Angie, or Angeline Dickinson, is an American actress whose television career spans many decades. She is best known by her stage name, Angie. In the early 1950s, she began her career by participating in a variety of anthology programs before landing a part in the film “Gun the Man Down.” Her performance in the film “Rio Bravo,” for which she won a Golden Globe, may also be familiar to you.
The films “Jessica,” “The Chase,” “The Outside Man,” “The Art of Love,” “The Killers,” “Ocean’s 11” (the original from 1964, in which Frank Sinatra portrayed Danny Ocean), “Pretty Maids All in a Row,” and many more are considered to be among of Dickinson’s finest works. Dickinson was active in the film industry throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Nevertheless, her performance as Sgt. Pepper Anderson in the film “Police Woman” is often regarded as the highlight of her career. She broke barriers by being the first woman to star in the title role of a television drama. It was a big success, and her role in the show is credited with having motivated an entire generation of young women to pursue a career in law enforcement.
The actress said that in the early 1970s, it was “unique” to see a woman wearing a uniform. This statement was made in reference to the time period. You need to keep in mind that classic police procedurals like “Law & Order” and “CSI” did not include nearly as many strong female characters as they do now.
However, Dickinson demonstrated that a woman could be powerful enough for the job, and after seeing her performance, real-life women aspired to be exactly like her character. The actress was interviewed for the PBS series “Pioneers of Television,” in which she discussed her role in the program as well as the audience’s fondness for crime dramas.
On the other hand, Angie never considered herself to be a “feminist.” Despite the fact that she never competed against males, she thought that the competitive drive was what first sparked the movement. The actress shared her thoughts, which may be up to debate, on how she managed to strike a healthy balance between her feminine and independent sides. In addition, Dickinson said:
“When I was up for a role, I didn’t compete with men; it was a role for a woman,” she said. “It was a role for a woman.”
Dickinson only responded by saying that she was “content” with the compensation that she was given for some of the projects when she was questioned about the wage gap that has always existed between men and women in the entertainment industry as well as in many other professions. On the other hand, things happened at a different era.
Dickinson also said that the program “Police Woman” was unable to display more due to time constraints. The actress expressed her disappointment because the show was “too clean.” When she thinks about it now, she doesn’t enjoy how each episode wrapped off well or how there was very little bloodshed.
Because she intended to demonstrate greater repercussions for the evil people, it is apparent that Dickinson was not scared of gore, blood, or pushing the limits in any way. She is of the opinion that modern television programs, such as “Southland” and “Detroit 1-8-7,” handle such kind of stories more well.
During the height of the show’s popularity, Dickinson got a lot of emails from fans who informed the actress that they were inspired by her to pursue a career in law enforcement. Angie was more than simply a role model for women who would go on to become police officers. She was revered as a model for actors in Hollywood.
When she was filming “Police Woman,” Dickinson was already over 40 years old, yet she put in more effort than younger actors of the time. In addition to this, she maintained her stunning good looks right up to the very end of her life.
She had a way of capturing people’s attention at all times, which is why she became the Rat Pack’s go-to gal companion. After playing beside him in “Ocean’s 11,” it is said that she carried on an affair with Frank Sinatra that lasted for ten years. There is also the hypothesis that she was romantically involved with both John F. Kennedy and Dean Martin at some point in her life.
You may recall her unforgettable cameo performance in the film “Ocean’s 11” from 2001, which starred George Clooney. This is the reason why she is still considered a legend in the world of Hollywood actors.
Unfortunately, Dickinson has a couple things she would change about her most prominent job. During her appearance on the “CBS Sunday Morning Show” in the year 2020, she was questioned about her time spent on the show “Police Woman.” When Angie was originally told that she had been cast in the role, her first reaction was to “throw up.”
The actress described the experience as a “horrendous undertaking.” In those days, they were shooting 20 or 21 episodes for each season, which was a demanding workload. The actress assured the producers of the program that she would remain committed to the role for a period of four years, but for no longer.
The actress said that she did the job for a period of four years, but she was not compensated very well, and now she regrets having done it. Angie said that she felt as if it “sapped” years of her life and that it “wasn’t worth it.”
When questioned why she accepted the position, Dickinson replied that David Gerber had promised her it had the potential to make her a household celebrity. At the time, the actress had the desire for it, but things change as individuals mature and acquire new perspectives.
Angie Dickinson has gone through two marriages. Her first marriage was to Gene Dickinson, and it lasted from 1952 to 1960. They had two children together. The actress continued her career by working with Burt Bacharach. Between the years 1965 and 1981, she was in a relationship with the famed composer. Additionally, this was Bacharach’s second time going down the aisle.
