Hollywood legend Barbara Stanwyck portrayed the landowner "Mary Carson" on "The Thorn Birds". Barbara Stanwyck died on January 20, 1990 at the age of 82. The actress was nominated for an Oscar four times during her career and won the Academy's Honorary Award in 1981 for "for superlative creativity and unique contribution to the art of screen acting.". She also won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance in "The Thorn Birds".