Angie Dickinson (born Angeline Brown; September 30, 1931) is an American retired actress. She began her career on television, appearing in many

anthology series An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...

during the 1950s, before gaining her breakthrough role in '' Gun the Man Down'' (1956) with James Arness and the Western film '' Rio Bravo'' (1959) with

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

and

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Cool", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of ...

, for which she received the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. Dickinson has appeared in more than 50 films, including '' China Gate'' (1957), '' Cry Terror!'' (1958), '' Ocean's 11'' (1960), '' The Sins of Rachel Cade'' (1961), '' Jessica'' (1962), '' Captain Newman, M.D.'' (1963), ''

The Killers The Killers are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After the band went through a number of short-term bas ...

'' (1964), '' The Art of Love'' (1965), '' The Chase'' (1966), '' Point Blank'' (1967), '' Pretty Maids All in a Row'' (1971), '' The Outside Man'' (1972), '' Big Bad Mama'' (1974), and '' Dressed to Kill'' (1980). From 1974 to 1978, Dickinson starred as Sergeant "Pepper" Anderson in the NBC crime series '' Police Woman'', for which she received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and three Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominations. She starred in

Brian De Palma Brian Russell De Palma (; born September 11, 1940) is an Americans, American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for work in the suspense, Crime film, crime, and psychological thriller genres. ...

's erotic crime thriller '' Dressed to Kill'' (1980), for which she received a Saturn Award for Best Actress. During her later career, Dickinson starred in several television movies and miniseries including '' Hollywood Wives'' (1985) and '' Wild Palms'' (1993), also playing supporting roles in films such as '' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues'' (1994), '' Sabrina'' (1995), ''

Pay It Forward Pay it forward is an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others rather than paying it back to the original benefactor. It is also called serial reciprocity. The concept is old, but the particular ph ...

'' (2000), and '' Big Bad Love'' (2001). Her last performance to date was in the

Hallmark Channel Hallmark Channel is an American cable television network owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies. ...

film '' Mending Fences'' (2009).

Early life

Dickinson, the middle of three daughters, was born Angeline Brown (called "Angie" by family and friends) on September 30, 1931, in

Kulm, North Dakota Kulm is a city in LaMoure County, North Dakota, United States. The population was 368 at the 2020 census. Kulm was founded in 1892. Geography Kulm is located at (46.301844, -98.948135). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city ...

, the daughter of Fredericka (née Hehr) and Leo Henry Brown. Her parents were both of German descent, with the family surname originally being "Braun". She was raised

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

. Her father was a small-town newspaper publisher and editor, working on the ''Kulm Messenger'' and the ''Edgeley Mail''. She fell in love with movies at an early age, as her father was also the projectionist at the town's only movie theater until it burned down."I grew up going to movies, my daddy was the projectionist, so we got in for free.
Interview
with Mo Rocca for profile on ''

CBS Sunday Morning ''CBS News Sunday Morning'' (frequently shortened to ''Sunday Morning'') is an American television newsmagazine that has aired on CBS since January 28, 1979. Created by Robert Northshield and E.S. "Bud" Lamoreaux III, and originally hosted by Ch ...

'', aired February 24, 2019. In 1942, when she was 10 years old, the Brown family moved to

Burbank, California Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank had a Census-estimated population of 102,755 as of 2023. The city was ...

, where Angie attended Bellarmine-Jefferson High School, graduating in 1947 at age 15. The previous year, she had won the Sixth Annual Bill of Rights essay contest. She then studied at Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, and at Glendale Community College, becoming a business graduate by 1954. Taking a cue from her publisher father, she had intended to be a writer. While a student during 1950–1952, she worked as a secretary at Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank (now

Bob Hope Airport Hollywood Burbank Airport is a public airport northwest of downtown Burbank, in Los Angeles County, California, United States.. Federal Aviation Administration. effective November 9, 2017 The airport serves Burbank, Hollywood, and the nor ...

) and in a parts factory. She became Angie Dickinson in 1952, when she married football player Gene Dickinson.