They were overjoyed to become parents for the first time to their beautiful daughter Nikki. She was unfortunately born prematurely, almost three months earlier than expected in the year 1966. After a number of years had passed, Bacharach disclosed that Nikki had Asperger’s syndrome, a kind of autism that is sometimes referred to as “high-functioning autism.”
Nikki earned a degree in geology from California Lutheran University; but, since her vision was poor, she was unable to pursue a career in the field. Unfortunately, at some point in time, her parents were forced to send her to a treatment facility, where she remained a resident for a period of 10 years.
She took her own life at her Thousand Oaks apartment in 2007, which led to her tragic loss. Nikki had reached the age of 40. According to the statement that was made public, she did it in order to “escape the ravages” that were taking place in her head.
Burt Bacharach, who was 94 years old at the time of his loss on February 8, 2023, sadly passed away. Nikki was Angie’s lone child, in contrast to the composer’s total of four children. One of the numerous factors that led to the end of their relationship was the composer’s affair with another woman.
Burt came clean about his affair with the actress in an autobiography he wrote. Angie once confessed that he had never loved her in the way that most people do love others. He loved people in an unusual manner, but it wasn’t the healthiest way possible. “It appears that he did not hold me in any regard.” She said “yes” when questioned about whether or not she loved him.
These days, Dickinson does not go far from her house very often. She is retiring quietly and out of the public eye, and she is enjoying every minute of it. On the other hand, the paparazzi have managed to get a picture of a serene and fit-looking lady on the few times that she has been seen. That’s outstanding for her age.
Before she reached 90 a few years ago, some photographers caught her going out to the mailbox and picking up her mail in front of her home. Her latest performance in a movie was “Elvis Has Left the Building,” which was released in 2004, although Angie was most recently seen on television in “Mending Fences,” which aired in 2009.
Since then, she has appeared in a number of documentaries and news programs, including the PBS documentary “I’ve Gotta Be Me,” which is about Sammy Davis, Jr. Several years ago, when she was 79 years old, the actress referred to herself as “lucky,” adding:
“I arrived on the scene at the optimal moment for a lot of wonderful things. I had the opportunity to speak with a number of famous people, and our relationships ranged from platonic to romantic. In all honesty, it was an incredible existence. And it continues to be.”
Angie said that she did not want any “grandmother parts” when questioned about retiring, which was a natural question given that her last recent job was in 2009. According to what she stated, staying at home is preferable. Dickinson entertained the idea of performing in the theater or doing a one-woman show at one point.
On the other hand, traveling may be difficult for women since it requires a lot of effort “to look good.” In addition, the production of films is too difficult to devote one’s time to something that one does not love. In an interview with the Daily News of Los Angeles, the actress said:
“Even at my age, I am still into the glamour-girl syndrome: You know, she has great legs, but she can’t act.” “Even at my age, I am still into the glamour-girl syndrome.”
In 2008, she attended an event in Beverly Hills where she sat next to Clint Eastwood. While they were there, he chuckled at the fact that makeup artists no longer bothered over him due to his advanced age. Dickinson had shared with him at the time that she felt exposed and unfinished without her cosmetics and stylists since she had been so used to having them. She went on to say that
“You eventually get preoccupied with how you seem to others. I’m going to have to call it a day if an elevator doesn’t have a mirror in it. When you’re above the age of 50, everything shifts, and it doesn’t matter who you are.
The actress has a reputation for being straightforward in her communication and for having a saucy side. Having said that, she had an air of mystery about her. She did not provide an excessive amount of private information and said that this was probably the reason why publishers were not interested in a book. Angie said:
“But you should know that I’m not going to do it flaws and all. That’s not in my make-up at all. If I can get the strength and motivation, one of these days I’m going to put on a one-woman performance.”
Her life seemed to have settled down into a gorgeous house in Beverly Hills at this point. It was disclosed by Alexandra Becket, an author for LA Magazine, that she had been Dickinson’s cat sitter due to the fact that she had grown up in an area that was filled with celebrities. She referred to Angie as “the sweetest neighbor I could ask for.”
When the actress was asked what she would say about her life and career, she said, “Oh my God, that’s one lucky b***h.” The actress gushes about how much she adores her home and raves about how stunning the panorama of Beverly Hills, Rocca is.
