Melanie Griffith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melanie Griffith
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Griffith in 2016
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Melanie Richards Griffith
August 9, 1957 New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse(s) |
(m. 1989; div. 1996) |
| Children | 3, including Dakota Johnson |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Tracy Griffith (half-sister) |
Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. She was born in Manhattan, New York City. Her mother is the famous actress Tippi Hedren. Melanie grew up mostly in Los Angeles. She finished high school at age 16.
In 1975, at 17, Griffith appeared in the film Night Moves. She became well-known for her roles in movies like Body Double (1984). For this film, she won an award for Best Supporting Actress. Her performance in Something Wild (1986) was also highly praised. In 1988, she starred in Working Girl. This role earned her a nomination for an Academy Award and she won a Golden Globe.
During the 1990s, Griffith continued to act in many films. She received Golden Globe nominations for Buffalo Girls (1995) and for playing Marion Davies in RKO 281 (1999). She also appeared in films like Pacific Heights (1990) and Lolita (1997).
Later, she voiced Margalo in Stuart Little 2 (2002). She also appeared in TV shows such as Nip/Tuck and Hawaii Five-0. In 2003, she made her debut on Broadway in the musical Chicago. In the 2010s, Griffith returned to film. She starred in Autómata (2014) and The Disaster Artist (2017).
Contents
Melanie Griffith's Life and Career
Early Life and Family
Melanie Richards Griffith was born on August 9, 1957. Her parents were actress Tippi Hedren and Peter Griffith. Her father was a former child actor and advertising executive. Melanie's parents separated when she was two years old. She then moved to Los Angeles with her mother.
Melanie spent time in New York with her father. She also lived in Antelope Valley, California with her mother. Her mother created an animal preserve there called Shambala. As a child, Melanie appeared in advertisements. She also briefly worked as a child model. She stopped modeling because she was very shy. Melanie attended the Hollywood Professional School. She was a good student and graduated at age 16.
Starting Her Acting Career
Griffith first appeared as an extra in films like Smith! (1969). Her first big role was at age 17 in Night Moves (1975). She played a runaway teenager in this film. She was pursued by a private detective played by Gene Hackman. Her performance in Night Moves brought her attention.
She then appeared in two more films in 1975. These were the comedy Smile and the thriller The Drowning Pool. She was also named Miss Golden Globe in 1975. This role involved helping out at the Golden Globe Awards.
Early Relationships and More Roles
When she was 14, Melanie met actor Don Johnson. They started dating and married for six months in 1976. After their divorce, Griffith dated Ryan O'Neal.
In 1977, she had a supporting role in One on One. She played a hitchhiker in this sports drama. Griffith also appeared in the film The Garden. She played a young woman in Jerusalem. The same year, she had a role in Joyride. She played a young woman who moves to Alaska with her boyfriend.
Breakthrough and Motherhood
Griffith acted with her mother, Hedren, in the film Roar (1981). Her stepfather, Noel Marshall, directed the film. In Roar, she played the daughter of animal-keepers. Their wild animals turn on them. Filming Roar was very challenging. Melanie was injured by a lion during the shoot. She needed facial surgery. This injury is visible in the movie.
Also in 1981, Griffith appeared in the TV movie She's in the Army Now. She played a Women's Army Corps recruit. Soon after, Griffith married Steven Bauer.
She made a strong return to acting in the thriller Body Double (1984). The film earned her the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. She then appeared in Fear City (1985). On August 22, 1985, Melanie gave birth to her first child, Alexander Griffith Bauer.
The next year, she starred in Something Wild (1986). She played a mysterious woman who meets a banker. Critic Roger Ebert praised her acting. He said her performance was based on her adventurous spirit. Griffith received a Golden Globe nomination for this role.
Griffith also starred in the science fiction film Cherry 2000. She played a character who helps a man find a robot companion. She then appeared in Stormy Monday (1988). Janet Maslin of The New York Times praised Griffith's performance. She noted Griffith's unique blend of charm and strength.
Griffith became very famous with her role as Tess McGill in Working Girl (1988). She starred alongside Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver. Variety praised her eagerness and determination in the role. Griffith was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for this film. Working Girl made her a top actress.