Career

Early television career

Dickinson came in second at a local preliminary for the

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: ''Priva ...

contest, and that got the attention of a casting agent, who landed her a spot as one of six showgirls on ''The Jimmy Durante Show''. The exposure brought her to the attention of a television-industry producer, who asked her to consider a career in acting. She studied the craft and a few years later was approached by NBC to guest-star on a number of variety shows, including ''

The Colgate Comedy Hour ''The Colgate Comedy Hour'' is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show featured many notable comedians and entertainers of the era as guest stars. Many of the scripts of the serie ...

''. She soon met

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...

, who became a lifelong friend. Clint Walker Angie Dickinson Cheyenne 1957

On New Year's Eve 1954, Dickinson made her television acting debut in an episode of ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

''. This led to roles in such productions as '' Matinee Theatre'' (eight episodes), '' Buffalo Bill, Jr.'', '' City Detective'', '' It's a Great Life'' (two episodes), '' Gray Ghost'', '' General Electric Theater'', '' Broken Arrow'', '' The People's Choice'' (twice), ''Meet McGraw'' (twice), ''

Northwest Passage The Northwest Passage (NWP) is the sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, near the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. The eastern route along the Arctic ...

'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', '' The Virginian'', ''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...

'', ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne comprise two Native American tribes, the Só'taeo'o or Só'taétaneo'o (more commonly spelled as Suhtai or Sutaio) and the (also spelled Tsitsistas, The term for th ...

'', and ''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne (actor), John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Ci ...

''. In 1956, Dickinson appeared in an episode of ''

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults.Richard Boone's series ''

Have Gun – Will Travel ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that was produced and originally broadcast by CBS on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. The television version of the series starring Ri ...

'' in the episode "A Matter of Ethics". Angie-dickinson

In 1958, Dickinson was cast as Laura Meadows in the episode "The Deserters" of an ABC/

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

Western series, '' Colt .45'', with Wayde Preston. That year, she also played the role of defendant Mrs. Fargo in the '' Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the One-Eyed Witness". Dickinson went on to create memorable characters in '' Mike Hammer'', ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...

'', and '' Men into Space''. In 1965, she had a recurring role as Carol Tredman on NBC's '' Dr. Kildare''. She had a role as the duplicitous murder conspirator in a 1964 episode of '' The Fugitive'' series with

David Janssen David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer; March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen a ...

and fellow guest star

Robert Duvall Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor. With a career spanning seven decades, he is regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. He has received an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a British Academy Film Awards ...

. She played an unfaithful wife and bank robber in the 1958 "Wild Blue Yonder" episode of

Rod Cameron (actor) Rod Cameron (born Nathan Roderick Cox; December 7, 1910 – December 21, 1983) was a Canadian film and television actor whose career extended from the 1930s to the 1970s. He appeared in horror, war, action and science fiction movies, but is b ...

's syndicated television series '' State Trooper''. She starred in two '' Alfred Hitchcock Hour'' episodes, "Captive Audience" with James Mason on October 18, 1962, and "Thanatos Palace Hotel" with Steven Hill (actor) on January 31, 1965.

First film roles

Dickinson's motion-picture career began with a small, uncredited role in '' Lucky Me'' (1954) starring

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey ...

, followed by '' The Return of Jack Slade'' (1955), '' Man with the Gun'' (1955) and '' Hidden Guns'' (1956). She had her first starring role in '' Gun the Man Down'' (1956) with James Arness, followed by the Sam Fuller cult film '' China Gate'' (1957), which depicted an early view of the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. Rejecting the

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

Jayne Mansfield Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer; April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) was an American actress, ''Playboy'' Playmate, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was known for her numerous publicity stunts and open personal life. He ...

style of platinum blonde sex symbolism, because she felt it would narrow her acting options, Dickinson initially allowed studios to lighten her naturally brunette hair to honey-blonde. She appeared early in her career mainly in B-movies or Westerns, including '' Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend'' (1957), in which she co-starred with

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor, whose Hollywood career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in dramas, come ...

and James Garner. In the crime drama '' Cry Terror!'' (1958), Dickinson had a supporting role opposite James Mason and

Rod Steiger Rodney Stephen Steiger ( ; April 14, 1925 – July 9, 2002) was an American actor, noted for his portrayal of offbeat, often volatile and crazed characters. Ranked as "one of Hollywood's most charismatic and dynamic stars", he is closely associ ...

as a ''

femme fatale A ( , ; ), sometimes called a maneater, Mata Hari, or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and Seduction, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype ...

