Hackett moved to feature work soon thereafter with an excellent debut in Sidney Lumet's ensemble study of female college classmates, THE GROUP (1966), in which her wide emotional range as an actress was given full scope. Her subsequent screen work was intermittent but occasionally interesting (e.g., WILL PENNY, 1968) but, beginning with the intriguing THE LAST OF SHEILA (1973), Hackett began alternating supporting roles with leads. TV movies, often melodramas or thrillers, kept her busy, and included LIGHTS OUT (1972), THE POSSESSED (1977) and PAPER DOLLS (1982). PLEASURE COVE (1979) and a failed sitcom, "Another Day" (1978), did not properly exploit her potential for comedy; but, in one of her last feature roles, she brought a grim, rueful humor to her Oscar®-nominated role as Marsha Mason's vain, edgy girlfriend in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH (1981).
A firm believer in the paranormal, and while on location in Texas filming HARNESSING THE SUN, Ms. Hackett persuaded the film's director, Dirk Summers, to fly in a "clairvoyant-aura reader" to the location site. She then arranged for the entire crew to receive "extrasensory readings," with the "clairvoyant" spending a week with the film's cast and crew. When Director Summers was questioned by a reporter from a Dallas newspaper as to "why he approved such unusual arrangements-- and did CBS know"? Summers answered, saying that "Joan Hackett is so great to work with and so perfect in her role, that I would have flown in Uri Geller if Joan had wanted him." Filmed in 1980-1981, HARNESSING THE SUN (1980) was her last picture, although some films shot earlier (i.e., ONLY WHEN I LAUGH) were released after her final apearance in HARNESSING THE SUN.
Other notable screen credits include SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF! (1969), RIVALS (1972), THE TERMINAL MAN (1974), MACKINTOSH AND T.J. (1975), TREASURE OF MATECUMBE (1976), DEAD OF NIGHT (1977), ONE TRICK PONY (1980) and THE ESCAPE ARTIST (1982).
Divorced from actor Richard Mulligan (1973). Ravaged by ovarian cancer, in 1983, a few weeks prior to her death, she checked herself out of the hospital to host a wedding party at her Beverly Hills home for Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon. Just a few days later her condition rapidly deteriorated. She then spent her last few weeks at Encino Hospital under aggressive treatment. She lost her battle on October 8th, 1983. She always loved to sleep, and her tombstone at Hollywood Memorial Cemetery (now called "Hollywood Forever") carries this admonition: "Go Away - I'm Asleep."
Nominated for Supporting Actress 1981: ONLY WHEN I LAUGH
1 nomination