Melanie Griffith was born on August 9, 1957, in New York City to model and actress Tippi Hedren and former child actor turned advertising executive Peter Griffith. Her parents divorced when she was four years old, and Tippi brought Melanie to Los Angeles to start a new life. Tippi's career was boosted by her roles in Alfred Hitchcock's films, including "The Birds" and "Marnie".
Melanie's early life was marked by her mother's work and her own struggles with acting. She began modeling at nine months old and appeared in several films, including "Smith!" and "The Harrad Experiment". At 14, she fell in love with Don Johnson, who was 22 at the time, and Tippi allowed her to move in with him. Melanie continued modeling to pay the bills, but she was hesitant to pursue acting due to her fear of the camera.
Melanie's breakthrough role came when she was cast in Arthur Penn's "Night Moves" in 1975. She was typecast as a nymphet and went on to appear in several films, including "Ha-Gan" and "Joyride". She married Don Johnson in 1976, but the union ended within six months.
As her career progressed, Melanie struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. She appeared in several films, including "Body Double" and "Something Wild", but her personal life was marked by turmoil. She married Steven Bauer in 1981, but the union ended in 1985. She gave birth to her first child, Alexander, and later married Antonio Banderas in 1996.
Melanie's personal life was marked by several high-profile marriages and relationships, including her marriage to Don Johnson and her affair with Mickey Rourke. She struggled with addiction and was in and out of rehab several times. She also struggled to find consistent work in the film industry, appearing in several films and TV shows, including "Working Girl", "Pacific Heights", and "Hawaii Five-0".
In recent years, Melanie has focused on her personal life and has been involved in several charitable endeavors. She has been open about her struggles with addiction and has used her platform to raise awareness and support for those struggling with similar issues. Despite her personal struggles, Melanie has remained a beloved figure in the entertainment industry and continues to be a respected actress and philanthropist.