''.

Hollywood Leading lady

Dickinson's big-screen breakthrough role came in

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter of the Classical Hollywood cinema, classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American ...

' '' Rio Bravo'' (1959), in which she played a flirtatious gambler called "Feathers", who becomes attracted to the town sheriff played by Dickinson's childhood idol John Wayne. The film co-starred Dean Martin,

Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician and actor. From age eight, he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. In 1957, he began a ...

, and

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

. When Hawks sold his personal contract with her to a major studio without her knowledge, she was unhappy. Dickinson nonetheless became one of the more prominent leading ladies of the next decade, beginning with film '' The Bramble Bush'' with

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

. She also took a supporting role in '' Ocean's 11'' (1960) with friends Sinatra and Martin. These were followed by a political

potboiler A potboiler or pot-boiler is a novel, Play (theatre), play, opera, film, or other creative work of dubious literary or artistic merit whose main purpose is to pay for the creator's daily expenses—thus the imagery of "boil the pot", which means " ...

, '' A Fever in the Blood'' (1961); a Belgian Congo-based melodrama, ''The Sins of Rachel Cade'' (1961), in which she played a missionary nurse tempted by lust; a scheming woman in '' Rome Adventure'' (1962), filmed in Italy; and the title role in Jean Negulesco's '' Jessica'' (1962) with

Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier (; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor, and entertainer. He is best known for his signature songs, including " Livin' In The Sunlight", " Valentine", " Louise", " Mimi", and " Thank Heaven f ...

, in which she played a young midwife resented by the married women of the town, set in

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

. Angie also shared the screen with friend

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...

as a military nurse in the dark comedy '' Captain Newman, M.D.'' (1963). For ''

'' (1964), originally intended to be the first made-for-television movie, but released to theaters due to its violent content and entertainment value, Dickinson played a ''femme fatale'' opposite future U.S. President

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

in his last movie role. Directed by

Don Siegel Donald Siegel ( ; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film director and producer. Siegel was described by ''The New York Times'' as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut plots centered o ...

, it was a remake of the 1946 version based on a story by

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway ( ; July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Known for an economical, understated style that influenced later 20th-century writers, he has been romanticized fo ...

and the only film Reagan made in which he was cast as a villain. He viciously slaps Dickinson in one of the film's scenes. Dickinson co-starred in the comedy '' The Art of Love'' (1965), playing the love interest of both James Garner and

Dick Van Dyke Richard Wayne Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, entertainer and comedian. Dick Van Dyke on screen and stage, His work spans screen and stage, and List of awards and nominations received by Dick Van Dyke, his awards includ ...

. She joined a star-studded

Arthur Penn Arthur Hiller Penn (September 27, 1922 – September 28, 2010) was an American filmmaker, theatre director, and producer. He was a three-time Academy Award nominee for Academy Award for Best Director, Best Director, and a Tony Awards, Tony Awa ...

/ Sam Spiegel production, '' The Chase'' (1966), along with

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinema actors of the 20th century,''Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia''

Jane Fonda Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress and activist. Recognized as a film icon, Jane Fonda filmography, Fonda's work spans several genres and over six decades of film and television. She is the recipient of List of a ...

Robert Redford Charles Robert Redford Jr. (born August 18, 1936) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received numerous accolades such as an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1994, the ...

, and

. That same year, she was featured in '' Cast a Giant Shadow'', a war story with

Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in '' The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. ...

. Dickinson's best movie of this era is considered to be John Boorman's cult classic '' Point Blank'' (1967), a crime drama with Lee Marvin, a criminal who is out for revenge after being betrayed by his wife and his best friend. The film has been described as epitomizing the stark urban mood of the period, while its reputation has grown through the years. Westerns continued to be a part of her work in the late 1960s, when she starred in '' The Last Challenge'' opposite

Glenn Ford Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford (May 1, 1916 – August 30, 2006), known as Glenn Ford, was a Canadian-born American actor. He was most prominent during Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age as one of the biggest box-office draws of th ...

