Steven Craig is Sally Field’s first husband. The two were high school sweethearts who married in 1968 and divorced in 1975.
He is also the father of Peter Craig and Eli Craig, who grew up to become a novelist-screenwriter and a film director. Field went on to win two Academy Awards, while Craig stayed out of Hollywood’s spotlight.
He has reportedly worked as a producer in film and television, and part of the family’s story unfolded on a commune in Oregon. This guide covers his background, his marriage, his sons and the facts people often mix up about his name.
Who Is Steven Craig?
Steven Craig Quick Facts
Here are the basics at a glance.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Steven Craig |
| Born | Reportedly 1945, Fargo, North Dakota |
| Nationality | American |
| Known as | First husband of actress Sally Field |
| Marriage | 1968 to 1975 |
| Children | Peter Craig and Eli Craig |
| Occupation | Reportedly a film and television producer |
| Marital status | Divorced from Field |
Early Life and Background
Craig reportedly grew up in the United States and was in Southern California by his teens. He attended high school there and met a classmate named Sally Field.
His childhood and education have never been part of the public record. That is typical for someone who chose private life over publicity.
Field was the one who became famous. When she was a young actress on the rise, Craig was not in front of any camera. His path stayed quiet while her rise to stardom began.
How Steven Craig and Sally Field Met and Married
The couple met as teenagers at high school. That school-age romance turned into a steady relationship, and they reportedly dated for about two years before marrying.
Field landed her first big TV role in 1965, playing the teenage surfer girl in Gidget. Two years later she took the lead in The Flying Nun, where she played Sister Bertrille. The sitcom made her a household name and brought her national attention.
Craig stayed behind the scenes. He was her supportive husband while she worked long days in the comedy world.
They married on September 16, 1968, when Field was 21. The ceremony was reportedly quiet, followed by a short honeymoon in Jamaica. The Flying Nun ran until 1970, and Field then began looking for stronger roles.
Peter and Eli Craig: Steven and Sally’s Two Sons
The couple’s first son, Peter Craig, was born on November 10, 1969. Field was still filming The Flying Nun at the time.
Their second son, Eli Craig, arrived on May 25, 1972. By then the family of four was settled in Los Angeles.
Both boys spent their early childhood around movie sets. Their mother’s work shaped daily life, and their father provided a steadier home base.
Field has spoken about those early days as a mother. In a 2024 conversation with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she reportedly reflected on how hard that stretch was. She has called it a turning point that taught her strength.
Both sons now have families of their own. Eli lives with his wife, Sasha Craig, and their son Noah Craig, which makes Field a grandmother.
Why Did Steven Craig and Sally Field Divorce?
The couple separated in 1973. The divorce became final on August 1, 1975, after seven years of marriage.
Neither of them has named a single cause in public. What is clear is the timing. The marriage ended as Field moved from girl-next-door TV roles toward serious film work.
Field once told AARP The Magazine, “Obviously, I’m not very good at marriage.” She was young when she married, and the early years of her career left little room for anything else.
The boys were small when it happened. When the divorce was final, Peter was five and Eli was three.
Steven Craig and Sally Field Timeline: 1968 to 1975
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1965 | Field stars in Gidget |
| September 16, 1968 | Field marries Steven Craig |
| November 10, 1969 | Peter Craig is born |
| 1970 | The Flying Nun ends |
| May 25, 1972 | Eli Craig is born |
| 1973 | The couple separates |
| August 1, 1975 | The divorce becomes final |
| 1976 | Field stars in Sybil |
Steven Craig’s Career and Work
What Did Steven Craig Do for a Living?
Craig has mostly worked outside the public eye. Closer Weekly reports that he worked as a producer in film and television.
His professional life never drew headlines. He stayed in the entertainment world without chasing publicity.
He also spent time in Oregon, where he reportedly took on construction work. His son Peter later worked a construction job there as a teenager.
The Writer in Steven Craig
Craig also had a creative side. Peter has reportedly described his father as an aspiring writer who kept stories and ideas close.
By Peter’s account, his father left behind a lot of unfinished writing. Those pages and the stories his father told shaped how Peter thought about words.
Growing Up Between Hollywood Sets and Rural Communes
Peter and Eli lived in two very different worlds. With their mother, they spent time on movie sets in Southern California. With their father, they spent time in rural Oregon.
In a 2005 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Peter reportedly described the contrast. Money and fame were one side of it. Shared living, little cash and an old car were the other.
Craig’s commune years sit at the center of that story. The family lived simply, and the boys saw that a good life did not require Hollywood.
How a Construction Job Helped Peter at Sixteen
At 16, Peter left high school in Los Angeles to live with his father in Oregon. His father put him to work on a construction job.
The days started early and ran long. The work was grueling, but it gave Peter structure and routine during his teens.
Peter has linked that steady effort to his later writing habits. Showing up daily matters more than waiting for inspiration.
How Steven Craig’s Sons Built Careers in Books and Film
Peter Craig: Novelist and Screenwriter
Peter studied at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He went on to write three novels: Hot Plastic, The Martini Shot and Blood Father.
Blood Father is a crime story about a father trying to protect his daughter. It became a 2016 film starring Mel Gibson, and trust between parent and child sits at its core.
Peter then turned to screenwriting. He co-wrote The Town in 2010, and he worked on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay.
His credits include The Batman in 2022. He also shares story credit on Top Gun: Maverick with Justin Marks.
