Sally Field Opens Up About Her Turbulent Childhood In New Memoir

Alaina April 18, 2025

Life hasn’t always been a bed of roses for Sally Field. In her heartfelt memoir, In Pieces, the legendary actress dives deep into her challenging childhood, offering fans a raw and unfiltered look at her early life. Sally, who grew up alongside her older brother Rick and younger half-sister Princess, paints a vivid picture of her struggles and triumphs in this deeply personal narrative.

Back in the day, Sally often described herself as "a little stress case with a brand-new family and a constant stomachache that no one could explain." It wasn’t just the typical growing pains; her childhood was filled with complexities that shaped her into the resilient woman she is today. Her story is one of survival, strength, and self-discovery, and it’s all captured beautifully in her memoir.

Growing up, Sally’s world was turned upside down when her mother, who battled alcoholism, divorced her father, Dick Field, when Sally was just four years old. The following year, her mother remarried Jock Mahoney, a man who would later become a significant source of pain in Sally’s life. In her memoir, Sally bravely recounts how her stepfather sexually abused her during her teenage years, an experience that left deep scars but also fueled her determination to overcome adversity.

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Brother Rick Reflects on Their Shared Struggles

Rick, now 74, acknowledges the hardships they faced growing up. Speaking to Closer, he reveals, "We didn’t have a real easy childhood. Jocko was not a very nice man." Rick, who often tried to shield Sally from their stepfather’s cruel behavior, adds, "We basically had to define our own path." It was a tough time for both siblings, but their bond provided a lifeline through the chaos.

Sally’s confusion about Jock’s behavior was palpable. She recalls, "It would have been so much easier if Jocko had been nothing but cruel. But he wasn’t; he could be magical. He loved me enough not to invade me. He never invaded me." This duality made it even more challenging for young Sally to understand and process her feelings at the time.

Mom's Role: A Question of Awareness

It remains unclear whether their mother, who passed away in 2011, fully grasped the extent of what was happening. Sally once confided, "There were times when I longed to have her explode in a fury." Her mother’s absence in addressing the abuse left Sally yearning for acknowledgment and support during her most vulnerable moments.

Healing Through Writing

Now, Sally has poured all those buried emotions into her memoir. As a child, she says, "emotions were not really allowed at the dinner table… or anywhere." This suppression fueled a deep urgency within her, one that she channeled into her writing. "Something was growing in me, this urgency that