, in '' Young Billy Young'' with

Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He is known for his antihero roles and film noir appearances. He received nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He received a star on the Holl ...

, and '' Sam Whiskey'' with

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor most famous during the 1970s and 1980s. He became well known in television series such as ''Gunsmoke'' (1962–1965), '' Hawk'' (1966) and '' Dan Augus ...

. In 1971, she played a lascivious substitute high-school teacher in the dark comedy '' Pretty Maids All in a Row'' which also starred Rock Hudson and Telly Savalas, for director

Roger Vadim Roger Vadim Plemiannikov (; 26 January 1928 – 11 February 2000) was a French screenwriter, film director, and producer, as well as an author, artist, and occasional actor. His best-known works are visually lavish films with erotic qualities, s ...

and writer-producer

Gene Roddenberry Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American television screenwriter and producer who created the science fiction series and fictional universe ''Star Trek.'' Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up ...

. In the film, her character seduces a sexually inexperienced student, portrayed by John David Carson, against the backdrop of a series of murders of female students at the same high school. ''Pretty Maids All In A Row'' drew hostile critical reviews, and was a box-office failure. Also in 1971, she portrayed the ambitious wife of

Robert Culp Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor and screenwriter widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on ''I Spy (1965 TV series), I Spy'' ( ...

in the television movie ''See the Man Run'', and starred alongside

Leslie Nielsen Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. He made his a ...

in '' The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler''. In '' The Outside Man'' (1972), a French movie shot in Los Angeles, with

Jean-Louis Trintignant Jean-Louis Xavier Trintignant (; 11 December 1930 – 17 June 2022) was a French actor. He made his theatrical debut in 1951, and went on to be regarded as one of the best French dramatic actors of the post-World War II, war era. He starred in m ...

, directed by

Jacques Deray Jacques Deray (born Jacques Desrayaud, 19 February 1929 – 9 August 2003) was a French film director and screenwriter. Deray is prominently known for directing many crime films, crime and thriller films. Biography Born Jacques Desrayaud in Lyon, ...

, she plays the beautiful but corrupt wife of a mobster. In 1973, she co-starred with Roy Thinnes in the supernatural thriller'' The Norliss Tapes'', a television movie produced and directed by Dan Curtis that in later years attained a modest cult following. One of Dickinson's best-known and most sexually provocative movie roles followed, that of the tawdry widow Wilma McClatchie from the Great Depression romp '' Big Bad Mama'' (1974) with

William Shatner William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1966 debut as the captain of the starship USS Enterpri ...

and Tom Skerritt. In her 40s at the time, she appeared nude in several scenes, which created interest in the movie and a new generation of male fans for Dickinson. A 1966 ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...

'' cover gained Dickinson additional fame and notoriety, her having posed in nothing but a sweater and a pair of panty hose. The photo became so iconic, that while celebrating the magazine's 70th anniversary in 2003, the Dickinson pose was recreated for the cover by

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...

''Police Woman''

Dickinson returned to the small screen in March 1974 for an episode of the critically acclaimed hit anthology series '' Police Story''. The guest appearance proved to be so popular, NBC offered Dickinson her own television show, which became a ground-breaking weekly series called '' Police Woman.'' At first, Dickinson was reluctant, but when producers told her she could become a household name, she accepted the role. It co-starred Earl Holliman as Sergeant Bill Crowley, Anderson's commanding officer, along with Charles Dierkop as investigator Pete Royster and Ed Bernard as investigator Joe Styles. In the series, Dickinson played Sergeant "Pepper" Anderson, an officer of the

Los Angeles Police Department The City of Los Angeles Police Department, commonly referred to as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the th ...

's Criminal Conspiracy Unit, who often works undercover. The series became a hit, reaching number one in many countries in which it aired during its first year. It ran for four seasons and Dickinson won a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...

, and received

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

nominations for Best Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series three consecutive years. However, in a 2019 interview, Dickinson said that she regretted having done the series, since the remuneration was inadequate and it left her with little time for other projects. Dickinson acknowledged her sex symbol role, stating "Are my legs exploited? Well, that's all I have got to sell". While observing that "essentially a woman's job is being a woman", she disliked repeatedly doing ''Police Woman'' scenes " where the phone rings while I'm taking a bath". In 1978, the same year the show ended, Dickinson reprised her Pepper Anderson character on the television special '' Ringo'', co-starring with

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, us ...

and

John Ritter Johnathan Southworth Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American comedian and actor. He was a son of the singing cowboy star Tex Ritter and the father of actors Jason Ritter, Jason and Tyler Ritter. He is best known for ...

