# Darlene Conley > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Darlene_Conley > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Darlene_Conley.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlene_Conley > Source revision: 1353480884 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American actress Darlene Conley Born (1934-07-18)July 18, 1934 Ireland Died January 14, 2007(2007-01-14) (aged 72) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Years active 1954–2006 Spouse(s) Bill Woodson (1959–1966) (divorced) Kurt Hensch (1970–1981) (divorced) Children 1 **Darlene Conley** (July 18, 1934 – January 14, 2007) was an American actress. Conley's career spanned fifty years, but she was best known for her performances in daytime television, and in particular, for her portrayal of larger-than-life fashion industrialist [Sally Spectra](/source/Sally_Spectra) on *[The Bold and the Beautiful](/source/The_Bold_and_the_Beautiful)*. Conley played the role from 1989 until her death 17 years later. Darlene's character Sally is the only American soap opera character to be displayed at [Madame Tussaud's](/source/Madame_Tussaud's) wax figures galleries in Amsterdam and Las Vegas. ## Life and career Conley, an [Irish American](/source/Irish_American), was born in Ireland, [1] the daughter of Melba (née Manthey) and Raymond Conley.[2] She began her acting career at age 15 when she was cast in the touring production of the Broadway play *[The Heiress](/source/The_Heiress_(1947_play))*.[3] After graduating from high school, she appeared in several stage productions, including *[Cyrano de Bergerac](/source/Cyrano_de_Bergerac_(play))*, *[The Baker's Wife](/source/The_Baker's_Wife)* and *[Night of the Iguana](/source/The_Night_of_the_Iguana)*. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Conley was employed with the traveling theater group the Chicago Uptown Circuit Players and Playwrights Company and on Broadway with the Helen Hayes Repertory Theater.[4] In 1963, Conley landed a bit part in the movie *[The Birds](/source/The_Birds_(film))*, which was followed by similar small roles in movies like *[Valley of the Dolls](/source/Valley_of_the_Dolls_(film))* and *[Lady Sings the Blues](/source/Lady_Sings_the_Blues_(film))*.[4] On television, Conley appeared in a number of made-for-television movies and guest-starred on prime time shows including *[Ironside](/source/Ironside_(1967_TV_series))*, *[The Bill Cosby Show](/source/The_Bill_Cosby_Show)* and *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)*. She also appeared in the first episode of the fifth season of *[The Mary Tyler Moore Show](/source/The_Mary_Tyler_Moore_Show)* as a prison warden. Conley appeared on *[Little House on the Prairie](/source/Little_House_on_the_Prairie_(TV_series))* in 1981, in the episode entitled "A Wiser Heart." ### Daytime television Conley's performance as [Rose DeVille](/source/Rose_DeVille) on the daytime soap opera *[The Young and the Restless](/source/The_Young_and_the_Restless)* followed, with Conley playing many small roles on other soaps for most of the 1980s. She was the tough but basically decent prison warden Edith Hopkins on *[Days of Our Lives](/source/Days_of_Our_Lives)* in 1983 during [Liz Chandler](/source/Liz_Chandler)'s incarceration for [Marie Horton](/source/Marie_Horton)'s shooting. As Trixie on *[General Hospital](/source/General_Hospital)* from 1984 to 1988, she was an old hooker pal of Ruby's who worked at Kelly's. Her role as Rose De Ville on *[The Young and the Restless](/source/The_Young_and_the_Restless)* inspired [William J. Bell](/source/William_J._Bell_(producer)) to cast her as flamboyant fashion maven [Sally Spectra](/source/Sally_Spectra) on his newer serial, *[The Bold and the Beautiful](/source/The_Bold_and_the_Beautiful)*. She earned two Outstanding Supporting Actress [Daytime Emmy](/source/Daytime_Emmy_Award) and six [Soap Opera Digest Awards](/source/Soap_Opera_Digest_Awards) nominations for her role.[4] She was friends with several actors who appeared on *"B&B"*, including [Fabio](/source/Fabio_Lanzoni), who has appeared on the show several times, usually under the guise of celebrating Sally's birthday. She was also friends with [Phyllis Diller](/source/Phyllis_Diller), who also appeared on the show as Sally's friend, Gladys Pope. ### Illness and death Conley became ill in 2004 due to a fall that broke several bones. She recovered from the fall and returned to work (although she was usually seated during her scenes). Reports surfaced in the media in the fall of 2006 that Conley had surgery and received treatment for [stomach cancer](/source/Stomach_cancer). Conley died on January 14, 2007.[3] *B&B* featured a tribute to Conley; [John McCook](/source/John_McCook) presented the tribute, which featured her memorable moments on the show. Sally Spectra is still a character on *B&B*. Sally's absence has been explained by having her son CJ tell his father, Clarke (and viewers), that Sally had taken a permanent vacation in St. Tropez. Head writer Brad Bell said that Sally is "bigger than life" and will live on forever.