Tippi Hedren Biography: Age, Movies, Net Worth, Daughter, Height, Career, Husband, Animal Rights

Tippi Hedren is a retired American actress, animal rights activist, and former fashion model, celebrated for her iconic roles in Alfred Hitchcock’s films The Birds and Marnie.

Renowned for her elegance and resilience, she transitioned from a successful modeling career to becoming a Hollywood star and a passionate advocate for big cat conservation through her establishment of the Shambala Preserve.

Profile

• Full Name: Nathalie Kay Hedren
• Stage Name: Tippi Hedren
• Born: January 19, 1930
• Age: 95 years old
• Birthplace: New Ulm, Minnesota, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actress, Animal Rights Activist, Former Fashion Model
• Height: 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)
• Parents: Bernard Carl Hedren, Dorothea Henrietta Eckhardt
• Siblings: Patricia Hedren
• Spouse: Peter Griffith (m. 1952–1960), Noel Marshall (m. 1964–1982), Luis Barrenechea (m. 1985–1995)
• Children: Melanie Griffith
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $20 million USD

Early Life and Education

Tippi Hedren, a distinguished actress, animal rights activist, and former fashion model, was born on January 19, 1930, in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA, to Bernard Carl Hedren, a general store owner, and Dorothea Henrietta Eckhardt, a secretary.

She grew up with her older sister, Patricia, in a middle-class family of Swedish, German, and Norwegian descent.

At age four, her family relocated to Minneapolis, where she developed an interest in performing arts.

As a teenager, Tippi participated in department store fashion shows, showcasing her early flair for modeling.

She briefly studied art at Pasadena City College before moving to New York City at 18 to pursue a professional modeling career, setting the stage for her eventual transition to acting.

Career

Tippi Hedren, a prominent figure in Hollywood, began her career as a fashion model in the 1950s, gracing covers of magazines like Life and Glamour.

Discovered by Alfred Hitchcock in 1961 through a television commercial for a diet drink on The Today Show, she was signed to a seven-year contract and cast as Melanie Daniels in The Birds (1963), a role that earned her a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer.

She followed this with the complex lead role in Hitchcock’s Marnie (1964) opposite Sean Connery, playing a troubled woman with a dark past, which later gained cult status despite initial mixed reviews.

Her strained relationship with Hitchcock, marked by allegations of harassment and obsession, led to a career slowdown as he restricted her from working with other directors.

After parting with Hitchcock in 1966, she starred in Charlie Chaplin’s A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) with Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren, and later in films like The Harrad Experiment (1973), Roar (1981), Citizen Ruth (1996), and I Heart Huckabees (2004).

Her television credits include The 4400, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Fashion House.

Beyond acting, Tippi founded the Shambala Preserve in 1972 and the Roar Foundation in 1983, dedicating herself to rescuing big cats, a passion sparked during the filming of Satan’s Harvest (1970) in Africa.

She also pioneered vocational training for Vietnamese immigrants in the 1970s, contributing to the growth of the nail technician industry in the U.S.

Social Media

Tippi Hedren does not have social media.

Personal Life

Tippi Hedren, a celebrated actress and animal rights activist, has been married three times: to Peter Griffith (1952–1960), with whom she had her only child, actress Melanie Griffith; to Noel Marshall (1964–1982), who directed her in Roar (1981); and to Luis Barrenechea (1985–1995).

She was engaged to veterinarian Martin Dinnes from 2002 to 2008 but is currently single.

Tippi resides at the Shambala Preserve in Acton, California, where she remains close to her rescued big cats.

A proud grandmother to Melanie’s children—Alexander Bauer, Dakota Johnson, and Stella Banderas—she shares a close bond with her family, often attending events together, such as the 2015 ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards.

Filmography

• The Petty Girl (1950) – Film, uncredited extra
• The Birds (1963) – Film, Melanie Daniels
• Marnie (1964) – Film, Marnie Edgar
• A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) – Film, Martha Mears
• Satan’s Harvest (1970) – Film, Marla Oaks
• The Harrad Experiment (1973) – Film, Margaret Tenhausen
• Roar (1981) – Film, Madeleine
• Pacific Heights (1990) – Film, Florence Peters
• Citizen Ruth (1996) – Film, Jessica Weiss
• I Heart Huckabees (2004) – Film, Mary Jane Hutchinson
• The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams (2005) – Film, Mrs. Adams
• The 4400 (2006) – TV series, guest role
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2006) – TV series, guest role
• Fashion House (2006) – TV series, recurring role

Net Worth

Tippi Hedren, a retired actress and animal rights activist, has an estimated net worth of $20 million USD.

Her wealth stems from her successful acting career in the 1960s, particularly her roles in The Birds and Marnie, as well as later film and television appearances.