Melanie Richards Griffith was born on August 9, 1957, in New York City, to actress Tippi Hedren and advertising executive and former actor Peter Griffith. She spent much of her childhood in Los Angeles, California, where she began her acting career.
Griffith began her acting career in the early 1970s with minor roles. She gained early attention for her roles in films like “Night Moves” (1975) and “Smile” (1975). She continued to work in film and television throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, often taking on roles that showcased her versatility.
Griffith’s career began to gain significant momentum in the mid-1980s. Her performance in Brian De Palma’s “Body Double” (1984) earned her critical acclaim and a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. She solidified her status as a leading actress with roles in “Something Wild” (1986) and “Working Girl” (1988), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and won a Golden Globe Award.
Griffith continued to work steadily throughout the 1990s and beyond, starring in a variety of films across different genres. She has also appeared in television roles and on stage.