Bio
Darlene Conley (July 18, 1934 – January 14, 2007) was an American actress.
Conley's career spanned 50 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 Emmy Award-nominated role from 1988 until her death 19 years later.
Conley, an Irish American, was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Conley was employed with the travelling theatre group the Chicago Uptown Circuit Players and Playwrights Company. She earned 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.
Her performance as Rose DeVille on The Young and the Restless followed, with Conley playing many small roles on other soaps for most of the 1980s. An encore as Rose DeVille inspired William J. Bell to cast her as flamboyant fashion maven Sally Spectra on his newer serial.
She earned two Outstanding Supporting Actress Daytime Emmy nominations.
She was friends with several actors who appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful, 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.
Conley had been ill for several years due to a fall that broke several bones. She recovered from the fall and had 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. Darlene, 72, died on January 14, 2007, three months after her diagnosis.
In America, a tribute was shown at the end of the 26th January episode of The Bold & The Beautiful. John McCook gave a short tribute which was followed by a clip show of her memorable moments on the show.