You remember the red glasses. Everyone does. For nearly two decades, Sally Jessy Raphael was the woman who sat across from us, listening to stories of transformation, teenage rebellion, and family secrets. But while Sally was navigating the high-octane world of daytime TV, her own family was quietly navigating a series of tragedies that felt like they were ripped straight from one of her scripts. Specifically, the story of Sally Jessy Raphael daughter Allison Vladimir is one that remains etched in the memories of long-time fans for its sheer, sudden heartbreak.
Life isn't a neat 60-minute episode with a commercial break to process the heavy stuff. It's messy.
The Tragedy of Allison Vladimir
In early 1992, Sally was at the peak of her powers. Her show was a juggernaut. Then, in a span of just three weeks, her world essentially imploded. First, her adopted son, Jason "J.J." Soderlund, was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. He was only 19. While the family was still reeling from that, the unthinkable happened.
Allison Vladimir, Sally’s eldest daughter from her first marriage to Andrew Vladimir, died suddenly. She was just 33 years old.
Think about that for a second. You’re at the hospital bedside of your son, praying for a miracle, and then you get the call that your daughter is gone. It’s the kind of double-blow that would break most people.
Allison's death was eventually ruled an accidental overdose. It wasn't some wild Hollywood party story, though. It was the "combined effects of several prescribed drugs and over-the-counter medications." Basically, a tragic mistake. She was a talented chef—actually worked at the famous Windows on the World in the World Trade Center—and had so much life ahead of her.
Andrea Vladimir: The Daughter Who Chose Privacy
While Allison's story is the one most often searched for, Sally’s other daughter, Andrea Vladimir (now Andrea Romanoff), has taken a very different path. Honestly, can you blame her? Growing up in the shadow of a media icon is one thing, but doing it while your family’s grief is being broadcast to millions is another level of intense.
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Andrea has largely stayed out of the spotlight. She built a life for herself in physiotherapy, choosing a career rooted in helping people in a quiet, tangible way. It’s a sharp contrast to the bright lights of a TV studio.
- Allison Vladimir: The chef who died tragically young in 1992.
- Andrea Vladimir: The survivor who opted for a private, professional life.
- Jason Soderlund: The brother whose recovery became a long-term family mission.
It’s easy to forget that these are real people behind the "celebrity" labels. When Sally talks about her children today—and she still does, having just celebrated her 90th birthday in 2025—there’s a mix of pride and a lingering, quiet sadness. She recently told People magazine that being a working mom in an "all-male world" back in the day was incredibly hard. She was trying to break glass ceilings while also trying to keep a family together.
The Reality of Public Grief
What most people get wrong about the Sally Jessy Raphael daughter story is the timeline. People often conflate the tragedies. They think everything happened at once, or they assume it was all part of some "talk show curse."
The truth is more human. It was just a string of terrible, coincidental luck.
Sally actually went back to work remarkably quickly after Allison died. Some people criticized her for it back then. They said she was "cold" or "too focused on the show." But if you’ve ever talked to someone who has lost a child, you know that sometimes, the only way to stay sane is to keep moving. The show must go on, not because of the ratings, but because the alternative—sitting in a quiet house with your thoughts—is too much to bear.
Where They Are Now (2026 Update)
Sally is 90 now. Let that sink in. She’s still feisty, still rocking the red glasses on occasion, and still very much the matriarch.
She spent her 90th birthday in early 2025 with a "wonderful birthday brunch" and then jetted off to Paris with her friends. She's active on Instagram, showing a side of herself that's less "tabloid host" and more "great-grandmother enjoying life." Her husband, Karl Soderlund, passed away in 2020, which was another massive blow, but Sally has always been a survivor.
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She even joked recently on the Sherri show about dating again, mentioning she'd met some guys online—a doctor, a lawyer, an astronomer. She’s still got that spark.
Moving Forward: Lessons in Resilience
If there’s anything we can learn from the story of Sally and her daughters, it’s that public success doesn’t insulate you from private pain.
We see the Emmy awards and the high ratings, but we don't always see the nights spent in hospital waiting rooms. Sally’s journey is a reminder that resilience isn't about not falling; it's about how you manage to keep standing after the world knocks you down twice in the same month.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the history of daytime TV or the personal lives of its icons, here’s how to handle it with respect:
- Focus on the legacy: Remember Allison for her talent as a chef, not just the manner of her death.
- Respect the boundaries: Understand why someone like Andrea chooses to stay private. Not everyone wants their life to be a H2 heading.
- Acknowledge the complexity: Realize that Sally's "feisty" persona was often a shield for a lot of internal struggle.
Check out Sally’s official social media for a look at her current life—it’s actually pretty inspiring to see someone embrace their 90s with that much energy. You can also find archival footage of her show on various streaming platforms that highlights just how much she changed the landscape for women in media.