Faye Dunaway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Faye Dunaway
Dunaway in 2024
Born	Dorothy Faye Dunaway (1941-01-14) January 14, 1941 (age 84) Bascom, Florida, U.S.
Education	Boston University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1962–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Peter Wolf ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1979)​ Terry O'Neill ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 1987)​
Children	1
Awards	Full list
Signature

Dorothy Faye Dunaway (born January 14, 1941) is a famous American actress. She has won many important awards for her acting. These include an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and several Golden Globe Awards.

Faye Dunaway started her acting career on Broadway in the early 1960s. She first appeared in movies in 1967. She became very well-known for playing Bonnie Parker in the movie Bonnie and Clyde. This role earned her a nomination for an Academy Award.

Some of her other famous movies include The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Little Big Man (1970), and The Three Musketeers (1973). She also starred in Chinatown (1974) and the disaster movie The Towering Inferno (1974). In 1976, she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Network.

Later in her career, Dunaway took on different kinds of roles. She appeared in films like Supergirl (1984) and The Handmaid's Tale (1990). She also continued to act on stage in plays.

Faye Dunaway prefers to keep her personal life private. She was married twice and has one son, Liam.

Early Life and Education

Faye Dunaway was born in Bascom, Florida. Her mother, Grace April, was a housewife. Her father, John MacDowell Dunaway Jr., was in the United States Army. Her parents got married when they were teenagers and later divorced. Faye has a younger brother named Mac Simmion Dunaway.

Because her father was in the army, Faye traveled a lot as a child. She lived in different parts of the United States and Europe, including Germany.

As she grew up, Faye took many lessons. She learned ballet, tap dancing, piano, and singing. She finished high school in Tallahassee, Florida. Then, she studied at Florida State University and the University of Florida. She later earned a degree in theatre from Boston University.

After college in 1962, Faye took acting classes in New York City. She was recommended to a famous director, Elia Kazan. She also studied acting at HB Studio.

Soon after graduating, Dunaway started acting on Broadway. She appeared in plays like A Man for All Seasons and After the Fall. She also acted in Hogan's Goat.

Her Acting Career

Early Films and Becoming Famous

Faye Dunaway in 1967

Faye Dunaway's first movie role was in the comedy film The Happening (1967). Critics noticed her performance. In the same year, she had a role in Hurry Sundown. She found working on this movie difficult.

Later in 1967, she got a chance to audition for the role of Bonnie Parker. This was for the movie Bonnie and Clyde. Many actresses wanted this part. Director Arthur Penn and actor Warren Beatty chose Dunaway. She prepared for the role by losing weight to look like someone from the Depression era.

Dunaway as Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Bonnie and Clyde was a very popular movie. It made Faye Dunaway a big star. Critics praised her acting. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won a BAFTA Award. This movie helped her become one of Hollywood's top actresses.

After Bonnie and Clyde, Dunaway starred in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). She played Vicki Anderson, an insurance investigator. She worked with Steve McQueen in this film. The movie was very popular. It showed Dunaway's elegant style.

Challenges and New Roles

Dunaway in A Place for Lovers (1968)

After The Thomas Crown Affair, Dunaway filmed A Place for Lovers (1968) in Italy. This movie was not very successful. In 1969, she appeared in The Arrangement. This film also did not do well. Another movie from 1969, The Extraordinary Seaman, also received poor reviews.

In 1969, Dunaway took a supporting role in the Western film Little Big Man. She played a funny character in this movie. The film was well-liked by critics. She also starred in Puzzle of a Downfall Child (1970). This experimental film earned her another Golden Globe nomination.

She then made the Western Doc (1971) and the French thriller The Deadly Trap (1971). Neither of these movies gained much attention. In 1973, she starred in Oklahoma Crude. She played a strong woman in this film. Critics praised her performance.