Griffith and Bauer separated before Working Girl was released. In 1988, Griffith reconnected with Don Johnson. They remarried on June 26, 1989.
Continued Success in the 1990s
On October 4, 1989, Griffith gave birth to her second child, daughter Dakota Johnson. After her pregnancy, Griffith filmed the thriller Pacific Heights (1990). She played a woman who has problems with a tenant in her San Francisco home. The same year, she reunited with director Brian De Palma in The Bonfire of the Vanities.
She then starred in Paradise (1991). She acted with her then-husband Don Johnson and Elijah Wood. In this film, Griffith played a woman dealing with the loss of her child. In 1992, she starred in Shining Through. She played a German Jewish secretary during World War II.
She followed this with A Stranger Among Us. She played a police officer investigating a murder. In 1993, Griffith filmed the comedy Born Yesterday. She played Billie Dawn, a naive showgirl. In 1994, Griffith starred in the romantic comedy Milk Money. She played a character named Eve. The same year, she had a supporting role in Nobody's Fool. She played the wife of a contractor.
Griffith and Don Johnson separated in 1994 and divorced in 1996. During her separation, she appeared in Now and Then. She played an actress who returns to her hometown. The same year, she starred in the Western miniseries Buffalo Girls. For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Independent Films and Producing
In 1996, Griffith co-starred with Antonio Banderas in Two Much. They began a relationship during filming and married that year. Their daughter, Stella del Carmen Banderas, was born on September 24, 1996. After Two Much, Griffith starred in Mulholland Falls (1996). She played the wife of a detective.
Griffith was cast as Charlotte Haze in Lolita (1997). She starred opposite Jeremy Irons. Caryn James of The New York Times said Griffith was perfectly cast. In 1998, Griffith had a supporting role in Celebrity. She followed this with a starring role in Another Day in Paradise.
On February 5, 1999, Griffith made her stage debut in London. She acted in The ... Monologues. The same year, she starred in Crazy in Alabama. This film was directed by Banderas. Griffith played an eccentric woman who goes to Hollywood. This was followed by a role in the HBO television film RKO 281. Griffith played movie star Marion Davies. She received an Emmy Award nomination for her performance.
In 1999, Griffith was cast as Honey Whitlock in Cecil B. Demented. She played an arrogant actress. Director John Waters said Griffith had a good sense of humor. In 2000, Griffith acted with Patrick Swayze in Forever Lulu. She played a woman trying to contact her son.
Griffith had a small role in the film Tart (2001). She also co-produced this film. In 2002, she voiced Margalo the bird in Stuart Little 2.
Theater and Television Work
In August 2003, Griffith made her Broadway debut. She played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. Her performance was a success. New York Times critic Ben Brantley called her a "sensational Roxie."
She returned to the stage in 2012 in a play called No Way Around but Through. She played the mother of actor Scott Caan. She played Caan's mother again from 2014–2016 on the TV show Hawaii Five-0. In 2016, she filmed a TV movie called J.L. Ranch.
Before Hawaii Five-0, Griffith's TV work included the sitcom Twins (2005–2006). She also appeared in Viva Laughlin (2007). Griffith guest-starred on Nip/Tuck and Hot in Cleveland.
Recent Film Roles
In June 2014, Griffith and Banderas announced their divorce. Their divorce was finalized in December 2015. Banderas has said he will always care for Griffith. Griffith appeared with Banderas in the science-fiction film Autómata (2014). She then had a role in Day Out of Days (2015). In 2016, she was a guest star on Hulu's The Path.
In 2017, Griffith co-starred in The Pirates of Somalia. She also played Jean Shelton in James Franco's The Disaster Artist. In 2018, she played Mrs. Robinson in a stage version of The Graduate.
Philanthropy
Griffith supports Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She helps lead "Walk for Kids" to raise money for the hospital. This helps fund a new pediatric facility. She also presented an award at the hospital's 2012 "Noche de Niños" gala.
Images for kids
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Griffith in 2016
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Griffith with Robert Redford and Sônia Braga, Cannes Film Festival 1988
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Griffith with then-husband Don Johnson at the APLA benefit in September 1990
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Griffith and then-husband Antonio Banderas at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival
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Griffith at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
See also
In Spanish: Melanie Griffith para niños
