Even after decades in the spotlight, this legendary actress remains devoted to her passion. Despite facing heartbreak in her personal life—including the end of her nearly three-decade-long marriage and a troubled relationship with her daughter—she has embraced her journey with resilience and purpose.
Once a beloved star of the 1960s, she is now 90 years old and continues to leave her mark on Hollywood. Though her personal life has seen its struggles, her dedication to her craft has never wavered.
Her career took off in 1955 with The Trouble with Harry, and she went on to deliver stellar performances in The Apartment, Irma la Douce, and Terms of Endearment. She attributes much of her discipline and efficiency to her early training in dance, which shaped her strong work ethic and professionalism.
Throughout her time in Hollywood, she was known for her teamwork and refusal to embrace diva-like behavior. Though she has slowed down in recent years, acting still brings her joy. She remains an energetic presence on set, impressing her co-stars with her enthusiasm for the craft.
Beyond her career, her personal life has been filled with unconventional choices and emotional complexities. She married producer Steve Parker in 1954, and they had a daughter, Sachi, two years later. Unlike traditional marriages, theirs was more of a deep companionship, and they agreed to an open relationship—something quite rare for that era.
While she was busy working in Hollywood, Steve primarily lived in Japan, yet they maintained their friendship and often traveled together. Eventually, in 1982, their marriage came to an end, but they remained on good terms.
Her philosophy on motherhood was shaped by her belief in personal fulfillment. She felt that staying home while sacrificing her career would have created resentment, which she did not want her daughter to experience. Having witnessed her own mother give up on her dreams, she vowed to follow her own path.
As a result, Sachi spent much of her childhood with her father while her mother pursued her career. Though they were often apart, the actress was always just a phone call away. However, as the years went by, their relationship became more strained, with differing perspectives on what their bond should have been.
In 2013, Sachi published a memoir, Lucky Me: My Life With – and Without – My Mom, Shirley MacLaine, where she candidly discussed her complicated childhood. She described her mother as distant and recalled feeling abandoned. She also shared how, during visits, her mother’s attention would wane after only a few hours. Their contrasting personalities—her mother’s free-spirited nature versus Sachi’s desire for a more stable home—only added to their disconnect.
One particularly difficult memory was a Christmas spent alone at a European boarding school. Unsure of where her parents were, she eventually found herself spending the holiday with strangers. Though she can laugh about it now, at the time, it was a lonely and painful experience.
As time passed, Sachi hoped for a closer relationship with her mother, but she felt that her mother was unwilling to acknowledge their emotional distance. She never received financial support growing up, but she believes this helped her develop independence.
After sending her mother a copy of her memoir, she never received a response. Despite this, writing the book gave her closure. She has insisted that she did not write it out of malice but simply to share her truth, as she had always been taught to do.
Now 68, Sachi has two children, Frank Jr. and Arin, from her marriage to Frank H. Murray, which lasted from 1993 to 2011. She approached motherhood differently than her own mother, choosing to be more involved in her children’s lives. She admitted to overcompensating in an effort to provide them with the stability she lacked.
Meanwhile, her mother continues to live life on her own terms. Now in her later years, she remains selective about her projects, choosing roles that align with her interests rather than chasing commercial success. She has learned to strike a balance between work and leisure, embracing a simpler and more peaceful lifestyle.
She considers herself happier than ever, valuing her health and personal fulfillment above all else. Though romance is no longer a priority, she finds joy in the company of her three dogs.
Spending much of her time at her ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, she enjoys solitude and occasional trips to Santa Fe for its vibrant arts and food scene. With gratitude and optimism, she continues to cherish each day, embracing the lessons life has taught her.
