What Happened to “The Flying Nun ”Cast? Inside Their Lives After the '60s Sitcom Ended
What Happened to “The Flying Nun ”Cast? Inside Their Lives After the '60s Sitcom Ended
Skyler TrepelSat, March 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM UTC
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Shelley Morrison and Sally Field in The Flying Nun.Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
It’s time to fly again.
The Flying Nun took place in the Convent San Tanco in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the titular character — also known as Sister Bertrille — played by Sally Field arrived one day to join as a nun after being arrested in a free speech protest.
Sister Bertrille was most notable for her flying abilities, which came from a combination of her weighing less than 90 pounds, the shape of her cornette and the direction of the wind lifting her.
The series served as a breakout role for Field and also earned Marge Redmond — who played Sister Bertrille’s wise friend Sister Jacqueline — an Emmy Award nomination.
“We also started shooting that show — just to give some context — in 1966 [or] 67,” Field shared during a November 2022 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “[It felt like] my whole generation was running around naked and eating granola and dropping acid and changing the world and I was a nun … I was a flying nun.”
Here’s everything to know about what happened to the cast of The Flying Nun.
01 of 07
Sally Field as Sister Bertrille
Sally Field as Sister Bertrille in The Flying Nun ; Sally Field is seen backstage during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Al Seib/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty
Sally Field played Sister Bertrille, the bubbly, optimistic flying nun. While filming the show, Field was pregnant with her first son, Peter, which she had to hide, since nuns are celibate.
“The very end of the second year of [The Flying] Nun, before the third even began, I was pregnant with my first child," Field told PEOPLE in 2016.
The Flying Nun was one of the sitcoms Field starred on in the ‘60s and ‘70s, including Gidget and The Girl with Something Extra, before earning an Emmy Award for her performance in the TV mini-series Sybil.
She then began earning recognition in film for performances in Stay Hungry and Smokey and the Bandit opposite Burt Reynolds, before truly breaking through with her Academy Award-winning performance as the titular character in Norma Rae.
She won a second Academy Award in 1984 for her performance in Places in the Heart. Field continued starring in many iconic roles such as as social worker M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, the titular character’s ex-wife Miranda in Mrs. Doubtfire and Forrest’s mother in Forrest Gump.
Field had a successful return to TV, winning an Emmy Award for her guest role on ER in 2001 and for her lead performance as Nora Walker in the drama Brothers & Sisters. She earned another Academy Award nomination in Lincoln and played Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man franchise.
The all-time great actress’ career hasn’t slowed down as she appeared in the sports comedy 80 For Brady in 2023 and romance Remarkably Bright Creatures in 2026. Field also earned a Tony Award nomination in 2017 for her performance in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.
Field was married to Steven Craig from 1968 to 1975, with whom she welcomed two sons: Peter and Ian. In 1984, Field married Alan Griesman, and they welcomed son Sam in 1987 before divorcing in 1994.
02 of 07
Madeleine Sherwood as Reverend Mother Placido
Madeleine Sherwood as Mother Superior in The Flying Nun ; Madeleine Sherwood during 25th Toronto International Film FestivalCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; J. Vespa/WireImage
Madeleine Sherwood portrayed the stern Reverend Mother Placido, who ran the convent.
After The Flying Nun, Sherwood starred on soap operas, including Guiding Light. She also starred in horror films like Wicked, Wicked and The Changeling.
On April 23, 2016, Sherwood died at her childhood home in Quebec, Canada, at 93 years old. She was married to Robert Sherwood — whom she later divorced — and had one daughter, two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
03 of 07
Marge Redmond as Sister Jacqueline
Marge Redmond as Sister Jacqueline in The Flying NunCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Sister Bertrille’s clever, humorous friend Sister Jacqueline — who also narrated the show — was played by Marge Redmond. Her performance earned the series its only Emmy Award nomination when she got a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1968.
After The Flying Nun, Redmond had roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s final movie, Family Plot, in 1976 and Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery in 1993.
On TV, she had a recurring role on the legal drama series Matlock as Mrs. McCardle. She guest-starred on several TV shows, from comedies like The Cosby Show and Married… With Children to dramas like The Rockford Files and her final major appearance on Law & Order in 1997.
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Redmond married actor Jack Weston in 1950, but the two later divorced. Redmond died in February 2020 at 95 years old.
04 of 07
Shelley Morrison as Sister Sixto
Shelley Morrison as Sister Sixto in The Flying Nun ; Shelley Morrison attends the World Premiere Of "Weaving The Past: Journey Of Discovery" on August 15, 2014 in Pasadena, CalifCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; John M. Heller/Getty
Shelley Morrison played the good-natured Sister Sixto, a Puerto Rican nun who often comedically misinterpreted English slang. Morrison spoke to Common Ground about her character and the experience of working with Field in 2011.
“She was not too smart, but daffy and always sweet. I modeled much of her quirky and lovable ways on my dear aunties,” Morrison said of Sixto. “And working with Sally Field was such a pleasure; even at her young age, you could see her vast talent at work.”
Morrison made further appearances on multiple shows, including episodes of Murder, She Wrote, L.A. Law, Home Improvement and General Hospital.
However, Morrison’s most iconic performance came as the Salvadoran maid Rosario Salazar on Will & Grace, appearing in over 60 episodes.
In her personal life, Morrison married Walter Dominguez in 1973, and the two adopted six children together. She died at 83 years old in 2019 from heart failure after a brief illness.
05 of 07
Alejandro Rey as Carlos Ramirez
Alejandro Rey as Carlos in The Flying NunCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Alejandro Rey played casino owner, playboy and unlikely philanthropist Carlos Ramirez, who donated his land to the convent for a new school after having a revelation upon seeing Sister Bertrille fly.
Rey had some film roles after The Flying Nun ended in 1970. He starred in thrillers, including The Swarm alongside Michael Caine and Cuba starring Sean Connery, as well as the romantic comedy Moscow on the Hudson with Robin Williams.
On TV, his next large role came as Karl Duval on Days of Our Lives.
Rey welcomed one child, Brandon, with Joyce Rey. He died of cancer at 57 years old in 1987.
06 of 07
Linda Dangcil as Sister Ana
Linda Dangcil as Sister Ana in The Flying Nun ; Linda Dangcil attends the American Cinematheque screening and cast and crew reunion of 'West Side Story' at the Egyptian Theatre on October 9, 2002 in HollywoodCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Frazer Harrison/Getty
Linda Dangcil starred as Sister Ana, another novice nun, on The Flying Nun.
After The Flying Nun ended, she starred on the 1970s bilingual children’s series Villa Alegre.
Outside of acting, Dangcil directed numerous plays for the Los Angeles Plays Festival and sat on many Screen Actors Guild (SAG) committees.
She was married to jazz musician Dick Hamilton and was a mother to two children as well as a grandmother to one prior to her death at age 67 in 2009 from throat cancer.
07 of 07
Vito Scotti as Captain Gaspar Fomento
Vito Scotti as Gaspar in The Flying Nun ; Vito Scotti in the 1980sCredit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty
Vito Scotti portrayed local police officer Captain Gaspar Fomento, who was the only series regular who didn't know Sister Bertrille could fly.
He had over 200 roles in a career spanning over 50 years, with some classics like voicing an Italian cat in Disney’s The Aristocats and a minor role as Nazorine in The Godfather.
Scotti was married to Peruvian flamenco dancer Irene A. Scozzari from 1949 until her death in 1979 and welcomed two children with her before marrying Beverly Scotti.
He died of lung cancer on June 5, 1996, at 78 years old.
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