Sally Kellerman (1937-2022)
Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 5:41PM by Nathaniel R
The original "Hot Lips" Houlihan, actress Sally Kellerman has passed away at 84 after a battle with dementia. The willowy California blonde landed her first screen role when she was just a teenager in the B movie Reform School Girl (1957) after which she paid her dues with over a decade's worth of guest spots on various television series and small movie roles. Fame took its time arriving. She finally broke through as the lusty nurse in Robert Altman's hit war comedy MASH (1970), landing an Oscar nomination...
As Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in "MASH"
That blockbuster quickly become an even more phenomenally success TV series but only one of the film's cast, Gary Burghoff as "Radar", transferred over to repeat their role. Her fine work as 'Hot Lips' Houlihan led to multiple stints in Robert Altman movies though oddly she turned down the Karen Black role in his masterpiece Nashville (1976). It also led to frequent casting as lusty and neurotic women.
While her subsequent films never captured the zeitgeist in the same way as MASH (a tall tall order) she enjoyed a fairly steady career in film and on television for a long time thereafter with a minor music career on the side releasing two albums. Her screen performances stretch from 1957 through an indie currently in post called Underwater Upside Down (at least according to IMDb).
With Jodie Foster in FOXES (1980)
Key films from her filmography include The Boston Strangler (1968) with Tony Curtis, April Fools (1969) where she plays Jack Lemmon's wife, Brewster McCloud (1970), the Neil Simon comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972), the crime comedy Slither (1973) with James Caan. And, as happens to all actresses who endure, a sudden shift to mom roles though she started those with a bang playing the mothers of two very popular teenage stars in well received movies, Diane Lane (A Little Romance, 1979) and Jodie Foster (Foxes, 1980). Her peak in the 1980s was the second billed role in another smash hit comedy Back to School (1986) though that was essentially the Rodney Dangerfield show. And she always returned to Robert Altman so she's in the noisy mix of his ensemble flick Pret-a-Porter (1994), too. She was a big enough star in her time that she even played herself in two showbiz movies, The Player (1992) and I Could Never Be Your Woman (2011).
Three years before her death she released her memoirs "Read My Lips: Stories of a Hollywood Life" Perhaps we'll read it in her honor soon. Have you ever seen her Oscar-nominated performance in MASH? We discussed it at length a few years back.
A Little Romance, Back to School, Foxes, MASH, RIP, Robert Altman, Sally Kellerman
Reader Comments (7)
R.I.P. Hot Lips. Sally was always fun to watch as her work with Atlman is incredible.
"Hot Lips you incredible nincompoop, it's the end of the third quarter!"
Aww, such a shame. I adored her. Brilliantly funny in Someone to Love.
Although it's a reviled movie (with some justification), I will always love her for this goofy duet with Olivia Hussey from 1973's Lost Horizon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NllSs_qz2Xk
As the first performer nominated for an Altman movie, she has a special place for me. Loved watching her pop up in his 90s movies.
But I'm glad she turned down the Connie role in Nashville, because Karen Black is iconic in the part.
Loved her in That's Life! Underused.
I've probably seen A Little Romance the most of her work. I loved her as the "cool Mom" who just takes things too far. She certainly played self-involved very well.
I also remember her fondly in Verna U.S.O Girl as the voice of reason to Sissy Spacek's deluded Verna.
Best Way to Get Your Ex Lover Back Fast Even If Your Situation Seems Hopeless!. I just got my husband back through the help of genuine love spell caster Lord Zuma. My name is Emily Sarah am from Tx,USA. My husband left me for another woman, This was just 3 years of our marriage. The most painful thing is that I was pregnant with our second baby. I wanted him back. I did everything within my reach to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so badly because of the love I had for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to my friend and she suggested that I should rather contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back , I had no choice than to try it. I messaged the spell caster called Lord Zuma, and he assured me there was no problem and that everything will be okay before 12 hours. He cast the spell and surprisingly 12 hours later my husband called me. I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that had happened He wanted me to return to him. He also said he loved me so much. I was so happy and went to him that was how we started living together happily again. thanks to Lord Zuma . if you are here and your Lover is turning you down, or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore, contact Lord Zuma for help now..
WHATSAPP MOBILE NUMBER: +15068001647,
Email him at: spiritualherbalisthealing@gmail.com