Sally Field Relationships: The Story Fans Didn't Expect
- 01. Sally Field Personal Life and Relationships: The Complete Story
- 02. Early Life and First Marriage
- 03. The Burt Reynolds Romance: Passion, Power, and Pain
- 04. Second Marriage: Alan Greisman and Son Samuel
- 05. Post-Divorce Dating and Current Single Status
- 06. Children and Family Overview
- 07. Other Notable Dating Links
- 08. Childhood Context and Emotional Patterns
- 09. Why Field Says She'll Never Marry Again
- 10. Timeline of Key Relationship Events
- 11. Legacy: Motherhood Over Marriage
Sally Field Personal Life and Relationships: The Complete Story
Sally Field has been married twice and had one major long-term romance: she married Steven Craig from 1968 to 1975 (two sons: Peter and Eli), dated Burt Reynolds from 1976-1980 After parting with Craig, she wed producer Alan Greisman from 1984 to 1993, welcoming son Samuel in 1987; she has been single since the mid-1990s after brief relationships and now says she'll never marry again.
Early Life and First Marriage
Field was born November 6, 1946, in Pasadena, California, and rose to fame via TV roles in Gidget (1965-66) and The Flying Nun (1967-70) before becoming a two-time Oscar winner for Norma Rae and Places in the Heart. Her first marriage to high-school sweetheart Steven Craig began when she was 21, in 1968, and lasted seven years until their 1975 divorce. During that marriage they had two sons: Peter Craig (now a novelist) and Eli Craig (an actor/director).
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Field later reflected that she married Craig "for all the wrong reasons," suggesting emotional immaturity and family pressure shaped that decision. That union produced two sons and ended after seven years, setting the stage for her most famous romance.
The Burt Reynolds Romance: Passion, Power, and Pain
Field met Burt Reynolds on the 1977 set of Smokey and the Bandit, and they began a five-year relationship that burned hot but ended in 1980. In her 2018 memoir In Pieces, Field wrote that Reynolds' star power became a control mechanism, saying: "By the time we met, the weight of his stardom had become a way for Burt to control everyone around him," including her.
She described the romance as "confusing and complicated," noting it contained love and care but was ultimately hurtful to her. Despite public adoration for their on-screen chemistry, the relationship accounted for a tumultuous period in Field's personal life and ended without marriage.
Second Marriage: Alan Greisman and Son Samuel
After her breakup with Reynolds, Field won her second Oscar for Places in the Heart (1984) and married film producer Alan Greisman that same year. Greisman produced notable films including Fletch, The Bucket List, and Being Charlie. The couple welcomed son Samuel Greisman in 1987 (some sources cite 1989).
Their marriage lasted approximately nine to ten years, ending in divorce in 1993 or 1994 depending on the source. Field later stated each of her three major partners "were just not a good match" for her, hinting at recurring incompatibility patterns.
Post-Divorce Dating and Current Single Status
Following her second divorce, Field had brief relationships including with set designer Rob Howell and a 1995-96 romance with Jerry Knight, but she has been single for most of the 2000s and 2010s. In 2024, at age 77, Field publicly revealed she will never marry again, citing cumulative heartbreak and incompatibility.
Today, Field focuses on her three sons and four grandchildren, stating she is thankful for that family legacy even as her romantic life cooled. She has made peace with being single and channels energy into acting and memoir-writing rather than new partnerships.
Children and Family Overview
Field's family structure centers on three sons from two marriages, with growing grandchildren. The table below summarizes key relationships and children:
| Partner | Relationship Type | Years | Children | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Craig | Marriage | 1968-1975 | Peter Craig, Eli Craig | Divorced |
| Burt Reynolds | Romance | 1976-1980 | None | Broke up |
| Alan Greisman | Marriage | 1984-1993 | Samuel Greisman | Divorced |
Other Notable Dating Links
Field's dating history includes several shorter or rumored relationships that shaped her early career years:
- Lee Majors (1967) - brief pre-Craig romance
- Pete Duel (1967-1968) - overlapping with early Craig courtship
- Davy Jones (1965-1966) - early pop-culture link during Gidget era
- Kevin Kline (1982) - short post-Reynolds connection
- Johnny Carson and Jimmy Webb - rumored/labeled links in dating archives
These connections reflect Field's high-profile Circle in Hollywood across decades, yet none culminated in marriage besides her two official unions.
Childhood Context and Emotional Patterns
Field's memoir In Pieces reveals dark uncertainties from childhood, including abuse by her stepfather, actor/stuntman Jocko Mahoney, who married her mother when Field was 4. This early trauma influenced her self-worth and relationship choices, contributing to patterns of devastating romantic heartbreaks.
She admitted she "sometimes has trouble liking herself," linking that inner struggle to repeated emotional pain in adult relationships. This context helps explain why her marriages and long-term romance ended painfully, despite outward success.
Why Field Says She'll Never Marry Again
In 2024 interviews, Field stated clearly she will never marry again, citing that each partner "were just not a good match" and the cumulative toll of two divorces and one tumultuous romance. At 77, she emphasizes gratitude for her children and grandchildren rather than seeking a new spouse.
Her decision reflects emotional maturity and acceptance of single life after decades of high-profile relationships.
Timeline of Key Relationship Events
Understanding the chronological flow helps clarify how Field's personal life evolved alongside her career:
- 1965-1966: Dates Davy Jones during Gidget fame
- 1968: Marries Steven Craig at age 21
- 1969-1970: Son Eli born; continues TV work
- 1975: Divorces Craig after seven years
- 1976-1980: Dates Burt Reynolds; meets on Smokey and the Bandit set in 1977
- 1979: Wins first Oscar for Norma Rae
- 1984: Wins second Oscar for Places in the Heart; marries Alan Greisman
- 1987: Son Samuel born
- 1993: Divorces Greisman after ~9 years
- 1995-1996: Dates Jerry Knight briefly
- 2018: Publishes memoir In Pieces, detailing childhood trauma and relationships
- 2024: At 77, announces she'll never marry again
Legacy: Motherhood Over Marriage
Though Field's romantic life included two divorces and one complex romance, her enduring pride lies in motherhood: three sons and four grandchildren. A friend noted: "She has three wonderful sons she adores, she has four grandchildren - and she will always be thankful for that".
This shift from seeking romantic fulfillment to celebrating family reflects Field's hard-won emotional resilience. Today, she is respected not just for her Oscar-winning acting but for her candidness about love, loss, and self-acceptance.
Key concerns and solutions for Sally Field Relationships The Story Fans Didnt Expect
How many times was Sally Field married?
Sally Field was married twice: first to Steven Craig (1968-1975) and then to Alan Greisman (1984-1993).
Did Sally Field and Burt Reynolds get married?
No, Sally Field and Burt Reynolds dated from 1976 to 1980 but never married; their five-year romance ended due to emotional complexity and Reynolds' controlling behavior.
Does Sally Field have children?
Yes, Sally Field has three sons: Peter Craig and Eli Craig (with Steven Craig) and Samuel Greisman (with Alan Greisman).
Is Sally Field currently dating anyone?
No, Sally Field is currently single; she dated Rob Howell briefly in the 1990s but has been single since the mid-1990s and says she'll never marry again.
Why did Sally Field marry her first husband?
Field married Steven Craig at 21 "for all the wrong reasons," likely due to emotional immaturity and family pressure, not deep compatibility.
What did Sally Field say about Burt Reynolds in her memoir?
In In Pieces, Field wrote that Reynolds used his stardom to control people around him and called their romance "confusing and complicated" and "hurtful".