Sally Kirkland on a red carpet

Few television shows have held up as enduringly as Murder, She Wrote. The long-running mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as novelist-turned-sleuth Jessica Fletcher remains one of the most comforting and consistently well-crafted TV staples of its time — and one episode in particular deserves a revisit. “The Scent of Murder,” the twelfth episode of Season 11, not only exemplifies the show’s Southern Gothic charm but also features Oscar-nominated actress Sally Kirkland in one of her most quietly arresting guest roles.

As Kirkland enters hospice care in Palm Springs at 84, it’s the perfect time to celebrate a performer who could make even a single-episode guest spot unforgettable. With more than 250 credits across film and television — including Anna, JFK, and The Haunted — Kirkland was one of those rare actors who elevated everything she touched.

Inside Sally Kirkland’s ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Appearance

Sally Kirkland in an episode of Murder, She WroteImage via CBS

Jessica Fletcher and her friend Dr. Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) find themselves in a Southern swamp of family revenge, perfume profits, and murder, after the airing of “The Scent of Murder” on January 8, 1995. The couple has taken a detour to South Carolina to visit Seth’s cousin, the unreliable botanist Buford Hazlitt, who has developed a unique magnolia flower with a scent so intoxicating that corporate greed became involved. It does not take long before Buford is dead — suffocated with a pillow — and this lush plantation estate setting is the perfect backdrop for deceit, jealousy, and all-around Southern charm gone wrong.

This episode has all the excellent Murder, She Wrote elements: Genteel settings, genteel people with very ungenteel motives, and a murder weapon as poetic as it is lethal. The layers underneath the genteel dinner parties and mild mint juleps explore class division, the desperation of artists, and the vanity that accompanies wealth and legacy.

Sally Kirkland’s Guest Role Is Small but Mesmerizing

Sally Kirkland in an episode of Murder, She WroteImage via CBS

Evelyn Colby, played by Kirkland, undeniably shines. She is not the main character, but her character’s performance lingers throughout. At the story’s intersection of personal and professional stakes regarding Buford’s estate is Evelyn, and Kirkland brings an emotional richness and complexity to the character. In her portrayal of Evelyn, Kirkland strikes a balance of grace, fragility, and slow calculation that makes her a needed part of the narrative without overshadowing an ensemble that includes seasoned names.

Even in a guest role, we should not underestimate Kirkland’s talent, which led to a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for Anna. Having Kirkland on screen elevates the show for viewers and reminds us of Kirkland’s legacy on stage, in avant-garde theaters, and in Hollywood film and television. Even though we are watching her for one hour on television, it is a masterclass in craft and allows room for timing and presence.

Why ‘Murder, She Wrote’ Is Such a Classic

Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is surprised at something she reads in the newspaper in the series Murder, She Wrote.Image via CBS

Almost 30 years after its initial broadcast, Murder, She Wrote is still a masterclass in procedural storytelling. The show’s warm atmosphere, wit, and elegant pacing make it a rare instance of a TV series that maintains its comfort and charm while still being enjoyable in our present moment. “The Scent of Murder,” with its 89% Rotten Tomatoes score and new-world Southern melodrama, is among the things that make the series feel so timeless, and it imparts a sense of enjoyment in the brilliant writing, effective performances, and moral clarity of the story that is lacking in modern mystery shows.

In fact, revisiting the show is not only a nod to nostalgia but a way to pay homage to Kirkland, the value of her work, and the importance of her creative perseverance. Long before her Oscar-nominated work in Anna, she was a member of Andy Warhol‘s The Factory and a presence in avant-garde theater, one of the early icons of independent film of her generation. Even in small parts, she embodied that spirit —raw, fearless, and fully committed.

As Kirkland rests in hospice, her fans and peers continue to send messages of love and light. For anyone looking to honor her work, a rewatch of “The Scent of Murder” offers the perfect tribute — a chance to appreciate one of Hollywood’s most singular talents doing what she did best: Commanding the screen, even for an hour at a time.a