Darlene Conley was an American actor who is best known for her role as Sally Spectra on The Bold and the Beautiful, as well as appearances in shows like The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. She was born on July 18, 1934, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and passed away on January 14, 2007, in Los Angeles, California.
Personal and Family Life
Darlene Conley grew up in a family with roots in Huntsville, Alabama, and was of Irish-German descent. She married William Woodson in 1959, and they had one child before their divorce in 1966. Later, she married Kurt Hensch in 1970, but this marriage also ended in divorce in 1981. Darlene had one son and two stepsons.
Career Highlights
Darlene’s acting career began at the young age of 15 when she was discovered by Broadway impresario Jed Harris. She toured with the Chicago Uptown Circuit Players and appeared in her first film, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, in 1963. Darlene became famous for her work in soap operas, earning two Emmy Award nominations for her role in The Bold and the Beautiful, and starring in various other shows throughout her career.
Death and Legacy
Darlene Conley passed away on January 14, 2007, due to stomach cancer. She is remembered for her memorable roles in soap operas and her impact on daytime television. Her character, Sally Spectra, remains a cherished part of soap opera history, having even been immortalized in wax at Madame Tussaud’s museums in Las Vegas and Amsterdam.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Faces | 1968-11-24 | Billy Mae |
| Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July | 1979-07-01 | Mrs. Santa Claus (voice) |
| Play It as It Lays | 1972-10-19 | Kate’s Nurse |
| Get Christie Love! | 1974-01-22 | Virginia |
| The Return of Mombi | 1996-11-09 | Mombi (voice) |
| Camper John | 1973-04-27 | Mac Moody |
| The Choice | 1981-02-10 | Marilyn |
| Nashville Grab | 1981-10-18 | Rooney |
| The Birds | 1963-03-28 | Waitress (uncredited) |
| Valley of the Dolls | 1967-12-27 | Sanitarium Nurse (uncredited) |
| Return Engagement | 1978-11-17 | Aide |
| The Stingiest Man in Town | 1978-12-23 | Mrs. Cratchit (voice) |
| Tough Guys | 1986-10-03 | Gladys Ripps |
| Little House on the Prairie | 1974-09-11 | |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Leelah Case |
| Capitol | 1982-03-26 | |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1984-09-30 | Mims |
| The Jeffersons | 1975-01-18 | |
| Highway to Heaven | 1984-09-19 | |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King | 1983-10-03 | |
| Cagney & Lacey | 1982-03-25 | |
| Ironside | 1967-03-28 | |
| Hallmark Hall of Fame | 1951-12-24 | Aide |
| Ghost Story | 1972-09-15 | Ruth Jerrold |
| The Bold and the Beautiful | 1987-03-23 | Sally Spectra |
| The Mary Tyler Moore Show | 1970-09-19 | Matron |
| Pittige tijden | 1996-09-07 |