Angie Dickinson, a renowned actress, was born in Kulm, North Dakota, in the year 1931 to Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Brown. Her father, Mr. Brown, was the esteemed publisher of The Kulm Messenger, a local newspaper. The Brown family relocated to Burbank, California, in 1942 when Angie was just 11 years old, marking a significant turning point in her life.
As a senior at Bellamarine Jefferson High School in Burbank, Angie won the prestigious Sixth Annual Bill of Rights Contest in December 1946. Two years later, her sister Janet followed in her footsteps, also winning the same contest. Growing up, Angie was heavily influenced by her father's profession as a printer, and initially, she harbored aspirations to become a writer. However, after winning her first beauty contest, she began to shift her focus towards a career in the entertainment industry.
After completing her education, Angie worked as a secretary in a Burbank airplane parts factory for approximately 3-1/2 years. In 1953, she entered the local Miss America contest on a whim, just one day before the deadline, and surprisingly took second place. This achievement led to her being selected as one of five winners in a beauty contest sponsored by NBC, which ultimately resulted in her appearances on several TV variety shows.
Angie's early foray into the entertainment industry began with a small part in a Warner Brothers movie in 1954. She gained widespread recognition through her roles in the popular TV series The Millionaire (1955) and secured her first significant film role opposite John Wayne and Dean Martin in Rio Bravo (1959). As her success continued to soar, Angie became one of the nation's top movie stars, solidifying her place in the pantheon of Hollywood legends.