Angie, who was 79 at the time, said that she did not feel her age. Her favorite things to do in the area are to stroll and ride her bike. On the other hand, she said that she did not feel sexual any more. Her conception of what constitutes sexiness has evolved considerably during the years.
In addition, she detested being compared to the late Betty White, who continued acting up until her loss in 2021, and she was never envious of the consistent jobs that she was given. Dickinson lacked interest in the matter. She went on to say that
I am not actively seeking employment, and it is not a priority for me. I’ve had my moment in the spotlight, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Angie enjoyed many beautiful years with Burt and her daughter before the tragedy that took her daughter’s life and led to her divorce from Burt Bacharach. Later, when questioned about her daughter, she disclosed the following information:
“She was not only brilliant but also hilarious and delightful. In that case, each and every one of my recollections of her is among my most treasured.
It’s interesting to note that in 1965, when Angie and Burt started involved, she was already well-known in the business while Bacharach was still a complete unknown. After some time, he penned songs for Dionne Warwick and Butch Cassidy, which brought about a significant transformation in their relationship.
Angie was forced to take less of a priority as he took on more work. The fact that she wanted to be a good mother and wife prevented her from harboring any feelings of resentment. She often turned down jobs if they were located too far away from her home, and she turned down a handful of TV series before agreeing to star in “Police Woman.”
She negotiated a stable schedule for that contract, and it had to stop at six o’clock in the evening so that she could go home to be with her family. However, there were times when things did not go as planned. It was expected of Angie that she would perform like a “supermom.”
The actress needed to stop on her way home and pick up some Italian takeaway food so that they wouldn’t be late for dinner. Bacharach reportedly advised her that she vented her anger much too often around that time. It wasn’t until many years afterwards that Dickinson really grasped what he had meant.
She hated herself for everything, even the smallest errors, which led to a spiraling downward spiral. Unfortuitously, it was also detrimental to their marriage. Angie eventually had a transformation, but at that point it was too late for their family. Dickinson isn’t sure whether or not it was worth it for her to be a working parent in Hollywood, or whether or not her husband could have loved her more if she had simply been a housewife.
Unfortuitously, this represents a double standard given that males are not required to be concerned about the aforementioned matter. They are able to put in an incredible amount of effort and are often absent from their homes. Dickinson had a difficult time balancing her roles as a mother, wife, and actor.
Eventually, this resulted to a substantial gap between the two of them, during which time they each saw other people while still formally being married for a total of five years. They got a divorce and are now moving on with their lives. Despite this, Dickinson never failed to display photographs of her husband around her house. Considering that he was the father of her kid, it was impossible for him to completely depart from her life.
Nikki shared Burt’s passion for music and was a talented drummer in her younger days. Angie liked her bravery and her ability to be independent. They had several disagreements, particularly about Nikki’s short membership in a religious cult when she was 14 years old; but, they were able to resolve their problems.
In addition, Nikki was the total antithesis of her mother in every way. Because she didn’t use makeup, the actress informed her that she would “never be as feminine” as she was. Nevertheless, they had a great connection, and Angie made sure to keep her near at all times.
Because of this, she decided to take Nikkie to Hawaii for the filming of “Pearl.” They were swimming at Diamond Head when they were trapped in a riptide and were swept against a coral reef. Both of them were injured. During that period, the actress was under the impression that they would perish.
She was successful in keeping her kid above water and bringing her to safety thanks to her efforts. After that, she had to go through life with a scar on her leg. Dickinson said that the event was a terrifying experience and that she would “never forget it.”
Nikki was born prematurely, and as a result, she suffered from a variety of health issues, including autism and vision impairments. She would sometimes engage in violent altercations with her mother. But Angie understood her angst. Because of this, her daughter made the decision to take her own life. The actress has this to say:
“She was the most wonderful, most wonderful gift.”
Nikki once described her father’s music as being similar to “going to heaven on a velvet slide,” which is a common trait among people who have Asperger’s syndrome and are also very articulate. But when Nikki’s requirements got more stringent, Angie was forced to remove herself from her punishing routine. She went on to Explain:
“There was no need to make a sacrifice. Would I have been working outside at that time? If I didn’t have a kid who needed me, I would have been performing plays in Chicago or something like to that. Yes, I would have been doing such things. But I did. I was not blessed with the luxury of unstructured leisure.
After Nikki passed away, Angie turned to her friends for comfort. Among them was Veronique Peck, the widow of Gregory Peck, who was acquainted with Tony Kushner. The playwright’s writing on the loss of a member of his family provided the actress with some much-needed consolation.