That film earned a 2023 Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Peter’s fiction keeps returning to family relationships and parent-child emotions.
Eli Craig: Horror-Comedy Director
Eli chose a different path. He writes and directs films that mix fear with funny moments.
His breakout was Tucker & Dale vs. Evil in 2010. In it, two harmless hillbillies are mistaken for killers by a group of college students.
He later directed Little Evil. In 2025 he released Clown in a Cornfield, a suspense film with a darker edge.
Eli also acts on occasion. His brother Peter works in books and crime stories, while he works in horror comedy.
Co-Parenting and Life After Divorce
Craig and Field kept their split out of the tabloids. The couple reportedly built a cordial relationship around their sons.
Both parents supported the boys’ creative paths. That supportive upbringing helped Peter and Eli find careers in writing and film.
Craig is described as a good father who stayed involved. Mutual respect between the exes kept the family stable.
What Sally Field Said About Steven Craig in Her Memoir
Field published her memoir, In Pieces, in 2018. It covers her childhood, her mother and the key relationships that shaped her.
Her first marriage appears as part of that early adult chapter. The memoir looks back at the past with candor and kindness toward her sons.
Peter and Eli were reportedly among the first to read the manuscript. Field wanted her family to see the notes and the final copy before readers did.
Sally Field’s Life After Steven Craig
Career Breakthroughs After the Divorce
Field’s career changed shape in 1976 with the TV drama Sybil. The role earned her an Emmy and proved she could handle serious roles.
Norma Rae followed in 1979. Her performance as a union organizer won her first Oscar.
She earned her second Academy Award for Places in the Heart in 1984. Those movies left her early comedies far behind.
Field’s career has lasted five decades, from the 1960s to today. She has worked on screen and stage, and she has directed and produced as well.
She has won three Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2023 she received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Second Marriage to Alan Greisman
Field married the film producer Alan Greisman in 1984. Greisman produced Fletch and The Bucket List.
Their son, Sam Greisman, was born in 1987. That made him the half-brother of Peter and Eli.
The marriage ended in divorce in 1994. Field has been married twice.
Burt Reynolds and Other High-Profile Relationships
Field’s best-known romance was with the actor Burt Reynolds. It began in 1977 and lasted until about 1981.
Reynolds reportedly called her the love of his life. Field later described the relationship as controlling, and she was clear that his stardom shaped how he treated her.
She also dated Kevin Kline in the early 1980s. They later played exes in Soapdish in 1991.
Johnny Carson was another name from that era. Field told People she was ready to settle down, and she married Greisman soon after.
Her love life returned to headlines with 80 for Brady on February 3, 2023. She starred with Tom Brady, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Rita Moreno.
Steven Craig vs. Stephen Craig: Is He Marie Osmond’s Husband?
No. Steven Craig is a different man from Stephen Craig, also called Steve. Stephen is a former basketball player who married the singer Marie Osmond in 1982.
They divorced in 1985, and they remarried in 2011. The name confusion fuels many false searches.
A third name adds to the mix. Craig Stevens was an American actor, and he is unrelated to Field.
Where Is Steven Craig Now?
Is Steven Craig Still Alive?
No death has been publicly reported. He is reportedly alive as of 2023.
He keeps a private life in the United States. Craig has avoided controversies and spotlight since the divorce.
His ex-wife is a popular public figure, yet he has rarely commented on her. The couple’s children have grown into adults with careers of their own.
Steven Craig’s Net Worth and Public Records
No verified net worth figure exists for Steven Craig. He has lived outside the public eye.
Numbers attached to the name online usually belong to Stephen Craig, Marie Osmond’s husband.
Final Thoughts: Steven Craig’s Legacy Beyond Sally Field
Steven Craig built a life away from fame. His marriage to Sally Field ended in 1975, but the family story did not.
His legacy lives in his sons. Peter writes crime fiction and screenplays, and Eli directs horror comedies.
Both grew up between film sets and an open way of life in Oregon. That mix gave them a strong work ethic.
Craig remains a famous parent’s quiet partner, and his story is still a work in progress.
FAQs
Who was Sally Field’s first husband?
Sally Field’s first husband was Steven Craig, her high school sweetheart, whom she married on September 16, 1968. They separated in 1973 and divorced on August 1, 1975.
What did Steven Craig do for a living?
Steven Craig reportedly worked as a film and television producer, and he also took on construction work in Oregon, where his son Peter worked a construction job at 16.
Is Steven Craig married to Marie Osmond?
No, Steven Craig is not married to Marie Osmond. Her husband is Stephen Craig, a former basketball player and a different man whose name is similar.
Why did Sally Field and Steven Craig divorce?
Neither Steven Craig nor Sally Field has publicly named a specific reason. The couple separated in 1973, and the divorce became final in 1975 after seven years of marriage.
How many children did Sally Field and Steven Craig have?
Sally Field and Steven Craig had two sons: Peter Craig, born November 10, 1969, and Eli Craig, born May 25, 1972. Peter writes novels and screenplays, and Eli directs films.
How old is Steven Craig?
Steven Craig was reportedly born in 1945 in Fargo, North Dakota, which would make him about 81 years old in 2026.
Is Steven Craig still alive?
No death has been publicly reported, and Steven Craig is reportedly alive as of 2023. He lives a private life in the United States.
How many times was Sally Field married?
Sally Field has been married twice: first to Steven Craig from 1968 to 1975, and then to Alan Greisman from 1984 to 1994.

