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 on 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 wax figures galleries in Amsterdam and Las Vegas.
Life and career Conley, an Irish American, was born in Ireland, the daughter of Melba (née Manthey) and Raymond Conley. She began her acting career at age 15 when she was cast in the touring production of the Broadway play The Heiress. After graduating from high school, she appeared in several stage productions, including Cyrano de Bergerac, The Baker's Wife and 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.
In 1963, Conley landed a bit part in the movie The Birds, which was followed by similar small roles in movies like Valley of the Dolls and Lady Sings the Blues. On television, Conley appeared in a number of made-for-television movies and guest-starred on prime time shows including Ironside, The Bill Cosby Show and Gunsmoke. She also appeared in the first episode of the fifth season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show as a prison warden. Conley appeared on Little House on the Prairie in 1981, in the episode entitled "A Wiser Heart."
Daytime television Conley's performance as Rose DeVille on the daytime soap opera 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 in 1983 during Liz Chandler's incarceration for Marie Horton's shooting. As Trixie on 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 inspired William J. Bell to cast her as flamboyant fashion maven Sally Spectra on his newer serial, The Bold and the Beautiful. She earned two Outstanding Supporting Actress Daytime Emmy and six Soap Opera Digest Awards nominations for her role.
She was friends with several actors who appeared on "B&B", including Fabio, who has appeared on the show several times, usually under the guise of celebrating Sally's birthday. She was also friends with 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. Conley died on January 14, 2007. B&B featured a tribute to Conley; John McCook presented the tribute, which featured her memorable moments on the show.
On The Bold and the Beautiful, Sally Spectra remained a character. Sally's absence was explained by her son CJ telling 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.
In late 2007, Sally decided to sell her fashion house. Nick Marone and 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, 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 Waitress1967Valley of the Dolls Nurse in Sanitarium 1968Faces Billy Mae1970Ironside LandladyEpisode: "A Killing Will Occur"1970The Name of the GameBlanche ReidEpisode: "A Love to Remember"1970The Bill Cosby ShowMarket CashierEpisode: "The Old Man of 4-C"1970GunsmokeLeelah CaseEpisode: " Gentry's Law"1970Captain Milkshake Mrs. Hamilton1971LongstreetMrs. BenbrookEpisode: "A World of Perfect Complicity"1971Minnie and Moskowitz uncredited1972Lady Sings the Blues uncredited1972Play It as It Lays Kate's Nurse1972Ghost StoryRuth JerroldEpisode: "The Summer House"1973Gentle Savage Mac Moody1973The President's Plane Is Missinguncredited1974Get Christie Love! Virginia1974The Mary Tyler Moore Show MatronEpisode: "Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?"1978Return EngagementAide1979The Stingiest Man in TownMrs. CratchitVoice1979Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July Mrs. Claus1979The Jeffersons MotherEpisode: "The Other Woman"1979–801986–87The Young and the RestlessRose DeVilleRecurring role1981The Choice Marilyn1981The Nashville Grab Rooney1981Little House on the PrairieMrs. PierceEpisode: "A Wiser Heart"1983The FighterMrs. MacCauley1983Cagney & LaceyCharge NurseEpisode: "Burn Out"1983I Want to Live Miss Bain1983Days of Our LivesWarden Edith BakerRecurring role1984Capitol LouiseRecurring role1985Robert Kennedy and His Times ModeratorMiniseries1985Murder, She Wrote MimsEpisode: "Jessica Behind Bars"1986Tough GuysGladys Ripps1987Scarecrow and Mrs. King JenkinsEpisode: "The Khrushchev List"1987Highway to HeavenMrs. ParkerEpisode: "In with the 'In' Crowd"1984–1988General Hospital Trixie MonahanRecurring role1988–2006The Bold and the Beautiful Sally SpectraSeries regular, 1558 episodesNominated — 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)1997The Oz KidsMombi (voice)Episode "The Return of Mombi"1998Pittige tijdenSally SpectraEpisode
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