- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGrace Patricia Kelly
- Nicknames
- Graciebird
- Gracie
- Height5′ 6½″ (1.69 m)
- On November 12, 1929, Grace Patricia Kelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to wealthy parents. Her girlhood was uneventful for the most part, but one of the things she desired was to become an actress which she had decided on at an early age. After her high school graduation in 1947, Grace struck out on her own, heading to New York's bright lights to try her luck there. Grace worked some as a model and made her debut on Broadway in 1949. She also made a brief foray into the infant medium of television. Not content with the work in New York, Grace moved to Southern California for the more prestigious part of acting -- motion pictures. In 1951, she appeared in her first film entitled Fourteen Hours (1951) when she was 22. It was a small part, but a start nonetheless. The following year she landed the role of Amy Kane in High Noon (1952), a western starring Gary Cooper and Lloyd Bridges which turned out to be very popular. In 1953, Grace appeared in only one film, but it was another popular one. The film was Mogambo (1953) where Grace played Linda Nordley. The film was a jungle drama in which fellow cast members, Clark Gable and Ava Gardner turned in masterful performances. It was also one of the best films ever released by MGM. Although she got noticed with High Noon, her work with director Alfred Hitchcock, which began with Dial M for Murder (1954) made her a star. Her standout performance in Rear Window (1954) brought her to prominence. As Lisa Fremont, she was cast opposite James Stewart, who played a crippled photographer who witnesses a murder in the next apartment from his wheelchair. Grace stayed busy in 1954 appearing in five films. Grace would forever be immortalized by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Georgie Elgin opposite Bing Crosby in The Country Girl (1954). In 1955, Grace once again teamed with Hitchcock in To Catch a Thief (1955) co-starring Cary Grant. In 1956, she played Tracy Lord in the musical comedy High Society (1956) which also starred Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. The whimsical tale ended with her re-marrying her former husband, played by Crosby. The film was well received. It also turned out to be her final acting performance. Grace had recently met and married Prince Rainier of the little principality of Monaco. By becoming a princess, she gave up her career. For the rest of her life, she was to remain in the news with her marriage and her three children. On September 14, 1982, Grace was killed in an automobile accident in her adoptive home country. She was just 52 years old.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson
- SpousePrince Rainier of Monaco(April 18, 1956 - September 14, 1982) (her death, 3 children)
- Children
- ParentsMargaret Katherine Majer
- RelativesJohn B. Kelly III(Niece or Nephew)Andrea Casiraghi(Grandchild)Charlotte Casiraghi(Grandchild)Pierre Casiraghi(Grandchild)Prince Jacques of Monaco(Grandchild)Princess Gabriella of Monaco(Grandchild)Jazmin Grace Grimaldi(Grandchild)Alexandre Coste(Grandchild)Louis Ducruet(Grandchild)Pauline Ducruet(Grandchild)George Kelly(Aunt or Uncle)Walter C. Kelly(Aunt or Uncle)Margaret "Peggy" Kelly Conlan(Sibling)John B. Kelly(Sibling)Lizanne Le Vine(Sibling)Victoire Maguy Lam Huong Ducruet(Great Grandchild)Camille Gottlieb(Grandchild)
- Her poised, calm, cool and collected demeanor and blond hair often coiffed in a bun
- Often cast as the love interest of the leading man who is over 20 years older
- In 1993, the United States and Monaco simultaneously released a commemorative postage stamp honoring her. However, United States federal law forbids postage stamps depicting foreign heads of state, so the United States stamp listed her as "Grace Kelly", while the Monaco stamp listed her as "Princess Grace".
- She was the very first actress to appear on a postage stamp.
- Cary Grant named her as his favorite co-star. His friends and family said Kelly's death hit him much harder than the deaths of Louis Mountbatten, Alfred Hitchcock and even Ingrid Bergman.
- Had three children with Prince Rainier of Monaco: Princess Caroline of Monaco (1957), Prince Albert of Monaco (1958) and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco (1965).
- She graduated from Stevens School in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 5, 1947; her classmates predicted, in her senior yearbook, that she was certain "to become a stage and screen star".
- Hollywood amuses me. Holier-than-thou for the public and unholier-than-the-devil in reality.
- I'll tell you one of the reasons I'm ready to leave. When I first came to Hollywood five years ago, my makeup call was at eight in the morning. On this movie, it's been put back to seven-thirty. Every day, I see Joan Crawford, who's been in makeup since five, and Loretta Young, who's been there since four in the morning. I'll be goddamned if I'm going to stay in a business where I have to get up earlier and earlier and it takes longer and longer for me to get in front of a camera.
- I hated Hollywood. It's a town without pity. I know of no other place in the world where so many people suffer from nervous breakdowns, where there are so many alcoholics, neurotics, and so much unhappiness.
- Mogambo (1953) had three things that interested me. John Ford, Clark Gable, and a trip to Africa with expenses paid. If Mogambo had been made in Arizona, I wouldn't have done it.
- At times, I think I actually hate Hollywood. I have many acquaintances there, but few friends.
- Dial M for Murder (1954) - $14,000
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