- Sally Field found success in Hollywood after appearing in the show, “Gidget,” which launched her career.
- She was criticized for her appearance after deciding to age naturally.
- Now a grandmother of five, Field lives quietly in a beach house.
She once divulged that she had a blast filming the series, where she played a teenager, and although it was short-lived, it opened doors to other roles, which turned her into a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. The show did much more for her success as it kept her motivated.
![Actress Sally Field in the American sitcom "Gidget" on September 15, 1965 | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/c3e07ff3badbe6bc203c47f3214967c18112c7ff290a675efa5982e6c943bb15.jpg)
Actress Sally Field in the American sitcom “Gidget” on September 15, 1965 | Source: Getty Images
Field endured a difficult childhood because of her stepfather, and she used the acting opportunity as an escape. This led her to audition for the acting workshop at Columbia Pictures.
![Sally Field as Sister Bertrille in the TV show "The Flying Nun" on September 17, 1969 | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/515d689989fdc9fd28cb0a45449142c4b937223bcf71eb8b2f1596a33b6235bb.jpg)
Sally Field as Sister Bertrille in the TV show “The Flying Nun” on September 17, 1969 | Source: Getty Images
Afterward, Field, a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award winner, enrolled at Actors Studios from 1973 to 1975 to hone her acting talent and left as a dramatic actress. She later appeared in the 1976 film “Sybil,” and that was when she garnered Hollywood’s attention by landing solid roles.
Field’s next role was as a union organizer in the drama film “Norma Rae” in 1979. For her performance, she bagged an Academy Award. The Hall of Famer’s first breakout role was at age eighteen. She graduated from Birmingham High School in the Van Nuys neighborhood, where her love for acting developed.
The two-time Golden Globe Award winner participated in the drama club, which sparked her interest in pursuing an acting career after graduation. However, the renowned star initially had no plans after high school because she never sat down for an SAT test.
![Sally Field appearing in the ABC series "Gidget" on January 1, 1965 | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/0393b7c09d853efd6027a3a6ae031fdc5777b1deec05d70525bcc081ef995125.jpg)
Sally Field appearing in the ABC series “Gidget” on January 1, 1965 | Source: Getty Images
It has been several years since Field found footing in showbiz and has gone through two divorces. She was first married to her high school sweetheart, Steven Craig, whom she wed in 1968. The former couple welcomed two sons, Peter and Eli Craig, and later parted ways in 1975 following seven years of marriage.
![A portrait of Steven Craig and Sally Field, 1965 | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/65e982cc4ae27f2b36d6a912dcaea812e7ee422feb970146f24949dc68ef85f7.jpg)
A portrait of Steven Craig and Sally Field, 1965 | Source: Getty Images
Field’s love life and career were at a standstill at that period. A friend revealed, “She wasn’t getting any acting offers that were very substantial, and she pretty much gave up on the dating scene.”
![Actor Burt Reynolds as Bandit and Sally Field as Carrie in the comedy film "Smokey and the Bandit" on January 1, 1977 | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/e2d70419cd067090d6f086ed41eca66ac544329c7cc37840c3729d9f3395b999.jpg)
Actor Burt Reynolds as Bandit and Sally Field as Carrie in the comedy film “Smokey and the Bandit” on January 1, 1977 | Source: Getty Images
“Sally loves her life the way it is. She doesn’t see herself marrying again, and that’s fine.”
![Sally Field appearing as Mary Todd in the movie "Lincoln" | Source: YouTube/AssociatedPress](https://cdn.amomama.com/fadd874f5214530d97b1f16222f8f081639e2c4e550224ea6a9d0e7f54ecacb1.png)
Sally Field appearing as Mary Todd in the movie “Lincoln” | Source: YouTube/AssociatedPress
According to the insider, the mother of three spends much of her time with her brother Richard and Hollywood friends, including Tom Hanks, and her brood and grandkids.
After becoming famous as a young ingenue, Field chose a down-to-earth path of natural aging. In a March 2016 interview, she addressed her aging process and said she had embraced it:
“I’m an old woman. 70 is old, and that’s OK.”
Because some people consider embracing old age as brave, Field commented that it is “sad” that some think that way about growing old. Although she appreciated such a statement, Field emphasized that she has made peace with aging. “I’ve gathered strength behind my years, I owned them, I’ve earned them, I’ve deserved them, I have a right to have them,” said the film star.
![Sally Field attends the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's 29th Anniversary Ball on November 11, 2000 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/fde2e72684c2c1dae6ce49a18c1b31da71a398f0926280162afb8447c0236e51.jpg)
Sally Field attends the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s 29th Anniversary Ball on November 11, 2000 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
“I see myself on TV, and I say, ‘Oh, I wish that weren’t happening to my neck. And your face is falling down, and your eyes are so puffy.”
