ANGIE DICKINSON I've Been SO LUCKY

The legendary star shares memories and lessons from her extraordinary life

- Susan Hornik

Angie Dickinson jokes that she would be working at See’s Candies if she hadn’t been hired for her role in 1959’s Rio Bravo. The western, which put Angie on the map, also starred John Wayne, Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson and was directed by famed helmer Howard Hawks. Today, it’s regarded as a western masterpiece. “I knew it was going to be an extraordinary experience, but I didn’t know how extraordinary,” Angie, 91, tells Closer.

Of course, Rio Bravo was just the start of Angie’s remarkable 55-year career in show business. She appeared in more than 50 movies, including the Rat Pack classic Ocean’s 11, and became a household name on the gritty, groundbreaking 1970s crime drama Police Woman. The actress recently introduced the 4K world premiere restoration of Rio Bravo at the Turner Classic Film Festival.

Why do you think Rio Bravo remains a classic of its genre?

Because of Howard Hawks. He was a great moviemaker. There’s also a warmth to this movie. Everybody helped each other.

What do you remember about starting production on Rio Bravo?

It was extra scary. They all were already there and had a dinner party [to welcome] me. It was John Wayne, Howard Hawks and the cameramen, everybody. It hit me how big a movie this was. I hadn’t realized it until I got there. We used to film in a place called Old Tucson, outside of Tucson [Ariz.], oddly enough. All the western movies came to shoot there.

What did you think of John Wayne?