. She also parodied the role in the 1975 and 1979

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared ...

Christmas specials for NBC. She did the same years later on the 1987 Christmas episode of NBC's ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

''. According to Dickinson, ''Police Woman'' caused a surge of applications for employment from women to police departments around the United States. Dickinson and ''Police Woman'' influenced later female-starring, hour-long TV series such as ''

Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts for ABC. It originally aired from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, airing for five seasons consisting of 115 episodes. It was produ ...

'', ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

'', ''

The Bionic Woman ''The Bionic Woman'' is an American science fiction film, science fiction Action-adventure fiction, action-adventure television series created by Kenneth Johnson (producer), Kenneth Johnson based on the 1972 novel Cyborg (novel), ''Cyborg'' by ...

'', and '' Cagney & Lacey''. In 1987, the Los Angeles Police Department awarded Dickinson an honorary doctorate, which led her to quip, "Now you can call me Doctor Pepper." On occasion during the 1970s, Dickinson took part in the popular '' Dean Martin Celebrity Roast'' on television, and she was the guest of honor on August 2, 1977, roasted by a dais of celebrities that included

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morali ...

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

, and her ''Police Woman'' series co-star Earl Holliman.

The 1980s

Having done a television series plus the miniseries ''

Pearl A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living Exoskeleton, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pear ...

'' (1978) about the

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Reci ...

bombing of 1941, Dickinson's career in feature films appeared to be in decline, but she returned to the big screen in

's erotic thriller '' Dressed to Kill'' (1980), for which she gained considerable notice, particularly for a long, silent scene in a museum before the character meets her fate. The role of Kate Miller, a sexually frustrated New York housewife, earned her a 1981 Saturn Award for Best Actress. "The performers are excellent," wrote

Vincent Canby Vincent Canby (July 27, 1924 – October 15, 2000) was an American film and theatre critic who was the chief film critic for ''The New York Times'' from 1969 until the early 1990s, then its chief theatre critic from 1994 until his death in 2000. ...

in his July 25, 1980 ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' review, "especially Miss Dickinson." Angie Dickinson

She took a less substantial role in '' Death Hunt'' (1981), which reunited her with Lee Marvin, and also appeared in '' Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen.'' Earlier that year, she had been the first choice to play the character

Krystle Carrington Krystle Carrington (also Grant and Jennings) is a fictional character from the 1980s American TV series ''Dynasty'', created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by Linda Evans, the character was introduced in the 1981 pilot episode. In th ...

on the television series ''

Dynasty A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family, usually in the context of a monarchy, monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A dynasty may also be referred to as a "house", "family" or "clan", among others. H ...

'', but deciding she wanted to spend more time with her daughter, she turned it down; the role instead went to

Linda Evans Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad; November 18, 1942) is a retired American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s, she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck), in the Wes ...

. In the mid-1980s, Dickinson declined the role of Sable Colby on the ''Dynasty'' spin-off, ''

The Colbys ''The Colbys'' (originally titled ''Dynasty II: The Colbys'') is an American prime time soap opera that originally aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from November 20, 1985, to March 26, 1987. Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro and E ...

''. After turning down her own

Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, and writer best known as the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson is a cultural phenomenon and w ...

-produced prospective sitcom, ''The Angie Dickinson Show'', in 1980 after only two episodes had been shot because she did not feel she was funny enough, the private-eye series '' Cassie & Co.'' became her unsuccessful attempt at a television comeback. She then starred in several television movies, such as ''One Shoe Makes It Murder'' (1982), ''Jealousy'' (1984), ''A Touch of Scandal'' (1984), and ''Stillwatch'' (1987). She had a pivotal role in the highly rated miniseries '' Hollywood Wives'' (1985), based on a novel by

Jackie Collins Jacqueline Jill Collins (4 October 1937 – 19 September 2015) was an English romance novelist and actress. She moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and spent most of her career there. She wrote 32 novels, all of which appeared on The New York Times B ...