But Field would remember that there were some women who she thought were gorgeous when they were young but had gone under the knife and she had a change of heart.
![Sally Field at "Meet the Filmmaker: Sally Field and Michael Showalter" for "Hello My Name Is Doris" at Apple Store Soho on March 8, 2016 in New York City | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/0529dae1e0aec3d6f3ef224cdd5df160bdd071187ae08b843807543ea8ad3842.jpg)
Sally Field at “Meet the Filmmaker: Sally Field and Michael Showalter” for “Hello My Name Is Doris” at Apple Store Soho on March 8, 2016 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
“Now I think, ‘Oh dear, don’t do that!’ And it seems so terribly disrespectful to who they are now,” said the two-time Academy Award winner. Field admitted she did not want to age but made peace with the fact that there was not much she could do about it.
![Sally Field during Sally Field Visits The Pillowman on Broadway at The Booth Theater on August 31, 2005 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/64fe3b7c75c7e6653d93f484ed526cee7278842ac165ca007757ab6ae3911cc2.jpg)
Sally Field during Sally Field Visits The Pillowman on Broadway at The Booth Theater on August 31, 2005 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
The Tony Award nominee, whose acting career spans six decades, said the women looked stunning in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. She wants to execute specific roles when she becomes an old woman and does not want to look odd when that time comes.
Criticized for Her Looks
Before she turned 60 in 2005, Field was sadly diagnosed with osteoporosis, often referred to as a “silent disease” due to the lack of early symptoms until it causes damage. Of the diagnosis, the veteran star said:
“I always knew I fit the risk profile. I was thin, small-boned, Caucasian, and heading toward age 60. But I was amazed at how quickly a woman could go from being at risk to having full-fledged osteoporosis.”
![Sally Field speaks at the Voices of Solidarity 2016 at IAC HQ on December 5, 2016 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/e45268d300010698079416b4d9f699b719e77579f9b4577dea5e668c87159529.jpg)
Sally Field speaks at the Voices of Solidarity 2016 at IAC HQ on December 5, 2016 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
The disease makes the bones weak to a point where they break easily, including bones in the hip, wrist, and backbone (spine). Women are reportedly prone to get affected by the condition more than men, mainly due to the hormone changes when they reach menopause which affects bone density.
![Sally Field attends the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/2149dcb347deb0a48dfe08491048a04ee7cfc80f2dcbeb479aa23c1789164663.jpg)
Sally Field attends the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
She also participated in exercises including “hiking, biking, and doing extreme yoga on a regular basis,” said Field. But despite her efforts, she failed to avoid the diagnosis.
![Sally Field pictured at "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on January 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/76b521223d28101317eeb457a2ad0f24b4b80caff8d1cc418aab32841d1772b0.jpg)
Sally Field pictured at “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on January 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
“My bones appeared to be getting steadily thinner without any signs or symptoms I could see or feel,” the show business star explained during an April 2006 interview.
To treat the condition, the mother of three partook in a drug experiment called Boniva — a drug that slows down bone loss so that the body’s natural bone production can be more effective.
![Sally Field attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/461caa445c8a1305b07a2778bb498282f7a8c108c31d4256a0ea92b3ca2f0202.jpg)
Sally Field attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Possible symptoms of osteoporosis that could be detected early include loss of height over time, back pain, and a stooped posture of a bone that could easily break.
Treatment for osteoporosis includes exercising, taking medication, mineral supplements, and vitamins. One could ensure they take supplements and exercise often to prevent getting the disease.
![A fan tweets about Sally Field's appearance on Twitter | Source: Twitter/johnacurtis1199](https://cdn.amomama.com/45bf11e26ea3b19a18613c35ac0c0bae969c7d202ee1fd2a5ba18e751239d23b.png)
A fan tweets about Sally Field’s appearance on Twitter | Source: Twitter/johnacurtis1199
![A fan tweets about Sally Field's appearance on Twitter | Source: Twitter/JOSEPHMARY1234](https://cdn.amomama.com/172f94122e921965af2581a4bb819c433b1a3d93d90d01666a3d6553eb835ee0.png)
A fan tweets about Sally Field’s appearance on Twitter | Source: Twitter/JOSEPHMARY1234
However, since then, some online users have spoken fondly of Field. Recently, the veteran star attended the Vanity Oscar Party event with her son Samuel and the mother-and-son duo posed together on the red carpet while holding hands.
![Sally Field and Samuel Greisman attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/5946c7f86a3f1537fed5db4f17c551758b468bd9b34191eff00929bbda6d9d9e.jpg)
Sally Field and Samuel Greisman attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Field donned a beige floor-length lace dress while her youngest child wore a black suit. “It’s Oscars biggest night @vanityfair,” Samuel, a film producer, captioned the Instagram post.
