Gail Strickland embarked on a remarkable journey in the world of acting, commencing her formal training at Florida State University, where she honed her craft through acting courses. Subsequently, she had the privilege of studying under the esteemed Sanford Meisner, a renowned acting coach. Strickland's television debut was marked by a stint on the popular series "As the World Turns". Her first foray into theatrical productions came with Donald Driver's "Status Quo Vadis" (1971-1972),where she played the role of a schoolteacher renowned for her authoritative demeanor.
Strickland's subsequent career trajectory took her to California, where she secured guest star roles in various television series, including "Barnaby Jones", "Hawaii Five-O", and "Police Story", among others. Her versatility as an actress was further showcased through her appearances in numerous productions. Prior to venturing into feature films, Strickland collaborated with Maureen Stapleton in the television movie "The Gathering", and shared the screen with Beau Bridges in "The President's Mistress".
Strickland's first theatrical film was the critically acclaimed "The Drowning Pool", which starred the legendary Paul Newman.