[5] In late 2007, Sally decided to sell her fashion house. [Nick Marone](/source/Nick_Marone) and [Jackie Marone](/source/Jackie_Marone) bought Spectra and ran the company; in a later story in 2017, the show revisited many of the storylines of Sally Spectra to introduce a new younger character, also named [Sally](/source/Sally_Spectra_(2017_character)), who is the niece of the original Sally Spectra. The younger Spectra relaunched the house of Spectra fashion line. In addition, the show brought back the character of CJ to appear in several episodes. ## Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1963 The Birds Waitress 1967 Valley of the Dolls Nurse in Sanitarium 1968 Faces Billy Mae 1970 Ironside Landlady Episode: "A Killing Will Occur" 1970 The Name of the Game Blanche Reid Episode: "A Love to Remember" 1970 The Bill Cosby Show Market Cashier Episode: "The Old Man of 4-C" 1970 Gunsmoke Leelah Case Episode: " Gentry's Law" 1970 Captain Milkshake Mrs. Hamilton 1971 Longstreet Mrs. Benbrook Episode: "A World of Perfect Complicity" 1971 Minnie and Moskowitz uncredited 1972 Lady Sings the Blues uncredited 1972 Play It as It Lays Kate's Nurse 1972 Ghost Story Ruth Jerrold Episode: "The Summer House" 1973 Gentle Savage Mac Moody 1973 The President's Plane Is Missing uncredited 1974 Get Christie Love! Virginia 1974 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Matron Episode: "Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?" 1978 Return Engagement Aide 1979 The Stingiest Man in Town Mrs. Cratchit Voice 1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July Mrs. Claus 1979 The Jeffersons Mother Episode: "The Other Woman" 1979–80 1986–87 The Young and the Restless Rose DeVille Recurring role 1981 The Choice Marilyn 1981 The Nashville Grab Rooney 1981 Little House on the Prairie Mrs. Pierce Episode: "A Wiser Heart" 1983 The Fighter Mrs. MacCauley 1983 Cagney & Lacey Charge Nurse Episode: "Burn Out" 1983 I Want to Live Miss Bain 1983 Days of Our Lives Warden Edith Baker Recurring role 1984 Capitol Louise Recurring role 1985 Robert Kennedy and His Times Moderator Miniseries 1985 Murder, She Wrote Mims Episode: "Jessica Behind Bars" 1986 Tough Guys Gladys Ripps 1987 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Jenkins Episode: "The Khrushchev List" 1987 Highway to Heaven Mrs. Parker Episode: "In with the 'In' Crowd" 1984–1988 General Hospital Trixie Monahan Recurring role 1988–2006 The Bold and the Beautiful Sally Spectra Series regular, 1558 episodes Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1991–1992) Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Actress: Daytime (1990, 1993) Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Scene Stealer (1994) Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Female Showstopper (1997) Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime (1991–1992) 1997 The Oz Kids Mombi (voice) Episode "The Return of Mombi" 1998 Pittige tijden Sally Spectra Episode ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Conly3_1-0)** Times Staff and Wire Reports. ["Darlene Conley, 72; actress in TV soaps, movies"](https://www.soapcentral.com/theactors/conley_darlene.php). *soapcentral.com*. Retrieved January 17, 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Darlene Conley Biography ((?)-)"](http://www.filmreference.com/film/13/Darlene-Conley.html). *www.filmreference.com*. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-css_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-css_3-1) ["Actress Darlene Conley Dies At 72 - CBS News"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actress-darlene-conley-dies-at-72/). *www.cbsnews.com*. January 17, 2007. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-emmys_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-emmys_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-emmys_4-2) ["Daytime Star Darlene Conley Dies"](https://www.emmys.com/news/daytime-star-darlene-conley-dies). *Television Academy*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["'The Bold and the Beautiful' Shocks Fans with Spectra Surprise and We Have the Inside Scoop"](https://www.tvinsider.com/114472/the-bold-and-the-beautiful-sally-spectra/). ## External links - [Darlene Conley](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0174768/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) Authority control databases International VIAF People Deutsche Synchronkartei --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Darlene Conley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlene_Conley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlene_Conley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.