Melanie Griffith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melanie Griffith
Griffith in 2016
Born	Melanie Richards Griffith (1957-08-09) August 9, 1957 (age 67) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1969–present
Spouse(s)	Don Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1976)​ ​ ​ (m. 1989; div. 1996)​ Steven Bauer ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 1989)​ Antonio Banderas ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2015)​
Children	3, including Dakota Johnson
Parent(s)	Tippi Hedren (mother)
Relatives	Tracy Griffith (half-sister)

Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. She was born in 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.

Melanie Griffith started acting in films when she was a teenager. She became well-known for her roles in movies like Body Double (1984) and Something Wild (1986). In 1988, she starred in the hit comedy Working Girl. This role earned her a nomination for an Academy Award and she won a Golden Globe Award.

During the 1990s, Melanie continued to act in many films. She received Golden Globe nominations for Buffalo Girls (1995) and RKO 281 (1999). She also lent her voice to the character Margalo in the animated movie Stuart Little 2 (2002). In the 2000s, she appeared in TV shows like Nip/Tuck and Hawaii Five-0. In 2003, she performed on Broadway in the musical Chicago. More recently, she has appeared in films like Autómata (2014) and The Disaster Artist (2017).

Melanie Griffith's Early Life and Career

Growing Up in New York and Los Angeles

Melanie Richards Griffith was born on August 9, 1957. Her birthplace was Manhattan, New York City. Her mother is actress Tippi Hedren. Her father, Peter Griffith, was a former child actor and worked in advertising. Melanie's parents separated when she was two years old. She then moved to Los Angeles with her mother. They divorced two years later.

Melanie's father later remarried and had two more children. Her half-sister, Tracy Griffith, also became an actress. Her mother married agent and producer Noel Marshall when Melanie was seven. During her childhood, Melanie lived in both New York and Antelope Valley, California. Her mother created an animal preserve called Shambala there. Melanie briefly worked as a child model. She stopped because she was very shy. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional School at age 16.

Starting Her Acting Journey

Melanie Griffith first appeared on screen as an extra. These roles were in the films Smith! (1969) and The Harrad Experiment (1973). While working on The Harrad Experiment, she met actor Don Johnson. They started dating and were married for six months in 1976.

Her first big role was at age 17. It was in the film Night Moves (1975). This role helped her get noticed. She then appeared in two more films in 1975: Smile and The Drowning Pool. She was also named Miss Golden Globe in 1975. This meant she helped out at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. In 1977, she had supporting roles in One on One and Joyride.

Becoming a Star and a Mother

In 1981, Melanie appeared with her mother, Tippi Hedren, in the film Roar. Her stepfather, Noel Marshall, directed this movie. The film was about wild animals turning on their keepers. Roar was a very difficult movie to make. Also in 1981, Melanie was in the TV movie She's in the Army Now. She met actor Steven Bauer on this film. They soon got married.

Melanie gave birth to her first child, Alexander Griffith Bauer, in 1985. The next year, she had a main role in the comedy Something Wild (1986). Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination. In 1988, she starred in Stormy Monday.

Griffith with Robert Redford and Sônia Braga at the Cannes Film Festival in 1988

Melanie became very famous with the movie Working Girl (1988). She played Tess McGill, a determined secretary. The film also starred Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver. Critics praised her performance. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. This movie made her a top actress in Hollywood.

Melanie and Steven Bauer separated before Working Girl came out. In 1988, Melanie reconnected with Don Johnson. They remarried in June 1989.

Continued Success in the 1990s

Melanie gave birth to her second child, daughter Dakota Johnson, in October 1989. Dakota's father is Don Johnson. After her pregnancy, Melanie filmed the thriller Pacific Heights (1990). She also reunited with director Brian De Palma in The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Griffith with her then-husband Don Johnson in 1990. They appeared in two films together in the 1990s.

In 1991, she starred in Paradise with Don Johnson. In 1992, she played Linda Voss in Shining Through. This was a drama set during World War II. She then starred in A Stranger Among Us. In this film, she played a police officer pretending to be an Orthodox Jew.

In 1993, Melanie filmed the comedy Born Yesterday. In 1994, she was in the romantic comedy Milk Money. She also had a supporting role in the drama Nobody's Fool, starring Paul Newman.

Melanie and Don Johnson separated in 1994 and divorced in 1996. During this time, she appeared in the drama Now and Then. She also starred in the Western TV miniseries Buffalo Girls. For her role in Buffalo Girls, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Independent Films and Producing Work

Griffith and her then-husband Antonio Banderas at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival

In 1996, Melanie starred with Antonio Banderas in the comedy Two Much. They started a relationship during filming. Melanie and Antonio married on May 14, 1996. Their daughter, Stella del Carmen Banderas, was born later that year. After Two Much, Melanie starred in Mulholland Falls (1996).

In 1997, Melanie played Charlotte Haze in the film Lolita. In 1998, she had a supporting role in Woody Allen's Celebrity. She then starred in the independent film Another Day in Paradise.

In 1999, she starred in Crazy in Alabama. Antonio Banderas directed this film. They also formed their own production company, Greenmoon Productions. She then played movie star Marion Davies in the HBO TV film RKO 281. For this role, she received an Emmy Award nomination.

In 1999, Melanie was cast in John Waters's comedy Cecil B. Demented. She played an arrogant actress who gets kidnapped. In 2000, she acted in Forever Lulu. In 2001, she co-produced and had a small role in the film Tart. In 2002, she voiced Margalo the bird in Stuart Little 2.

Theater and Television Roles

Griffith at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

In August 2003, Melanie Griffith made her Broadway debut. She played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. Her performances were very popular.

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 his mother again from 2014 to 2016. This was a recurring role on the TV show Hawaii Five-0. In 2016, she filmed a TV movie called J.L. Ranch with Scott Caan's father, James Caan.

Before Hawaii Five-0, Melanie also appeared in TV shows like Twins (2005–06) and Viva Laughlin (2007). She also guest-starred on Nip/Tuck and Hot in Cleveland.

Recent Films and Projects

In June 2014, Melanie and Antonio Banderas announced their divorce. They said it was a friendly decision. Their divorce was finalized in December 2015. Melanie appeared with Antonio in the 2014 science-fiction film Autómata. She also had a role in Day Out of Days (2015). In 2016, she was a guest star on the TV series The Path.

In 2017, Melanie 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. In August 2018, she shared that she had undergone surgery for skin cancer.

Helping Others

Melanie Griffith supports the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. She helps with events like "Walk for Kids." This event raises money for the hospital. She also participated in the hospital's "Noche de Niños" gala in 2012.

Melanie Griffith's Film and TV Roles

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Melanie Griffith para niños