Angie Dickinson was born in Kulm, North Dakota, in 1931, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Brown. Mr. Brown was the publisher of The Kulm Messenger. The family left North Dakota in 1942 when Angie was 11 years old, moving to Burbank, California. In December of 1946, when she was a senior at Bellamarine Jefferson High School in Burbank, she won the Sixth Annual Bill of Rights Contest. Two years later her sister Janet, did likewise. Being the daughter of a printer, Angie at first had visions of becoming a writer, but gave this up after winning her first beauty contest. After finishing college she worked as a secretary in a Burbank airplane parts factory for 3-1/2 years. In 1953 she entered the local Miss America contest one day before the deadline and took second place. In August of the same year she was one of five winners in a beauty contest sponsored by NBC and appeared in several TV variety shows. She got her first bit part in a Warner Brothers movie in 1954 and gained television fame in the TV series _"The Millionaire" . Her success then climbed until she became one of the nation's top movie stars.
Attended Immaculate Heart College and Glendale Community College.
Attended and graduated from Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in Burbank, California, at age 15, in 1947.
Had a ten-year, on-again/off-again relationship with Frank Sinatra.
(January 1999) Ranked #42 on Playboy magazines "100 Sexiest Stars of the Century".
Said she initially declined to play the ill-fated, sexually frustrated Kate Miller in Dressed to Kill because she felt her role on the television series "Police Woman" had made her into something of a role model, but director Brian De Palma eventually persuaded her to accept the role.
Sisters: Mary Lou Belmont, who is deceased, and younger sister, Janet Lee Brown.
Originally had a major role as the main villain in Mel Gibson s Payback as Mrs. Bronson (there originally was no Kris Kristofferson role). When Mel Gibson took over, the role was deleted. It will be restored on "Payback - Straight Up" in 2007.
Her daughter (with Burt Bacharach ), Nikki Bacharach, died at age 40 on January 4, 2007 of suicide in Ventura County, California. She was born prematurely on July 12, 1966 and battled Aspergers disorder, a form of autism.
Ranked #3 in TV Guides "50 Sexiest TV Stars of All Time" list.
Turned down the role of Krystle Carrington on the soap opera "Dynasty" , which went to Linda Evans.
First husband Gene Dickinson was a college football star, turned semi-pro. He later moved into the electronics business but they separated in 1956 after four years of marriage.
One of three daughters born to Leo Henry and Frederica Brown. Her family owned and operated the North Dakota newspaper offices the Kulm Messenger and, later, the Edgeley Mail in the 1930s. The family moved to California when she was around 10 years old.
Was mentioned in the song "Putting the Damage On" by Tori Amos.
Her favorite movies of her career are Rio Bravo and Dressed to Kill .
According to director Steve Carver , Dickinson allowed all of the crew to remain on set during the filming of her extensive nude scenes in Big Bad Mama .
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 10, 1987.
Worked as a secretary at Lockheed Air Terminal (now Bob Hope Airport) and in an airplane parts factory for 3 years.
One of her sisters was an actual "Police Woman" with the Burbank Police Department.
Good friends with singer-comedienne Vicki Lawrence , Frank Sinatra s widow Barbara Marx and actress June Blair.
Her daughter, Nikki, attended The Newbridge School in Beverly Hills.
For years she had her legs insured for $1,000,000. She finally stopped when her advancing age made the premiums too expensive.
Along with Henry Silva , she is one of only two actors to appear in both Oceans Eleven and its remake Oceans Eleven .
Caused a minor stir in 1993, when NBCs periodically revived reality show "This Is Your Life" (1952) prepped an episode on her, but when loved ones and colleagues sprung the surprise, she simply said, "F
No, I wont do it," and bolted.
Dated musician Billy Vera.
Her ex-husband Burt Bacharach composed the song, Nikki, for her daughter.
In addition to her daughter, Nikki, suffering from autism, she also suffered from poor eyesight.
Her daughters Nikkis escaping the ravages of her brain, caused by her autistic behavior, had led her daughter to commit suicide.
Hobbies include golf, poker and fishing.
Was supposed to guest-star on "Falcon Crest" as Jane Wyman s long-lost daughter, when storyline development has changed.
Sam Peckinpah considered her for the role of Carol McCoy in The Getaway .
(May 2013) Still willing to act, but only if its a role that represents a step forward in her career, not just to "work".
Huge fan of Les quatre cents coups .
Recently asked which actor she wishes shed done a film with, she answered Clint Eastwood. When interviewer said "That can still happen" Dickinson replied, "Noooooo it cant!".
Staunch Democrat.
