Angie Dickinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Angie Dickinson
Dickinson in 1982
Born	Angeline Brown (1931-09-30) September 30, 1931 (age 93) Kulm, North Dakota, U.S.
Alma mater	Immaculate Heart College
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1954–2009
Spouse(s)	Gene Dickinson ​ ​ (m. 1952; div. 1960)​ Burt Bacharach ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1981)​
Children	1

Angie Dickinson (born Angeline Brown; September 30, 1931) is an American retired actress. She started her acting journey on television in the 1950s. She became well-known for her roles in the Western films Gun the Man Down (1956) and Rio Bravo (1959). For Rio Bravo, she won a Golden Globe Award for being a promising new actress.

Angie Dickinson has acted in more than 50 movies. Some of her notable films include Ocean's 11 (1960), The Killers (1964), and Point Blank (1967).

From 1974 to 1978, Dickinson played Sergeant "Pepper" Anderson in the TV crime series Police Woman. This role earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and several Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominations.

Later in her career, Dickinson appeared in many TV movies and miniseries. She also had supporting roles in films like Pay It Forward (2000). Her last known performance was in the Hallmark Channel movie Mending Fences (2009).

Early Life and Education

Angie Dickinson was born Angeline Brown on September 30, 1931. She was the middle of three daughters. Her birthplace was Kulm, North Dakota. Her parents were Fredericka and Leo Henry Brown.

Her family had German roots. Her father was a newspaper publisher and editor. Angie loved movies from a young age. Her father was also the projectionist at their town's only movie theater.

In 1942, when Angie was 10, her family moved to Burbank, California. She went to Bellarmine-Jefferson High School. She graduated in 1947 at age 15. She had won an essay contest the year before. She then studied at Immaculate Heart College and Glendale Community College. She finished her business studies by 1954. She had planned to become a writer, like her father.

While studying from 1950 to 1952, she worked as a secretary. She worked at Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank. She also worked in a parts factory. She became Angie Dickinson in 1952 when she married football player Gene Dickinson.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting in Television

Angie Dickinson came in second in a local beauty contest. This caught the eye of a casting agent. She got a spot as a showgirl on The Jimmy Durante Show. This led to a TV producer asking her to try acting. She studied acting and soon appeared on NBC variety shows. She also met Frank Sinatra, who became a lifelong friend.

With Clint Walker in Cheyenne, around 1957

On New Year's Eve 1954, Dickinson made her TV acting debut. It was in an episode of Death Valley Days. This led to many other TV roles. She appeared in shows like Matinee Theatre, Gunsmoke, and Cheyenne.

In 1956, she was in an episode of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. The next year, she had a small role in Have Gun – Will Travel. In 1958, she played Laura Meadows in Colt .45. That same year, she was in an episode of Perry Mason.

Angie Dickinson in China Gate (1957).

Dickinson also appeared in Mike Hammer and Wagon Train. In 1965, she had a recurring role on Dr. Kildare. She also appeared in The Fugitive in 1964. She starred in two Alfred Hitchcock Hour episodes.

First Movie Roles

Dickinson's movie career began with a small, uncredited role. It was in Lucky Me (1954). She then appeared in The Return of Jack Slade (1955) and Hidden Guns (1956). Her first main role was in Gun the Man Down (1956). She also starred in the film China Gate (1957). This movie showed an early look at the Vietnam War.

Early in her career, she often appeared in Westerns. These included Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend (1957). In the crime drama Cry Terror! (1958), Dickinson played a strong female character.

Becoming a Hollywood Star

Dickinson with John Wayne in Rio Bravo

Dickinson's big break in movies came with Rio Bravo (1959). She played a character named "Feathers". She was attracted to the town sheriff, played by John Wayne. The movie also starred Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson.

Dickinson became a popular leading actress in the 1960s. She appeared in The Bramble Bush and Ocean's 11 (1960). She was in A Fever in the Blood (1961) and The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961). She also starred in Jessica (1962). Angie also shared the screen with Gregory Peck in Captain Newman, M.D. (1963).

For The Killers (1964), Dickinson played a powerful female character. This movie was originally made for TV. It was released in theaters because it was very exciting. It was Ronald Reagan's last movie role.

Dickinson co-starred in the comedy The Art of Love (1965). She was also in The Chase (1966). This film had many stars like Marlon Brando and Jane Fonda. That same year, she was in Cast a Giant Shadow.

