Steven Craig: Who Is Sally Field’s First Husband?
Steven Craig is best known as the first husband of two-time Oscar winner Sally Field. The two were high school sweethearts, married in 1968, separated in 1973, and divorced in 1975. They had two sons: Peter Craig, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Top Gun: Maverick, and Eli Craig, director of Tucker & Dale vs. Evil.
Craig never worked in show business and has stayed out of public view for five decades. That leaves a lot of blank space, and many profiles fill it with invented details. This page covers only what can be traced to a source.
Note: this article is about Sally Field’s ex-husband. The Scottish footballer of the same name, born in 1981, is a different person.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information | Source quality |
|---|---|---|
| Known for | First husband of Sally Field | Confirmed |
| How they met | High school sweethearts | Confirmed (Biography.com) |
| Married | 1968 | Confirmed |
| Separated | 1973 | Confirmed |
| Divorced | 1975 | Confirmed |
| Children | Peter Craig (b. 1969), Eli Craig (b. 1972) | Confirmed |
| Profession | Not public | Never worked in entertainment |
| Date of birth | Not public | Any date online is a guess |
| Net worth | Not known | No reliable figure |
From high school sweethearts to marriage
Sally Field grew up in the San Fernando Valley and went to Birmingham High School in Van Nuys. Biography.com describes Craig as her high school sweetheart, so the two knew each other before she was famous.
By the time they married in 1968, her career was moving fast. She had starred in Gidget in 1965 and was in the middle of The Flying Nun, which ran from 1967 to 1970. She was barely into her twenties and already a TV star.
Field has said she felt boxed in by The Flying Nun. She saw it as a role that made it hard to be taken seriously as an actress. That frustration was building during the same years as the early marriage.
Marriage timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Craig and Field marry |
| 1969 | Son Peter Craig is born on November 10 in Los Angeles |
| 1972 | Son Eli Craig is born |
| 1973 | The couple separates |
| 1975 | The divorce is finalized |
| 1976 | Field wins her first Emmy for Sybil, a year after the divorce |
The timing stands out. Field’s big shift from sitcom star to serious dramatic actress came right after the marriage ended. Sybil in 1976 was followed by her first Oscar for Norma Rae in 1979.
It is easy to see the strain from the outside. Field was a working TV star with two small children, signed to a studio contract she had little control over. In interviews she has described feeling unsure of herself as an actress in those years. Then she enrolled at the Actors Studio, where she studied under Lee Strasberg, and that training led directly to the dramatic roles of the mid-1970s.
Neither Craig nor Field has publicly given a detailed reason for the split. Field wrote about her life and relationships in her 2018 memoir, In Pieces. It is the best primary source for anyone who wants her side of those years.
Steven Craig’s sons: Peter and Eli Craig
Craig’s two sons both went into film, one as a writer and one as a director. Much of the search interest in their father comes from them.
Peter Craig, novelist and screenwriter
Peter was born on November 10, 1969, in Los Angeles. He studied at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and started out as a novelist:
- The Martini Shot (1998)
- Hot Plastic (2004)
- Blood Father (2005), later adapted into the 2016 Mel Gibson film
He then became one of Hollywood’s busiest screenwriters. His credits include The Town (2010), both Hunger Games: Mockingjay films, Bad Boys for Life (2020), The Batman (2022), Top Gun: Maverick (2022), and Gladiator II (2024). Top Gun: Maverick earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Eli Craig, actor and director
Eli was born in 1972. Before Hollywood, he worked as an Outward Bound instructor. He is best known for co-writing and directing the cult horror comedy Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010).
He also directed the Zombieland TV pilot for Amazon in 2013, wrote and directed Netflix’s Little Evil (2017), and directed Clown in a Cornfield (2025). He married actress Sasha Williams in 2004.
Both sons have worked with or alongside famous names, yet neither traded on their mother’s fame early. Peter built his reputation through novels first, and Eli came to directing after years outdoors. That quiet, self-made path mirrors their father’s choice to stay out of the spotlight.
Sally Field’s life after the divorce
After the divorce, Field had a well-known relationship with Burt Reynolds in the late 1970s. In 1984 she married producer Alan Greisman, and their son Sam was born in 1987. That marriage ended in 1994.
So Peter and Eli have one younger half-brother, Sam Greisman. Field has called her three sons her greatest accomplishment.
| Sally Field’s sons | Father | Born | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Craig | Steve Craig | 1969 | Screenwriter, novelist |
| Eli Craig | Steve Craig | 1972 | Director, actor |
| Sam Greisman | Alan Greisman | 1987 | Filmmaker |
Where is Steven Craig now?
There is no public record of Craig’s life after 1975. He has:
- No known interviews about the marriage
- No verified social media presence
- No film or TV credits linked to him
Some blogs claim he remarried, worked in a particular job, or has a certain net worth. None of them cite a source. The accurate answer is that he has lived privately for 50 years, and that choice should be respected.
Common myths you’ll see online
| Claim you may see | What the record shows |
|---|---|
| He was an actor | He has no screen credits |
| He is the father of all three of Field’s sons | Sam’s father is Alan Greisman |
| They divorced in 1973 | They separated in 1973 and divorced in 1975 |
| He is the Scottish footballer | Different person, born in 1981 |
| His net worth is a specific number | No reliable data exists |
FAQs
Who is Steven Craig?
He is Sally Field’s first husband and her high school sweetheart. They were married from 1968 to 1975.
How did Sally Field meet her first husband?
They were high school sweethearts in California, years before she became famous.
How many children did Sally Field have with Craig?
Two sons: screenwriter Peter Craig (born 1969) and director Eli Craig (born 1972).
Why did Sally Field and Craig divorce?
Neither has given a detailed public reason. They separated in 1973 and divorced in 1975.
Was he an actor?
No. He never worked in film or television.
Who are Sally Field’s husbands?
Steven Craig (1968–1975) and producer Alan Greisman (1984–1994).
Did Sally Field’s son write Top Gun: Maverick?
Yes. Peter Craig co-wrote it and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
The bottom line
Craig married Sally Field before she became an Oscar winner, raised two sons with her, and then stepped out of the public story for good. What is confirmed fits in a few lines: high school sweethearts, married in 1968, divorced in 1975, two sons who both made their mark in Hollywood.
For anything more, read Field’s memoir In Pieces, or follow the careers of Peter and Eli Craig. That’s where this family’s story is actually on record.
JacksonPadilla is a writer at Around Celebrities, covering celebrity families, relationships, biographies, and the stories behind the stars. With a focus on clear and engaging storytelling, JacksonPadilla helps readers discover the people and connections beyond the spotlight.