. In 1982, and again in 1986, Dickinson appeared in two of

Perry Como Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer, actor, and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, from 1943 until 1987 ...

's Christmas specials for the ABC television network, in both of which she did something she was not known to have done before: singing. Dickinson later denied having sung on camera since the two Como specials in an interview with

Larry King Larry King (born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger; November 19, 1933 – January 23, 2021) was an American TV and radio host presenter, author, and former spokesman. He was a WMBM radio interviewer in the Miami area in the 1950s and 1960s and beginning in ...

, which he conducted at the approximate time of her appearance in '' Duets.'' In motion pictures, Dickinson reprised her role as Wilma McClatchie for '' Big Bad Mama II'' (1987) and completed the television movie ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American Action film, action Crime film, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theophilus "Theo" Kojak. Tak ...

: Fatal Flaw,'' in which she was reunited with Telly Savalas. She co-starred with

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...

and numerous buddies in the television Western '' Once Upon a Texas Train'' (1988). She was presented one of the Golden Boot Awards in 1989 for her contributions to Western cinema.

1990s and 2000s

In the ABC miniseries '' Wild Palms'' (1993), produced by

Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born ) is an American filmmaker. Stone is an acclaimed director, tackling subjects ranging from the Vietnam War and American politics to musical film, musical Biographical film, biopics and Crime film, crime dramas. He has ...

, she was the sadistic, militant sister of Senator Tony Kruetzer, played by Robert Loggia. That same year, she starred as a ruthless Montana spa owner in

Gus Van Sant Gus Green Van Sant Jr. (born July 24, 1952) is an American filmmaker, photographer, painter, and musician. He has earned acclaim as an independent film, independent auteur. His films typically deal with themes of marginalized subcultures. His ...

's '' Even Cowgirls Get the Blues'' with

Uma Thurman Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an American actress. She has performed in a variety of films, from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action films. Following her appearances on the December 1985 and May 1986 cover ...

. In November of that year, she walked off the set of a proposed '' This Is Your Life'' special for her, refusing to participate in the show. In 1995,

Sydney Pollack Sydney Irwin Pollack (July 1, 1934 – May 26, 2008) was an American film director, producer, and actor. Pollack is known for directing commercially and critically acclaimed studio films. Over his forty year career he received numerous accolades ...

cast her as the prospective mother-in-law of

Greg Kinnear Gregory Buck Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an American actor and former talk show host. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in '' As Good as It Gets'' (1997). Kinnear has appeared in many popular films, ...

in the romantic comedy '' Sabrina'' starring

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. Regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, he has starred in Harrison Ford filmography, many notable films over seven decades, and is one of List of highest-grossing actors, the highest-gr ...

, a remake of the

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an American filmmaker and screenwriter. His career in Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and ver ...

classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...

. She played

' wife in the thriller '' The Maddening'' and the mother of Rick Aiello and

Robert Cicchini Robert Cicchini is an American film and television actor and director. Among Cicchini's film appearances are his roles as Lou Pennino, Vincent Corleone's bodyguard, in '' The Godfather Part III'' (1990), Bill Guidone in '' Light Sleeper'' (1 ...

in the '' National Lampoon'' comedy '' The Don's Analyst''. In 1997, she seduced old flame Artie ( Rip Torn) in an episode of HBO's ''

The Larry Sanders Show ''The Larry Sanders Show'' is an American television sitcom set in the office and studio of a fictional late-night talk show. Created by Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein, the show ran for six seasons and List of The Larry Sanders Show episodes, ...

'' called "Artie and Angie and Hank and Hercules". Dickinson acted out the alcoholic, homeless mother of Helen Hunt's character in ''

'' (2000), the grandmother of

Gwyneth Paltrow Gwyneth Kate Paltrow ( ; born September 27, 1972) is an American actress and businesswoman. The daughter of filmmaker Bruce Paltrow and actress Blythe Danner, she established herself as a leading lady appearing in mainly mid-budget and perio ...

