Tippi Hedren, a Minnesota-born actress of Scandinavian descent, has had a unique and diverse career. She started as a New York fashion model before marrying her first husband, Peter Griffith, in 1952, with whom she had a daughter, Melanie Griffith, in 1957.
Her breakthrough came when Alfred Hitchcock discovered her while watching a commercial on NBC's Today show. He put her under personal contract and cast her in The Birds (1963),earning her the Golden Globe and Photoplay awards for Most Promising Newcomer. She then starred in Hitchcock's Marnie (1964),a challenging role that wasn't as well-received as The Birds.
Tippi's professional relationship with Hitchcock ended with mutual disappointment during the filming of Marnie. She then appeared in Charles Chaplin's A Countess from Hong Kong (1967),which was a commercial failure. She married her agent, Noel Marshall, in 1964, with whom she had a complicated relationship.
In the 1980s, Tippi and her husband produced and starred in the film Roar (1981),which took 11 years and $17 million to make but only earned $2 million worldwide. This experience led her to become involved in animal rights and humanitarian causes, and she has since traveled the world to set up relief programs following disasters and conflicts.
Tippi has been married three times and has a daughter, Melanie Griffith, from her first marriage. She has also been involved in various charitable causes, including being a volunteer International Relief Coordinator for "Food for the Hungry" and founder and president of The Roar Foundation.
Onscreen, Tippi has continued to work in films, theater, and TV, appearing in a range of roles, from dramas to comedies. She has been honored with several awards for her contributions to world cinema, including Life Achievement awards in France, Spain, and the United States.
