Sally Kirkland, a former model and Oscar nominated actress known for her roles in films such as Anna, The Sting and JFK has died aged 84.

Her representative, Michael Greene, said Kirkland died on Tuesday morning at a Palm Springs hospice.

Kirkland had been unwell and struggling to cover medical bills after she fractured six bones last year and developed two life-threatening infections. She had also been diagnosed with dementia.

A GoFundMePage that was set up by her friends to help pay for her ongoing treatment had raised over £45,000 ($60,000).

Her biggest role was in the 1987 film Anna, as a fading Czech movie star remaking her life in the United States and mentoring a younger actor.

Kirkland won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination alongside Cher in Moonstruck, Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, Holly Hunter in Broadcast News and Meryl Streep in Ironweed.

Born in New York City, Kirkland was encouraged to start modelling at age five by her mother, who was a fashion editor at Vogue and Life magazines. Kirkland went on to graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1961.

An early breakout for the star was appearing in Andy Warhol’s 13 Most Beautiful Women in 1964.

Some of her earliest roles were playing Shakespeare parts, including Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Miranda in an off-Broadway production of The Tempest.

She once told the Los Angeles Times: “I don’t think any actor can really call him or herself an actor unless he or she puts in time with Shakespeare.”

Kirkland was also infamous for her nude scenes, often disrobing in films and for social causes. In particular, Kirkland volunteered and advocated for people with AIDS, the homeless and prisoners.

Dame Jilly Cooper died from a head injury after falling at her home in Gloucestershire, an inquest has found.

Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, said the 88-year-old author “fell, perhaps down some stairs, sustaining a significant head injury”.

Though the fall was unwitnessed, forensic evidence in the area surrounding the stairs suggested that it was where the fall occurred.

South Western Ambulance Service were called at 5.35pm on 4 October and arrived at Dame Jilly’s home at 5.56pm, they told the inquiry in a statement.

Dame Jilly was initially alert and speaking with the crew on arrival. She did not recall the exact details of the fall, with only a “vague recollection of falling down”, but she spoke of having a severe headache.

She was transferred to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where an urgent CT scan found she had sustained a skull fracture, determined likely to be a terminal event.

“The medical opinion was that this head injury was unfortunately catastrophic,” said Ms Skerrett. “She was made comfortable, her condition sadly thereafter deteriorated, and she passed away in the emergency department with family”.

Dame Jilly’s long-standing GP told the inquest that she had fallen twice previously, in 2018 and in September 2024.

She died in hospital at 8.30am on 5 October. Her death was found to be accidental, with Ms Skerrett saying “there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her fall”.

Ms Skerrett extended the “sincere condolences” of the coroner’s office to Dame Jilly’s family.

In a statement after her death, her children Emily Tarrant and Felix Cooper paid tribute to their mum, saying that “her unexpected death has come as a complete shock”.

“We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can’t begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us,” they added.

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The author’s many fans included former prime minister Rishi Sunak, who said her books offered “escapism”. She was a long-standing friend of Queen Camilla.

One of Dame Jilly’s most-loved characters – the showjumping womaniser Rupert Campbell-Black – was partly based on the Queen’s ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles.

He was recently portrayed by actor Alex Hassell in the 2024 Disney+ adaptation of her novel Rivals.

In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace after Dame Jilly’s death, Camilla said: “I join my husband, the King, in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family. And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”

A new edition of Dame Jilly’s book, How To Survive Christmas, which was first published in 1986, will be released on 13 November.

Her funeral will be held in private, in line with her wishes, but a public service of thanksgiving will be held at Southwark Cathedral at a later date, her agent has said.

A senior NHS manager, described by a judge as “devious, scheming and manipulative”, has been jailed for 28 years for raping and sexually assaulting girls he groomed on Snapchat.

Paul Lipscombe, 51, from Rothley in Leicestershire, admitted 34 offences against six girls – aged between 12 and 15 – between September 2023 and April 2024 after targeting them via the social media app.

Leicester Crown Court heard that police became aware of his offending after a 15-year-old girl, who was reported missing, told officers that she had been raped.

Prosecutor Frida Hussain KC told Judge Keith Raynor on Monday that Lipscombe was initially arrested on suspicion of kidnapping the missing girl when officers pulled over his car in Birstall, near Leicester, in April 2024.

Ms Hussain told the court the girl went missing from her home late at night and was picked up by Lipscombe nearby, before he took her to a hotel. Police later found the child at a rented address.

“He accused other people of serious crimes simply in order to mask his own crimes,” Ms Hussain added.

Follow-up searches at the hotel, his car and home uncovered evidence that the youngster had been sexually assaulted. Police recovered items including soft toys, restraints, vodka, his phone and another mobile which had been wiped.

Devious, scheming and manipulative

Passing sentence on Tuesday, Judge Raynor told Lipscombe he was “intelligent, confident, resourceful and well-organised” and the victims had been “truly vulnerable”.

“The evidence shows you to have been devious, scheming and manipulative. You were bold in your offending and you took very high risks. The sexual abuse of young girls was an obsession in life for you,” he said.

Leicester Crown Court heard that when Lipscombe initially contacted the girls, he told them he was in his late 20s or early 30s. Five of the six girls had met with him and been raped or sexually assaulted.

A significant number of indecent images of children were discovered on his devices and online storage accounts. He had also set up a website where people could buy illegal videos of child abuse created through AI technology.

The court was told Lipscombe had been targeting girls using several Snapchat accounts, including two fake names, Dom Woodmore and George.

In February, Paul Lipscombe pleaded guilty to 34 offences, including two counts of rape of a child under 13; 21 counts of sexual activity with a child; three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13; and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted six counts of making indecent photographs of children and distributing indecent photographs of children.

Lipscombe was sentenced on Tuesday to 28 years and one month, and to remain on licence for three years after his release. He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life.

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Could be other victims, say police

Detective Constable Lauren Speight, from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU), said: “Our investigation into the offending carried out by this man is continuing.

“We suspect he may have been in contact with other girls and could well have committed sexual offences against others. We would urge anyone who has been in contact with him to contact us.”

The married NHS executive worked with the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust as a performance and informatics specialist.

In a statement, the trust said Lipscombe was initially suspended when he was arrested, then later dismissed in June 2024.

It added there was “nothing has been identified at this stage to indicate this individual’s criminal activity was committed as part of their role”.