Darlene Conley

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Darlene Conley (ex-Sally, B&B)

Vital Statistics

THE 411

Before Darlene Conley originated the role of the flamboyant Sally Spectra in 1989, she had already carved out an impressive career in theater, film and prime-time. Raised on the South side of Chicago, Conley was discovered at age 15 by Broadway impresario (and notoriously difficult boss) Jed Harris. The feisty teen read a gossip item in a local newspaper that the actress playing the maid in a production of The Heiress was pregnant. Conley brazenly banged on the stage door, declared, "I understand you're going to need a new maid" and landed the gig. Following high school, she toured with classical theater companies before appearing in stage roles on Broadway and in Los Angeles with such luminaries as Basil Rathbone, Richard Chamberlain, Jean Stapleton and Michael York.

Alfred Hitchcock then cast Conley in his 1963 flick The Birds, her first feature film. (Interestingly, she has been repeatedly miscredited on the Internet as one of the schoolgirls running from attacking crows. Actually, she portrayed the bespectacled waitress in a diner scene). After co-starring in several more movies (working with screen legends like Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas), Conley went on to conquer television, appearing in a host of episodic programs and TV movies.

Conley's daytime career began in 1979 on YOUNG AND RESTLESS, where she portrayed one of daytime's most memorable villainesses, Rose DeVille. The part of Sally 10 years later started off as just a recurring role, but soon evolved into a major, madcap character. Along the way, she received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1991 and '92.

In November 2006, B&B announced Conley was diagnosed with stomach cancer during a routine physical exam and was undergoing treatment, but her condition quickly deteriorated. She lost her battle with cancer and died at her home on January 14, 2007. "She was one of a kind and I'll miss her," lamented Conley's former co-star Joseph Mascolo (ex-Massimo).

ET CETERA

—Known for her impressions of Alfred Hitchcock and Clark Gable
—Because of her international popularity, Madame Tussaud's wax museum chose Sally Spectra as the only soap-opera character to be displayed in its Amsterdam and Las Vegas galleries.
—Some of Sally's disguises included Mae West, a Louise Brooks-esque German spy, an Italian gigolo, Madonna, a German countess, a harem girl and a hot-tub maintenance man.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Other Soap Roles
CAPITOL (Louise, 1984)
GENERAL HOSPITAL (Trixie, 1984)
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Edith, 1983)
Y&R (Rose, 1979-80, 1986-87)
TV Roles
HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN (1984) (Mrs. Parker) 9 December 1987
SCARECROW AND MRS. KING (1983) (Jenkins) 28 May 1987
MURDER SHE WROTE (1984) (Mims) 1 December 1985
CAGNEY & LACY (1982) (Charge Nurse) 7 March 1983
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE (1974) (Mrs. Pierce) 2 November 1981
THE JEFFERSONS (1975) (Mother) 21 February 1979
Film Roles
Gentle Savage (1973) (Mac Moody)
Play It As It Lays (1972) (Kate's Nurse)
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) (uncredited)
Captain Milkshake (1970) (Mrs. Hamilton)
Faces (1968) (Billy Mae )
Valley of the Dolls (1967)
The Birds (1963) (uncredited Waitress)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

"I'm not an easy woman. I never was."—Soap Opera Digest, 8/22/89

"If I get in your face and I'm giving you a hard time, all you have to do is come back at me, and I'm fine. I don't hold grudges."—Digest, 2/3/98

"Sally Spectra is one of the most important characters to come along. She is so comfortable in her own sexuality. She would not be ashamed to take her clothes off in front of anybody."—Digest, 6/15/99

"If I had one cheap shot taken at me, I've had a hundred. But if you come into this business, you can't have a soft skin. I've learned to forget it because you have to consider the source and that people are trying to make a name for themselves."—Digest, 3/12/02

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