's character in the drama '' Duets'' (2000), and the mother of Arliss Howard's character in '' Big Bad Love'' (2001), co-starring Debra Winger. Having appeared in the original ''Ocean's 11'' (1960) with good friends Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, four decades later, she made a brief cameo in the 2001 remake with

George Clooney George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. Known for his leading man roles on screen in both blockbuster and independent films, Clooney has received numerous accolades, including two Ac ...

and

Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. In a Brad Pitt filmography, film career spanning more than thirty years, Pitt has received list of awards and nominations received by Brad Pitt, numerous a ...

. An avid

poker Poker is a family of Card game#Comparing games, comparing card games in which Card player, players betting (poker), wager over which poker hand, hand is best according to that specific game's rules. It is played worldwide, with varying rules i ...

player, during the summer of 2004, she participated in the second season of Bravo's '' Celebrity Poker Showdown''. After announcing her name, host Dave Foley said, "Sometimes, when we say 'celebrity', we actually mean it." Also in 2004, Dickinson appeared in the comedy '' Elvis Has Left the Building'', playing an ex-mechanic and the mother of Kim Basinger's character. Dickinson is a recipient of the state of

North Dakota North Dakota ( ) is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the indigenous Dakota people, Dakota and Sioux peoples. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north and by the U.S. states of Minneso ...

's Rough Rider Award. In 1999, ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...

'' ranked Dickinson number 42 on their list of the "100 Sexiest Stars of the Century". In 2002, ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, vi ...

'' ranked her number three on a list of the "50 Sexiest Television Stars of All Time", behind

Diana Rigg Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July 1938 – 10 September 2020) was an English actress of stage and screen. Her roles include Emma Peel in the TV series ''The Avengers (TV series), The Avengers'' (1965–1968); Countess Tracy Bond, Teresa di ...

and George Clooney (who tied for number one). In 2009, Dickinson starred in a Hallmark Channel drama, '' Mending Fences'' co-starring Laura Leighton. It is her last acting credit to date.

Personal life

Burt Bacharach - Angie Dickinson -baby 1966

Dickinson was married to Gene Dickinson, a college football player who later moved into the electronics business, from 1952 to 1960, though they separated in 1956. During her marriage, Dickinson became close friends with

John Kenneth Galbraith John Kenneth Galbraith (October 15, 1908 – April 29, 2006), also known as Ken Galbraith, was a Canadian-American economist, diplomat, public official, and intellectual. His books on economic topics were bestsellers from the 1950s through the ...

and Catherine Galbraith. Her visits to them and her touring when Galbraith was U.S. Ambassador to India are amply recounted in his memoirs ''Ambassador's Journal'' and ''A Life in Our Times''. Dickinson kept her married name after their divorce. She married composer

Burt Bacharach Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; May 12, 1928 – February 8, 2023) was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Start ...

in 1965. They remained a married couple for 16 years; late in their marriage they had a period of separation during which they dated other people. On July 12, 1966, Dickinson gave birth to their daughter Nikki, who was

autistic Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing di ...

and died by suicide on January 4, 2007. Burt Bacharach died in 2023. Dickinson had a relationship with musician

Billy Vera Billy Vera (born William Patrick McCord; May 28, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, author, and music historian. He has been a singer and songwriter since the 1960s, his most successful record being " At This Moment", a US number 1 ...

in the 1980s and appeared in the music video for his single "I Can Take Care of Myself". For several years in the 1990s, Dickinson dated radio and television interviewer

. In 2023, Dickinson stated that she had a 20-year on-and-off affair with

. She said he was the love of her life and "one of the most charismatic men that ever was" . In a 2006 interview with NPR, Dickinson stated that she was a Democrat. She campaigned for Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960 and supported

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served a ...

in 1964. Also, ''Report of the County Chairman'' by James Michener There is a street named after Dickinson in

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

Awards and nominations

Other honors

Filmography

Film

Television films

Television series

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dickinson, Angie 1931 births 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses Actresses from Greater Los Angeles Actresses from North Dakota American film actresses American people of German-Russian descent American television actresses American television personalities American women television personalities Bellarmine-Jefferson High School alumni Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (television) winners California Democrats Immaculate Heart College alumni Living people New Star of the Year (Actress) Golden Globe winners People from LaMoure County, North Dakota Western (genre) film actresses Western (genre) television actors