Grace Kelly

Embodying director Alfred Hitchcock's idea of the perfect icy blonde, Grace Kelly carried herself like a princess long before she became one by marrying Monaco's Prince Ranier. Born Nov. 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Kelly moved to New York City in her late teens, working as a model while studying acting.

After debuting on Broadway in 1949's "The Father," Kelly set out for California, where she soon began landing roles in films, including the 1952 classic High Noon. Next up was 1953's Mogambo (which earned Kelly an Oscar nod), followed by two Hitchcock thrillers: Dial M for Murder (1954) and Rear Window (1954).

Kelly made only a few more movies -- including The Country Girl (for which she won an Oscar playing against type), To Catch a Thief (1955) and High Society (1956) -- before retiring from acting after her 1956 marriage. Suffering a heart attack while driving, she died Sept. 14, 1982.

Filmography