In 1972, Dunaway returned to the stage in a play called Old Times. She found stage acting very challenging. The next year, she played Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. The play's writer, Tennessee Williams, praised her performance. Also in 1973, she played Milady de Winter in The Three Musketeers. This movie was split into two parts, with the second part, The Four Musketeers, released in 1974. Both films were successful.

Big Successes and Awards

Director Roman Polanski offered Dunaway the lead role in Chinatown (1974). She played Evelyn Mulwray, a mysterious character. She worked with Jack Nicholson in this film. The movie was a big success and is now considered a classic. It received many Academy Award nominations. Dunaway earned her second Best Actress nomination for this role.

Dunaway in Voyage of the Damned (1976)

In the same year, Dunaway appeared in the disaster movie The Towering Inferno (1974). She played Paul Newman's fiancée. This film was the highest-grossing movie of the year. This made Dunaway an even bigger star in Hollywood.

Her next movie was Three Days of the Condor (1975). She played a character held hostage by a CIA analyst, played by Robert Redford. The film was a success. Dunaway's performance was praised.

In 1976, Dunaway starred in the movie Network. She played Diana Christensen, a TV executive who wanted high ratings. She loved the script for this movie. Her performance was highly praised. She won many awards for this role. She received her sixth Golden Globe nomination and won the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama award. In 1977, she won the Best Actress award for Network.

After winning her Oscar, Dunaway took a break from acting. In 1978, she returned in the thriller Eyes of Laura Mars. She played a fashion photographer who sees visions of a killer. The film was successful. She also played supporting roles in The Champ (1979) and The First Deadly Sin (1980). In 1981, she played Evita Perón in a TV miniseries.

Dunaway received rave reviews for her portrayal as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest.

When Dunaway walked on the set of Mommie Dearest for the first time as the character, some people who had worked with Joan Crawford (pictured here in 1937) told her, "it was like seeing Joan herself back from the dead."

In 1981, Dunaway played actress Joan Crawford in the movie Mommie Dearest. This movie was based on a book by Crawford's daughter. Dunaway researched the role carefully. She met with Crawford's friends and co-workers. The film was a moderate success. Dunaway's performance was highly praised by critics.

Later Work in Film, TV, and Theatre

In 1982, Dunaway appeared in a TV movie called The Country Girl. She also returned to the New York stage in a play called The Curse of an Aching Heart. Her performance in the play received good reviews.

Dunaway during a wig fitting for The Wicked Lady in 1982

She moved to England and took on fewer roles. In 1982, she starred in The Wicked Lady. This film was not successful. In 1984, Dunaway played the main villain in the superhero movie Supergirl. She had fun playing the character. Also in 1984, she appeared in the TV miniseries Ellis Island. This earned her another Golden Globe Award.

She also appeared in two movies based on Agatha Christie books. Dunaway found it hard to find fulfilling roles during this time. After her divorce in 1987, she returned to the United States. She worked to rebuild her career.

Dunaway received praise for her role in Barfly (1987). She played a character dealing with challenges. This film was important to her. Critics gave excellent reviews for her performance. She earned another Golden Globe nomination.

Dunaway in 1988

In 1988, she appeared in The Gamble. The next year, she produced and starred in a TV movie called Cold Sassy Tree. This was a very positive experience for her. In 1990, she reunited with Robert Duvall in The Handmaid's Tale. Her performance received good reviews.

In 1992, she starred in Double Edge. In 1993, she took a supporting role in the thriller The Temp. She also starred in Arizona Dream. This film was praised in Europe.

In 1993, Dunaway starred in a TV movie called It's All in the Game. She played a clever woman who plays a game with a detective. This movie was a success. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role.

In 1995, Dunaway reunited with Johnny Depp in Don Juan DeMarco. She played Marlon Brando's wife. The film was popular. In the same year, Dunaway published her memoir, Looking for Gatsby.

In 1996, Dunaway received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She starred in several films, including Dunston Checks In and The Chamber. She also returned to the stage. She played the famous opera singer Maria Callas in the play Master Class. This role was one of her favorites. The tour was very successful. She earned great reviews and an award for her performance.

