Grace Kelly

Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an Oscar-winning American film actress who, as a result of marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace of Monaco. She was the mother of the principality's current reigning Sovereign Prince, Albert II of Monaco. Grace Kelly was required to renounce her American citizenship upon her marriage.

Related Topics:
November 12 - 1929 - September 14 - 1982 - Oscar - American - Actress - Prince - Rainier III of Monaco - Albert II of Monaco

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She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John Brendan Kelly Sr. (October 4, 1889 – June 20, 1960) and Margaret Katherine Majer, a Catholic convert from Lutheranism. Kelly's father's Irish Catholic family (originally from Kidney Lake, Co. Mayo, Ireland) were new but prominent figures in Philadelphia society. Her father was a self-made millionaire and a gold-medal-winning Olympic sculler, and her brother "Jack" followed in that tradition. Kelly Drive in Philadelphia is named for John, Jr., who was a city councilman there. Her father's family was large and she had two prominent uncles in the arts; one, Walter Kelly, was a vaudevillian, and the other was the acclaimed playwright, George Kelly. Kelly's maternal grandparents, Carl Majer and Margaretha Berg, were of German descent.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - October 4 - 1889 - June 20 - 1960 - Catholic - Lutheranism - Irish - Catholic - Olympic - Sculler - German

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Though her family had opposed her becoming an actress, Kelly became a fashion model and appeared in her first film, Fourteen Hours (1951), when she was 22. The following year she "starred" with a minor role in High Noon (1952), a generally praised but somewhat controversial western starring Gary Cooper.

Related Topics:
Fashion - Film - Fourteen Hours - 1951 - High Noon - 1952 - Western - Gary Cooper

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Her next film, Mogambo (1953), was a drama set in the Kenyan jungle which centers on the love triangle portrayed by Kelly, Clark Gable, and Ava Gardner. It earned Kelly an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, but the award went to Donna Reed for her role in From Here to Eternity. Kelly made three films with Alfred Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.

Related Topics:
Mogambo - 1953 - Kenya - Love triangle - Clark Gable - Ava Gardner - Best Supporting Actress - Donna Reed - From Here to Eternity - Alfred Hitchcock - Dial M for Murder - Rear Window - To Catch a Thief

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In 1955, she was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Country Girl. While it was being filmed, she engaged in a brief affair (one of many in Hollywood) with co-star Bing Crosby, a fellow Irish Catholic, which was kept quiet to protect both their reputations.

Related Topics:
1955 - Academy Award for Best Actress - The Country Girl - Bing Crosby

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The musical comedy High Society (1956) was her last film, as her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco marked her retirement from acting. Before her marriage, she was previously allegedly involved with Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Ray Milland, William Holden, Oleg Cassini,and Jean-Pierre Aumont. She reportedly was surprised to learn from Rainier that she was expected to give up her film career entirely, but followed his wishes grudgingly.

Related Topics:
High Society - 1956 - Marriage - Prince Rainier III of Monaco - Clark Gable - Bing Crosby - Ray Milland - William Holden - Oleg Cassini - Jean-Pierre Aumont

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Her Catholicism and ability to bear children were key factors in her being chosen to marry Prince Rainier. Tales were circulated that Monaco would revert to France in the absence of an heir; and though there is no requirement for a Catholic marriage, it was thought unlikely that a Catholic prince would divorce and remarry if his chosen wife were barren. In fact, there was really little actual danger that Monaco would revert to France since, in 1882, a childless prince of Monaco adopted an unrelated heir, thereby ensuring Monaco's survival as a principality. Prince Rainier's maternal grandfather, Prince Louis II of Monaco also legitimized his illegitimate daughter Charlotte Louvet, who would become Rainier's mother and made her his heir Princess Charlotte of Monaco.

Related Topics:
Catholicism - Child - Monaco - France - 1882 - Louis II of Monaco - Princess Charlotte of Monaco

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Before Grace Kelly drew Rainier's attention, French film star Gisèle Pascal (neé Giselle Marie Madeleine Tallone) had been his love interest for six years. Gisèle and Rainier supposedly parted when a physical examination reportedly found her to be infertile, but Giséle later married Raymond Pellegrin on October 8, 1955, and bore at least one child.

Related Topics:
October 8 - 1955

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Prince Rainier and Princess Grace had three children:

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• Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite, born January 23, 1957, and now heiress presumptive to the throne of Monaco
• Albert II of Monaco, born March 14, 1958
• Princess Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth, born February 1, 1965

In 2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco clarified that even if there are no direct heirs of the reigning prince, the principality will remain an independent nation, rather than reverting to France. Due to Prince Albert's enduring bachelorhood, Monegasque law now states that in the event of a reigning prince's lack of descendants, his siblings and their children will inherit the throne. The line of succession is now Princess Caroline, then her children by her late second husband Stefano Casiraghi, who died in 1990, and her third husband, HRH Prince Ernst August of Hanover.

Related Topics:
2002 - Principality - Stefano Casiraghi - Ernst August of Hanover

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At the age of 52, in September 1982, Princess Grace suffered a stroke while driving. It had been rumored that she was driving on the same stretch of highway in Monaco that had been featured in To Catch a Thief, although her son claims that it was not. It resulted in an accident, and she died the next day without regaining consciousness. Princess Stéphanie, who was alleged by some sources to have been the actual driver of the car, suffered only minor injuries.

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Princess Grace is interred in St. Nicholas Cathedral, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Related Topics:
St. Nicholas Cathedral - Monte Carlo - Monaco

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Grace Kelly: Filmography ►