“THE SUIT. WHAT ANGELS,” one online user commented on the social media upload, alongside a string of heart-eye emojis. “You both look absolutely gorgeous,” said another person alongside a heart emoji.
![Sally Field attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/9d5ea31f3d22b9d5bae3ebaf72fc1298ce93ba77566769a5d615b7ea5f3371ee.jpg)
Sally Field attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
![Minnie Driver and Sally Field attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/8266b4c5179ef118c886cb0aea4f0c7bca742393f10799c5e02fd3b4d4cb7bc8.jpg)
Minnie Driver and Sally Field attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Some social media users took to X (formerly known as Twitter), to gush over Field. One individual wrote, “SALLY FIELD LOOKIN LIKE A LITERAL ANGEL.”
Apart from Field’s recent public appearance, one user raved about her in June 2023, writing, “Of course, Sally Field as ‘The Flying Nun’! Perfect real-life angel!”
Grandma of Five Lives in a Beach House
Field is now 77 years old and apart from being a mom to adult sons, the family matriarch also has five grandchildren: Colin, Isabel, Ogden, Noah, and Sophie. A friend once divulged that she enjoys having so many grandkids with whom she plays and has fun.
Field became a first-time grandmother when her eldest son Peter and his first wife, Amy Scattergood, welcomed their daughter Isabel in 1998. The former couple had another daughter Sophie in 2021.
![Sally Field poses with her son Eli Craig, daughter-in-law Sasha Craig, and grandson Noah Craig as she is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 5, 2014 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/6e7593baec400fbceb5ebdd484fb6ad077b8c532349887b85e488d0d848f1a6f.jpg)
Sally Field poses with her son Eli Craig, daughter-in-law Sasha Craig, and grandson Noah Craig as she is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 5, 2014 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
The author and novelist were married from 1995 to 2005 and split after ten years of marriage. Peter remarried to Jennifer DeFrancisco in 2008 and welcomed Field’s third grandchild and first grandson, Ogden. However, he and his second wife divorced in 2017 following nine years of marriage.
Field’s middle child Eli and his spouse, Sasha Craig, made her a grandmother for the fourth time when they had their son Noah in 2006, followed by her youngest grandkid, Colin, in 2014.
![Sally Field and son Eli Craig at Cipriani 42nd Street for the 20th anniversary gala celebration of The Sundance Institute on April 23, 2002 | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/a01e2f2d954c44920f02174dc347b2f510824ec6208bba3c90f4f554610577a9.jpg)
Sally Field and son Eli Craig at Cipriani 42nd Street for the 20th anniversary gala celebration of The Sundance Institute on April 23, 2002 | Source: Getty Images
“The three things I’m most proud of in my life are my sons. They are kind, loving, and productive people. Each with their own list of talents and accomplishments.”
In addition to being a novelist, Field’s firstborn son Peter is a screenwriter who previously worked on box office movie hits including, “The Batman,” “Top Gun: Maverick” the first two installments of “The Hunger Games,” and “The Mother.”
![Sally Field and Samuel Greisman during ABC All Star Party 2006 at Rose Bowl on July 19, 2006 in Pasadena, California. | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/a0635bfd2245b369a4521b350e36dd5fd48fb5ee8d0255f305bef1c58a4cd118.jpg)
Sally Field and Samuel Greisman during ABC All Star Party 2006 at Rose Bowl on July 19, 2006 in Pasadena, California. | Source: Getty Images
The father of three has authored books such as “Blood Father” and “The Martini.” He has also been recognized for his craft and was nominated twice at the Writers Guild of America and once for the Critics Choice Movie Awards.
Field’s second son Eli followed in her acting footsteps and is also a director. The Los Angeles native is known for movies such as “Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil,” “Zombieland,” and “Little Evil.” Eli also has credits of screenwriting under his belt.
![Writer Peter Craig at the 95th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/0f1f23c7b5b206b7a1afddd8c2145e70cae782a897c81ee75368191281acb96f.jpg)
Writer Peter Craig at the 95th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Field once revealed that her middle child told her that although she has been a great parent, she failed to discipline him enough. She admitted in a 2008 interview that young Eli was uncontrollable but that witnessing him parent his child has made her realize what kind of parent she was.
![Sally Field and her son Samuel Greisman attend the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images](https://cdn.amomama.com/b371dcf023bcbe4544180c8877c06e1d468ed608ad177aaf4d2b981a4aaeabf7.jpg)
Sally Field and her son Samuel Greisman attend the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
In her life journey, Field, who has a half-sister in addition to her older brother, penned about her life events in the memoir, “In Pieces,” released on September 18, 2018. In the book, she discusses her childhood home life, famous roles, relationships, and raising her children.