Poised and beautiful former model and stage actress from a wealthy Philadelphia family who came to film prominence with "High Noon" (1952) and her Oscar-nominated supporting role in "Mogambo" (1953). Kelly then starred in "Dial M for Murder" (1953), the first of three consecutive films directed by the blonde-obsessed Alfred Hitchcock, who made brilliant use of her signature combination of elegant, "iceberg" charm and smoldering sensuality. In 1954, after giving one of her best and most appropriate performances in Hitchcock's "Rear Window" (1954), Kelly, playing against type, won an Oscar for her performance as the drab, embittered wife of an alcoholic performer in "The Country Girl" (1954). While filming Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief" (1955) on the French Riviera she met and in 1956 married Prince Rainier of Monaco in a lavish fairytale wedding, becoming Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco, and retired from film that year after making the appealing "The Swan" (though she served on the board of directors of 20th Century-Fox from 1976 to 1981). Kelly died in a car accident in 1982.
Family
FATHER: Jack Kelly. Industrialist. One-time world champion oarsman.
UNCLE: George Kelly. Playwright. Pulitzer Prize winner for "Craig's Wife".
UNCLE: Walter C Kelly. Actor. Entered film 1935; appeared in "McFadden's Flats" and "The Virginia Judge"; died January 6, 1939 from the effects of head injuries several weeks after being hit by a truck.
SISTER: Margaret Conlan. Died November 30, 1991 at age 65; oldest of four siblings.
BROTHER: Jack Kelly. Died 1985.
SISTER: Lizanne LeVine.
SON: Albert Grimaldi. Prince of Monaco.
DAUGHTER: Caroline Grimaldi. Princess of Monaco.
DAUGHTER: Stephanie Grimaldi. Princess of Monaco.
Companion
HUSBAND: Prince Rainier III. Ruler of Monaco.
Milestone
Amateur acting debut at age ten in local (Philadelphia) play
Went to New York to become model and take acting classes in late 1940s
1949: First break in Broadway revival of Strindberg's "The Father"
1950: TV debut, "The Rockingham Tea Sea" on "Studio One"
1951: Film debut in bit part, "Fourteen Hours"
Achieved star status with roles in "High Noon" (1952) and "Mogambo" (1953)
1956: Retired from acting career; last film, "The Swan"
1962: Hosted a TV tour of Monaco
Education
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York, New York
Raven Hall Academy - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stevens School - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Neigborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre - New York, New York - studied with Sanford Meisner
Grace Kelly's last film before her retirement from acting and marriage to Prince Rainier was High Society.
-- Submitted by: Ce11ardo0r7
Her last film, HIGH SOCIETY, a musical version of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY was made in 1956, just before taking off via boat to marry Prince Ranier of Monaco in a Catholic Wedding. (The diamond ring she wears in the movie - HIGH SOCIETY - is the engagement ring given to her by Prince Ranier.)
-- Submitted by: innocentsue
Upcoming Titles Playing on TCM for Grace Kelly
Riccardo
A Good Actress with a Short Career
Grace Kelly was a quality actress...who appeared in some fine films with fine directors and fine scripts. She gives the ...
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