What Happened to This ’60s Film Star Who Divorced After 28 Years of Marriage and Has a Strained Relationship with Her Daughter?

The celebrity, a legendary film icon of the 1960s, is now 90. After her 28-year marriage ended, she experienced challenges in her relationship with her daughter.

The public figure’s storied career in Hollywood reflects an unwavering dedication to her craft, a principle she continues to embrace despite personal challenges. Her success stems from a relentless work ethic and a collaborative mindset that have defined her decades-long journey in the entertainment industry.

From her breakout role in “The Trouble with Harry” to later performances in acclaimed films such as “The Apartment,” “Irma la Douce,” and “Terms of Endearment,” the actress has consistently demonstrated her talent.

She attributes her discipline to her early training as a dancer, “My mentality, my work ethic, everything about my sense of being efficient—dancer.”

Her pragmatic approach and refusal to adopt diva behavior illustrate her reputation as a consummate team player in a notoriously demanding industry. Moreover, the celebrity’s commitment to her craft has defined her career and remains a source of fulfillment.

Though she has scaled back her workload compared to her peak years, she has expressed a steadfast commitment to her career in an interview, “I don’t want to quit acting — I really don’t.” Even at her age, she remains active.

“I think [some] costars are surprised I’m still walking upright,” she added. The award-winning star finds joy and stimulation in her work. “I learn so much about what I don’t really know every time I’m on a movie.”

The Hollywood star’s dedication to her career has always been complemented by a personal life filled with unique experiences and relationships, which she has openly shared over the years.

Off-screen, she embraced the role of a family woman, marrying her only husband, film producer Steve Parker, in 1954. The couple welcomed their daughter, Sachi, two years later.

Reflecting on their 28-year union, the Virginia native described the couple’s relationship as more of a friendship than a marriage. “I guess you would say ‘practiced an open marriage’ in 1954, which was another lifetime,” she shared.

While she worked in America and Steve lived primarily in Japan, the two remained close. “We’d meet up, always great friends, traveled sometimes together,” the actress explained. Their marriage ultimately ended in 1982.

Notably, the film star’s personal life mirrored the balance she sought between her career and motherhood, influenced by her life experiences.

The actress’s daughter spent much of her childhood with her father. As a mother, she chose to prioritize her career, believing that staying home would have led to frustration that Sachi would have sensed. This perspective was influenced by her own mother, an amateur actress whose ambitions were set aside after marriage.

The “Steel Magnolias” star often wished her parent had pursued her talents more fully, a sentiment that motivated her to show Sachi the importance of following one’s passions while still embracing parenthood.

This balance of career and motherhood defined her unique relationship with her child as they navigated a life split between continents.

At six, Sachi moved to Japan to live with her father, spending summers and holidays with her mother. Despite the distance, neither seemed burdened by the arrangement at the time. “She was always just a phone call away,” Sachi once remarked in a 1984 interview, emphasizing that she never felt abandoned.

Meanwhile, her mother, taking a more hands-off approach, explained, “My philosophy was always to just let her grow up and to be there if she needed me.” Avoiding the imposition of her own values, the actress supported Sachi’s independence, even as their outlooks diverged.

However, this nuanced relationship took a different turn when Sachi shared her perspective in her 2013 memoir, “Lucky Me: My Life With — and Without — My Mom, Shirley MacLaine,” offering a more candid portrayal of their bond.

In the book and subsequent interviews, the Los Angeles native described her mother, Shirley MacLaine, as often distant. “[…] I was very lonely — very lonely. Definitely. And I still struggle with abandonment issues and loneliness,” she admitted.

Moreover, in her memoir, Sachi, also an actress, wrote that Shirley’s enthusiasm for her visits seemed to wane after only a few hours. When asked in an interview if this was accurate, she responded, “Pretty much.”

While Sachi expressed a desire for marriage, a family, and traditional domesticity, Shirley’s unconventional lifestyle highlighted their contrasting priorities. The challenges of their relationship were evident in Sachi’s recollections of her teenage years.

She once described her upbringing with a mix of emotions, “My childhood was both very, very adventurous and happy, but also very lonely and painful. I don’t think there was a gray area.”

While attending boarding school in Europe, she spent one Christmas without either parent returning home. “I laugh now, but at the time, it was very scary and very painful,” she admitted.

Taken in briefly by a classmate’s family and later by an elderly couple, Sachi endured a holiday filled with uncertainty, unsure of her parents’ whereabouts.

Additionally, the emotional distance between mother and daughter persisted in later years, as Sachi reflected on their strained relationship during an interview.

She expressed a longing for a better connection, noting Shirley’s difficulty with facing the truth. While financial support was withheld growing up, it ultimately strengthened her independence.

Despite sending her a copy of her memoir, she had not received a response. Writing the book, though emotionally challenging, provided clarity and closure. She maintained that her intent was not to hurt but to share her memories and speak the truth, as Shirley had once taught her.

The experiences of her own childhood deeply influenced Sachi’s approach to raising her family. Now 68, Sachi shares two children, Frank Jr. and Arin Murray, with her former husband, Frank H. Murray, to whom she was married from 1993 to 2011.

While she has generally kept her children out of the public eye, she offered a rare insight into her parenting during a 2013 interview. Reflecting on how her upbringing influenced her, the mother of two said, “I overcompensated. But being a great mom is healing for me.”

While Sachi focuses on her family, her mother continues to embrace a fulfilling and creative life in her later years. Shirley remains active in the industry, carefully choosing roles that resonate with her values and prioritizing meaningful projects over big-budget franchises. The veteran star balances her work with leisure.

Summing up her contentment, she once said in an interview, “I have a very full life and at the same time a life where nothing much happens. It’s the best I’ve ever been.” Balancing her creative pursuits with a peaceful lifestyle, Shirley embodies a positive outlook that reflects her contentment.

The actress approaches life with gratitude, expressing thankfulness for the opportunity to continue working. Beyond her career, she cherishes her health and the companionship of close friends. In recent years, her romantic life has taken a backseat, but her three dogs have become a central source of intimacy and companionship.

Shirley MacLaine enjoys the solitude of her ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, where she spends part of the year. “I have someone who comes in a couple of times a week, but otherwise I’m totally alone,” she once divulged, occasionally visiting Santa Fe for its artistic and culinary charm.