Angie Dickinson

Angeline Brown, known professionally as Angie Dickinson, was born on September 30, 1931, in Kulm, North Dakota. Her early life was influenced by her father, who was a small-town newspaper publisher and editor. The family relocated to Burbank, California, when she was ten. After high school, she pursued studies at Immaculate Heart College and Glendale Community College, earning a business degree in 1954. Prior to her acting career, she worked as a secretary in an airplane parts factory. Her entry into entertainment began after placing second in a local Miss America contest, leading to appearances in TV variety shows and securing her first film role in 1954.

Dickinson’s breakthrough came with the Western film “Rio Bravo” (1959), where she co-starred with John Wayne and Dean Martin. This role established her as a leading lady in Hollywood, featuring in over 50 films and television productions. She navigated a career across various genres, including Westerns, thrillers, and comedies. A significant turning point was her starring role as Sergeant “Pepper” Anderson in the NBC crime series “Police Woman” (1974-1978). This pioneering role earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and multiple Emmy nominations, influencing a generation of female-led television shows.

Her filmography includes notable performances in “Ocean’s 11” (1960), “The Killers” (1964), “Point Blank” (1967), and Brian De Palma’s “Dressed to Kill” (1980), for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress. In later years, she continued to act in television movies and supporting film roles, such as “Sabrina” (1995) and “Pay It Forward” (2000). Her last acting credit to date was in the Hallmark Channel film “Mending Fences” (2009). Throughout her career, Dickinson has been recognized for her contributions to cinema, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Golden Boot Award for her work in Westerns.