Penelope Milford, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the 1978 film Coming Home, has died at the age of 77, her brother Doug Milford has confirmed.Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor, Mia O’Hare Senior Showbiz Reporter and Emma O’Neill Assistant Live News Editor
20:42, 15 Oct 2025
(Image: Getty Images)
Oscar-nominated actress Penelope Milford has sadly passed away, as confirmed by her brother, Doug Milford. The cause of her death was not disclosed.
In 1979, Penelope was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Vi Munson in the film Coming Home. She passed away in Saugerties, New York and was a well-known figure in the 70s and 80s due to her successful acting career.
She enjoyed a fruitful stint on Broadway and co-starred with Richard Gere in the popular play Richard Farina: Long Time Coming and a Long Time Gone. Born in St Louis, Missouri, Penelope secured numerous roles on the big screen throughout her career.
The actress featured in Norman Mailer’s Maidstone in 1970 and Ken Russell’s 1977 biopic Valentino. Her standout role came in the war drama Coming Home where she starred alongside Jon Voight, Jane Fonda and Bruce Dern.
The film became one of the top films of 1978, achieving both commercial success and critical acclaim. At the 36th Golden Globe Awards, the film received six nominations including Best Motion Picture in the Drama category, reports the Mirror.
At the 51st Academy Awards, it garnered eight nominations including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Penelope. Coming Home went on to win Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor and Actress.
Penelope’s subsequent film credit was Franco Zeffirelli’s Endless Love in 1981. She then transitioned to television where she landed several notable roles.
The actress starred alongside Henry Fonda, Cloris Leachman and Timothy Hutton in the Emmy-winning TV play The Oldest Living Graduate. She was lauded for her role in the 1984 TV film The Burning Bed, which tackled the issue of marital abuse.
Penelope collaborated with Farrah Fawcett on the film, which bagged a WGA award and a Golden Globe. Her final acting credit was in the 1997 comedy thriller Night of the Lawyers.
After deciding to step away from Hollywood, Penelope transitioned into teaching the next generation of stars. She imparted her knowledge at film schools in Chicago and Minneapolis.
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