In 1997, her role in The Twilight of the Golds earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. In 1998, she starred with Angelina Jolie in Gia. She played a key role as a model's agent. Her performance won her a third Golden Globe Award. In 1999, Dunaway appeared in the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. She also played Yolande of Aragon in The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.

Recent Work

Dunaway at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival

In 2000, Dunaway appeared in the crime film The Yards. In 2001, her role in Running Mates earned her a Golden Globe nomination. In 2002, she played a mother in The Rules of Attraction.

In 2005, she was a judge on the reality show The Starlet. In 2006, Dunaway was a guest star in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She also appeared on other TV shows like Touched by an Angel and Grey's Anatomy. In 2008, she starred in a horror film called Flick. She said she loved the script.

Dunaway in 2009

In 2011, a photo of Dunaway was chosen for the 64th annual Cannes Film Festival poster. In 2013, she received the Leopard Club Award. She made a rare public appearance to accept it. In 2014, Dunaway was honored at the Lumière Film Festival. She received a standing ovation.

In 2016, Dunaway made a public appearance at the TCM Classic Film Festival. She hosted a screening of Network. She said she wanted to keep working. In 2017, Dunaway returned to acting with roles in The Bye Bye Man, The Case for Christ, and Inconceivable.

Dunaway at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017

Also in 2017, Dunaway presented the Best Picture Award at the 89th Academy Awards with Warren Beatty. They were given the wrong envelope. Dunaway mistakenly announced La La Land as the winner instead of Moonlight. This became a big moment on social media. Dunaway later said she felt "very guilty" about it. In 2018, Dunaway and Beatty returned to present Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards.

In 2019, Dunaway planned to return to Broadway in a play called Tea at Five. She would play Katharine Hepburn. The play was performed in Boston. Critics praised Dunaway's performance. However, she was later released from the play.

In 2022, Dunaway reunited with Kevin Spacey in the film The Man Who Drew God. A documentary about Dunaway, called Faye, premiered in 2024. It can be seen on HBO and Max. She is expected to appear in upcoming films.

Legacy and Reputation

Dunaway in 1997

Faye Dunaway is seen as one of the greatest actresses of her time. She is also known as an important figure in the New Hollywood era. Many directors she worked with praised her talent.

The Cannes Film Festival director, Thierry Fremaux, said she has an amazing list of films. He noted that her movies from the 1970s were excellent choices. Several films she starred in became classics. In 1998, Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network were listed among the 100 best American movies ever made. Her roles as Bonnie Parker and Joan Crawford were also named among the greatest screen characters.

Dunaway at the Cannes film festival in 2011

Dunaway is known for being very focused on details in her work. She believes that people sometimes misunderstood her. She said that a man who tries to do a great job is praised. But a woman who tries to do the same might be called "a pain". She sees herself as a "perfectionist".

Personal Life

In 1962, Dunaway had a relationship with comedian Lenny Bruce. She was also engaged to photographer Jerry Schatzberg from 1967 to 1968. They remained friends.

While filming A Place for Lovers (1968), Dunaway fell in love with her co-star, Marcello Mastroianni. They were together for two years. Dunaway wanted to get married and have children. However, Mastroianni was still legally married and did not want to hurt his wife. Dunaway decided to leave him. Mastroianni later said she was the woman he loved the most.

Dunaway dated Harris Yulin from 1970 to 1972. In 1974, she married Peter Wolf, the lead singer of The J. Geils Band. Their careers kept them apart often. They divorced in 1979.

She met her second husband, photographer Terry O'Neill, in 1977. They married in 1982. Their son, Liam Dunaway O'Neill, was born in 1980. In 2003, Terry O'Neill shared that Liam was adopted.

After her divorce from O'Neill in 1987, Dunaway had other relationships. She has said that she likes to be alone and focus on her work.

Dunaway became a Catholic in 1996. She regularly attends morning Mass.

Credits and Accolades

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See also

In Spanish: Faye Dunaway para niños