Angie Dickinson, one of Hollywood’s most glamorous leading ladies, who rewrote the book on roles that women could handle with her gutsy performance in the 1970’s “Police Woman,” has had a long and distinctive career in movies and television.
Dickinson was born in Kulm, North Dakota. After placing second in a beauty pageant, she began to pursue a career in acting. Her breakthrough role came in Howard Hawks’ classic “Rio Bravo,” for which she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Newcomer.
International acclaim and movie stardom followed in many notable films, including “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Captain Newman M.D.,” “The Killers,” “Cast a Giant Shadow,” “Young Billy Young,” “The Chase,” “Point Blank,” “Pretty Maids All in a Row” and “Dressed to Kill.”
But she is best known for creating an indelible role model while expanding the dramatic opportunities for women in television with her portrayal of Sgt. Pepper Anderson in the long-running series “Police Woman.” She was nominated three times for an Emmy® and won the Golden Globe for Best Television Actress.
Over the course of her illustrious career, Dickinson has appeared on screen opposite many of the most important Hollywood male stars, including John Wayne, Dean Martin, Gregory Peck, Rock Hudson, Marlon Brando, Lee Marvin, Burt Reynolds, Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas.
She was also a lifelong friend of Frank Sinatra, and played his wife in a cameo in “Ocean’s 11.” Dickinson was ranked third in TV Guide’s ‘50 Sexiest TV Stars of All Time’ in 2002, only a few years after having been included as one of Playboy Magazine’s ‘100 Sexiest Stars of the Century.’
In addition to her dramatic roles, Dickinson has also appeared on several TV game shows, including “Password” and “Hollywood Squares” and, as an avid poker player, she competed in the second season of Bravo’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown.” Dickinson was recently seen co-starring in “Pay It Forward” with Kevin Spacey. Inspired by her sister’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, Dickinson has become an advocate for issues concerning the disease.
