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Penelope Milford news: Academy Award-nominated actress Penelope Milford, best known for her moving performance in the 1978 classic Coming Home, has passed away at the age of 77. Her death was confirmed on October 14 at an assisted living facility in Saugerties, New York. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
Born on March 23, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, Milford was widely admired for her emotional depth and versatility as a performer. Her portrayal of Vi Munson in Hal Ashby’s Coming Home earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, placing her alongside co-stars Jane Fonda and Jon Voight, who both won Academy Awards for their roles. The film, which explored the psychological and social aftermath of the Vietnam War, remains one of the most significant anti-war dramas of the 1970s.
In Coming Home, Milford’s performance as the spirited roommate of Fonda’s Sally Hyde and sister to Bruce Dern’s Bill Munson was praised for its authenticity and subtle strength. Critics described her presence as “gentle yet powerful,” noting how she brought empathy and warmth to an otherwise harrowing narrative.
Her acting career spanned both cinema and theatre. Milford made her film debut in Norman Mailer’s Maidstone (1970). He went on to appear in several memorable roles, including Lorna Sinclair in Valentino (1977), Pauline Fleming in the cult classic Heathers (1988), and a supporting part in Endless Love (1981). Each of these performances reflected her ability to shift seamlessly between tender, humorous, and emotionally complex characters.
Milford also had a thriving stage career. She appeared in the off-Broadway production Long Time Coming and a Long Time Gone in 1971 alongside Richard Gere. A year later, she joined the Broadway cast of Lenny and went on to receive a Drama Desk Award nomination for her portrayal of Jenny Anderson in the musical Shenandoah (1975).
In the 1990s, Milford devoted her time to teaching acting in Chicago and Minneapolis, where she mentored aspiring performers. Later in life, she continued to perform in community theatre in Saugerties and sang with the Bard Symphony Chorus, reflecting her lifelong passion for the arts.
She is survived by her brother, Douglas Milford and sister Candace Saint. Her younger brother, Richard Kim Milford, predeceased her in 1980 at the age of 37.
