Angie Dickinson has been a role model for women everywhere since she first skyrocketed to fame during the 1960s. Her career has spanned six decades, where she has continued to make her mark on the entertainment world. Gracing both the big and small screens, Dickinson’s astonishing career as an actress came with plenty of fame, success and recognition.
Born on Sept. 30, 1931, in Kulm, North Dakota, Dickinson grew up with a love for movies. Her father worked as a projectionist at a local movie theater, and it was clear that Dickinson resonated with the art that unfolded on the screen. At the age of 10, she and the rest of her family moved to Burbank, California, where she excelled at school. Dickinson was on the right track to become a writer, but ultimately found success in another artistic way.
Dickinson went on to find fame and fortune as a working actress, starring in several films and TV series, including “Big Bad Mama,” “Police Woman” and “Ocean’s Eleven.” She went on to receive plenty of awards and accolades for her work and even inspired women to become police officers because of her famous role. On top of that, Dickinson was sure to put her family first, and made taking care of her then-sick daughter a priority.
Nowadays, Dickinson is 90 years old and has a lot to be thankful for. She’s been able to look back on her outstanding career and marvel at just how much she’s accomplished and how many people she’s impacted. Let’s take a look at her life over the past 60 years – from all the highs and lows – and what Dickinson is up to today.
Dickinson’s career first started in the late 1950s with a breakthrough role in the 1956 Western film “Gun the Man Down,” which earned her the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. Shortly after, Dickinson’s career escalated, and she went on to appear in more than 50 films, including “Ocean’s Eleven” with Frank Sinatra, “The Killers” with Ronald Reagan, and “Big Bad Mama.” The latter went on to be one of Dickinson’s most recognized roles in her catalog as she starred alongside William Shatner and Tom Skerritt.
From 1974 until 1978, Dickinson starred on a TV series called “Police Woman,” where her character worked as an undercover police officer named Pepper. The show became quite popular and had a long list of special guest stars. Dickinson also received a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for her role.
Throughout her career as an actress, Dickinson played a variety of roles that relied heavily on seduction and showing off her feminine side. It’s clear that her stunning looks and charming personality resonated just as much off the screen as they did on the screen based on her dating history.
She was first married to a football player named Gene Dickinson from 1952 to 1960. In 1965, she married Burt Bacharach, a music composer and record producer. They were together for 15 years and had one daughter together named Nikki. According to Dickinson in her heartfelt essay in LA Mag, her water broke three months early and she had a risky pregnancy with Nikki. Her daughter was born prematurely and was monitored at the hospital for three months.
However, Nikki began having severe health issues before she was even a year old, and she was diagnosed with strabismus. The family later found out that Nikki also had Asperger’s Syndrome. This took a toll on Dickson’s personal and professional life and she decided to cut back on working so she could fully take care of Nikki.
Unfortunately, Nikki’s syndrome only worsened during the last 10 years of her life, and she took her life in 2007 when she was 40 years old. Speaking with CBS in 2019, Dickinson recalled time spent with her daughter, calling her a “wonderful, wonderful gift.” She added, “She was very smart and funny and wonderful. Yeah, so all my memories of her are my best memories.”
Now, at the age of 90, Dickinson seems to be enjoying a more relaxing life. Her last appearance in either a movie or TV show was in 2009 in the Hallmark Channel film called “Mending Fences.” Since then, Dickinson has taken the time to look back on her career and called herself “lucky” for being so successful. In October 2021, the icon was spotted in Beverly Hills – the first time she had publicly been seen in over three years, according to the Daily Mail.
While Dickinson may not be as busy as she once was, she is still enjoying her life to the fullest. Looking back on her career, she told nj.com. “I was lucky. I came along at the right time for so many great things. I met some great stars and stayed friends with many and lovers with some. It was a fantastic life, really. And it still is.”
What is your favorite film or TV show that Angie Dickinson has starred in? What do you think about her overall life and career? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your friends and family.