Though most of her pre- Rio Bravo filmography gets dismissed by journalists as B-movies, Angie actually counts Cry Terror! among her best.
Was almost 40 when she appeared naked onscreen for the first time in Pretty Maids All in a Row . As a younger woman she could not have done this due to the Hays Code, which wasnt dissolved until 1967. Yet when offered the chance to pose for Playboy, she turned it down.
Turned down advance fee of $1 million to write her autobiography.
Met first husband, Gene Dickinson, when she was taking shorthand classes at Glendale Community College.
After guest-starring on an episode of "Police Story" , NBC gave her an opportunity to star in the lead role of "Police Woman" . She didnt want to do the series, however, she reluctantly took the role, only because the producers told her she could become a household name, and they were right.
Was reunited with Dick Van Dyke on the first episode of the fifth season of "Diagnosis Murder" , which also featured former "Adam-12" co-stars, Martin Milner and Kent McCord.
Began her career as a contract player for Warner Bros. in 1960.
Had left her contract at Warner Bros. in 1963 to star in her own movies.
Despite good ratings, her show, "Police Woman" , was canceled at the end of the fourth season, because she wanted to spend time with her daughter.
Was a popular student at Bellamarine-Jefferson High School, in Burbank, California, and won a college scholarship to Immaculate Heart College.
In high school, she was a straight A student.
Her father, Leo Henry Brown, wrote a short column about his daughters, esp. Angie, herself.
Best known by the public for her starring role as Sgt. Leann "Pepper" Anderson on "Police Woman" .
Before her divorce with Burt Bacharach , her mother, Fredericka Brown, died of cancer, in 1980.
Of German descent.
Her show "Police Woman" was the first television show ever to feature a woman in the title role.
Her first husband, Gene Dickinson, talked her into doing a beauty contest, which she did.
Separated from Burt Bacharach on September 12, 1976 but didnt file for divorce until 1980.
Had always wanted to become an actress.
When she was in high school, she made an appearance @ MGM Studios.
Her siblings enjoyed a happy childhood.
Her father ran the movies and invited young Angie and her siblings to each and every one of them.
Her idol when she was growing up was, of course, Frank Sinatra.
Dickinson passed up her college scholarship, who had no example for a college degree.
Has been nominated 3 times for Best Actress in a Drama Series for "Police Woman" , she didnt win those Emmies.
Her happiness was marred when her father turned into alcoholism and was placed into a sanitarium. That was when Angies family moved to Burbank, California, in 1942, aged 10, for her father to get professional help.
Had turned down the role of Sable Colby of "The Colbys" , which was the parent show of "Dynasty" .
The only person who didnt like her "Police Woman" character was, of course, Burt Bacharach.
Friends with: Shirley Jones , Florence Henderson , Angela Lansbury , Bea Arthur , Carroll OConnor , Burt Reynolds , Danny Thomas , Julie London , Telly Savalas , Buddy Ebsen , Ernest Borgnine , David Carradine , Adam West , James Arness , James Garner , Clint Walker , John Forsythe , Dick Van Dyke , Mickey Rooney , Peter Graves , Earl Holliman , Charles Dierkop , Vicki Lawrence , Bob Hope , Frank Sinatra , Sammy Davis Jr. , Dean Martin , Robert Wagner , Robert Conrad , Larry Manetti , Abby Dalton , Ruta Lee , Rock Hudson , Robert Mitchum , June Blair , Rod Steiger , Ronald Reagan , Robert Culp , Paul Newman and Clu Gulager.
Despite producers efforts to reduce Dickinsons hours, on "Police Woman" , her home life had fallen apart.
Met screen actor and singer, Telly Savalas , in 1971, when the two had appeared in the movie Pretty Maids All in a Row , and had embarked on a lifelong friendship, until Savalass passing in 1994. Then, 18 years later, Dickinson worked with Savalas on Kojak: Fatal Flaw .
She is most widely known to be a private lady.
No question - the more powerful men are, the more sexy they are.
I dress for women, and undress for men.
I miss Nikki so much, but [committing suicide] was her decision. The,world was too harsh a place for her.
Frank Sinatra had no choice but to let it all hang out.
[Who boastfully said that she was grateful to have a series of her own]:,A lot of actors tried television-Shirley MacLaine, even Anthony,Quinn-but few were successful. I never really felt like a movie star,until Police Woman.
I was a leading lady, but never the lead.
[When she changed her mind about writing her book]: I realized no one,else can do it. I actually thought of doing an audio-only book and I,may still try for that.
My mother was against me being an actress - until I introduced her to Frank Sinatra. .
