In brief
Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who achieved stardom in Hollywood during the 1950s before becoming Princess consort of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their marriage in 1956 until her death.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John B. Kelly Sr., a successful brick manufacturer and Olympic gold medalist in rowing, and Margaret Majer, a former fashion model and physical education instructor of German descent, Kelly grew up in a prominent Irish Catholic family. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she began her acting career on stage and television before transitioning to film in 1951 with a small role in Fourteen Hours. Her breakthrough came in 1952 with High Noon, where she played Quaker wife Amy Fowler Kane opposite Gary Cooper, earning praise for her poised performance.
Photographs
Hero photograph: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
