig (1968–1975); Sam is from her second marriage to Alan Greisman (1984–1994).

Are they involved in entertainment?

• Peter Craig is a novelist and screenwriter (12 Strong, The Batman), while Eli Craig is a film director and writer best known for Tucker and Dale vs Evil. Sam Greisman has worked in production but keeps a lower profile.

The pattern: each child has carved a creative niche, reflecting the environment they were raised in.

Did Sally Field get along with Robin Williams?

What was their relationship on set?

• Field co-starred with Robin Williams in the 1993 hit Mrs. Doubtfire. In interviews, she has described him as a “brilliant, generous” comedian who kept the cast laughing between takes.
• A People interview recounts Field saying Williams was “so quick and so wonderful” and that his energy was addictive.

Did they remain friends after filming?

• Field has said they stayed in touch over the years. In a People tribute after Williams’ death in 2014, she called him “one of the most generous souls I ever knew.”

The implication: Field’s friendship with Williams remained a cherished part of her life, even after his passing.

Who was Sally Field’s true love?

Is Sally Field considered nice in real life?

• Colleagues consistently describe Field as warm and professional. In her 2018 memoir-like interviews, she acknowledges that her on-screen “girl next door” image concealed a more complicated personal history (The Times).
• She has spoken openly about surviving abuse by her stepfather, a topic she weaves into her understanding of her relationships with men.

What is her current relationship status?

• Field has not remarried after divorcing Alan Greisman in 1994. She has been linked to several high-profile men over the years but does not publicly discuss her current romantic life.
• Of Reynolds, she told Delaware Public Media: “He’s in my heart.” The sentiment captures a relationship that was both formative and fractured.

Quotes from Sally Field’s own words

“You like me! You really like me!”

— Sally Field, 1985 Academy Awards acceptance speech for Places in the Heart

Field said of Burt Reynolds after his death: “He’s in my heart. Always has been. We had a complicated relationship, but he was hugely important in my own existence.” (Delaware Public Media, 2018)

Field said of Robin Williams: “Robin was one of the most generous souls I ever knew. He could make you laugh until you cried, and then turn around and listen to your problems with total sincerity.” (People)

The pattern across these statements: Field uses public moments to reclaim her own narrative — whether accepting an Oscar, reflecting on a lost love, or honoring a friend.

Summary: What Sally Field’s story means

For a star who entered the industry as “Gidget” and later demanded respect as an Oscar-winning actress, Sally Field’s legacy is not just her filmography. She faced a serious health condition, spoke candidly about a controlling relationship, and raised three children out of the gossip mill. For audiences who grew up watching her, the takeaway is this: Field’s career is a masterclass in resilience, but her real achievement may be the privacy she guarded through it all.

Related reading

• Kristen Wiig: Biography, SNL Career, and Personal Life
• Robson Green: Relationships, Career, and Personal Life