One of her most famous movies from this time is Point Blank (1967). It is a crime drama with Lee Marvin. The film is known for its intense mood.

She continued to work in Westerns in the late 1960s. She starred in The Last Challenge and Young Billy Young. She also appeared in Sam Whiskey.

In 1971, she was in the TV movie See the Man Run. She also starred in The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler. In The Outside Man (1972), she played a beautiful but dishonest wife. In 1973, she co-starred in the TV movie The Norliss Tapes.

Police Woman Series

Dickinson in Police Woman, 1976

Dickinson returned to TV in 1974. She appeared in an episode of Police Story. Her performance was so popular that NBC offered her her own show. This became the groundbreaking series Police Woman. At first, Dickinson was unsure. But when producers said she would become famous, she took the role.

She played Sergeant "Pepper" Anderson. She was an officer who often worked undercover. The show became a huge hit. It was number one in many countries in its first year. It ran for four seasons. Dickinson won a Golden Globe Award for her role. She also received Emmy Award nominations three times.

In 1978, Dickinson played Pepper Anderson again. It was in the TV special Ringo. She also made fun of her role in Bob Hope Christmas specials. Later, she did the same on Saturday Night Live in 1987.

According to Dickinson, Police Woman inspired many women. It caused more women to apply to police departments across the United States.

Police Woman influenced other TV shows with female stars. These include Charlie's Angels and Wonder Woman. In 1987, the Los Angeles Police Department gave Dickinson an honorary award. She joked, "Now you can call me Doctor Pepper."

The 1980s and Beyond

After Police Woman, Dickinson starred in the miniseries Pearl (1978). She then returned to movies in Dressed to Kill (1980). She received much attention for her role. She won a Saturn Award for Best Actress for this film.

Angie Dickinson at 61st Academy Awards in 1989

She had a role in Death Hunt (1981). She also appeared in Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen. She was offered a main role in the TV series Dynasty. But she turned it down to spend more time with her daughter.

In the mid-1980s, Dickinson starred in several TV movies. These included One Shoe Makes It Murder (1982) and Jealousy (1984). She also had a key role in the popular miniseries Hollywood Wives (1985).

In 1982 and 1986, Dickinson appeared in Perry Como's Christmas specials. She even sang in these shows.

In movies, Dickinson played Wilma McClatchie again in Big Bad Mama II (1987). She also reunited with Telly Savalas in the TV movie Kojak: Fatal Flaw. She co-starred with Willie Nelson in the TV Western Once Upon a Texas Train (1988).

She received a Golden Boot Award in 1989. This was for her contributions to Western movies.

1990s and 2000s Work

In the ABC miniseries Wild Palms (1993), she played a strong character. That same year, she starred in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.

In 1995, Sydney Pollack cast her in Sabrina. This was a remake of an older classic film. She played Burt Reynolds' wife in The Maddening. She also played a mother in The Don's Analyst. In 1997, she was in an episode of The Larry Sanders Show.

Dickinson played a homeless mother in Pay It Forward (2000). She was a grandmother in Duets (2000). She also played a mother in Big Bad Love (2001).

She had a small appearance in the 2001 remake of Ocean's Eleven. She had been in the original 1960 film.

Angie Dickinson loves to play poker. In 2004, she was on Celebrity Poker Showdown. Also in 2004, she appeared in the comedy Elvis Has Left the Building.

Dickinson received the Rough Rider Award from her home state of North Dakota.

In 2009, Dickinson starred in a Hallmark Channel drama, Mending Fences. This is her most recent acting role.

Personal Life

With husband, the composer Burt Bacharach and new-born Nikki, 1966

Angie Dickinson was married to Gene Dickinson from 1952 to 1960. She kept his last name after their divorce.

She married composer Burt Bacharach in 1965. They were married for 16 years. On July 12, 1966, Dickinson gave birth to their daughter, Nikki. Nikki had autism and passed away on January 4, 2007. Burt Bacharach died in 2023.

Dickinson was involved in politics. She supported the Democratic Party. She campaigned for John F. Kennedy in 1960. She also supported Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

There is a street named after Dickinson in San Antonio, Texas.

Awards and Nominations

Other Honors

Filmography

Film

Television Films

Television Series

See Also

In Spanish: Angie Dickinson para niños