Biography for
Sally Kellerman More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

2 June 1937, Long Beach, California, USA

Birth Name

Sally Claire Kellerman

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Willowy and statuesque, two words to describe leading lady Sally Kellerman. Sally studied acting at Actors Studio West with Jeff Corey, Shirley Knight, Dean Stockwell and Jack Nicholson. It was in 1957 when Sally made her film debut in Reform School Girl (1957). In the 1960s, she built up her resume with offbeat performances on TV series such as "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" (1963), "Slattery's People" (1964) and "It Takes a Thief" (1968). In 1968, Sally starred as "Dianne Cluney", the only surviving victim of Albert DeSalvo's in The Boston Strangler (1968). It was in 1970 when Sally found her breakthrough role, a role in which she almost turned down due to the script of her character. The role was of "Major Margaret "Hot-Lips Houlihan" in Robert Altman's MASH (1970), Sally earned both an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination and won a Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award and a Golden Laurel Award for her performance. Sally continued working with Robert Altman in his next film, Brewster McCloud (1970); Sally starred as an adventurous and socially awkward fairy-godmother of Bud Cort. In 1972, Sally starred as a chain-smoking, sex-addicted and very angry one-night stand of Alan Arkin's in Gene Saks's Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972), starring opposite Paula Prentiss and Renée Taylor. In 1976, Sally starred alongside Lauren Hutton and Sissy Spacek in Robert Altman's Welcome to L.A. (1976). In 1980, Sally starred in Foxes (1980), as Mary, the mother of a young Jodie Foster and, in 1986, she starred as the love interest of Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School (1986). In 1994, Sally teamed up with a superstar cast of Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall, Julia Roberts, Marcello Mastroianni and Tim Robbins for Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter (1994). Having been in a handful of films, Sally has built up quite the impressive resume, however, following a new career in her long-time passion, singing. In 2009, Sally recorded and released her first album since her 1969 debut album, "Rolling With the Feelin'", called "Sally". Sally has been touring around different parts of her home-state and in metropolitan areas; New York City and New Jersey. Sally still continues to both act and sing in her young years.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Anthony Ronald, Vario

Spouse

Jonathan D. Krane	(11 May 1980 - present) (separated)
Rick Edelstein	(1970 - 1975) (divorced)
?	(? - ?) (divorced)

Trivia

She was the was the first actress to play Major Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan in the film version of MASH (1970). The role went to Loretta Swit for the TV series.

Stepmother of ex-husband Rick Edelstein's 4 daughters.

Was first choice for the role of Linda Rogo in The Poseidon Adventure (1972). She turned the part down, and it was given to Stella Stevens.

After her first divorce, she was married to director Rick Edelstein in the early 1970s. In 1980 she married Jonathan D. Krane, 15 years her junior; they separated in 1997.

Very close friend of John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

Robert Altman initially did not want Kellerman for the part of "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan in MASH (1970) because she was "too attractive", and he wanted unattractive actors.

Very close friend of Robert Altman and his wife Kathryn Reed Altman.

Very close friends with actor Bud Cort.

Harrison Ford built her a deck when he supported himself as a carpenter.

Personal Quotes

"I always wanted to be an actress. My mother told me to get a job as an elevator operator - because Dorothy Lamour was discovered that way".

I hope to have some more cracks at some wonderful roles before I go to the Great Beyond.

I was always playing the hard-bitten drunk.

It hasn't been smooth or delightful every minute, there were lean years and rough years, but it's been exciting and good and I'm thrilled to be an actress and a singer and to have spent my life this way.