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Dawn Addams
Actor

Dawn Addams

21 Sep 1930Born
7 May 1985Died
54Age at death
60Credits

Biography

Victoria Dawn Addams (21 September 1930 – 7 May 1985) was a British actress, particularly in Hollywood motion pictures of the 1950s and on British television in the 1960s and 1970s. She became a princess in 1954 (until 1971).

Addams was born in Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, the daughter of Ethel Mary (née Hickie) and Captain James Ramage Addams, of the Royal Air Force. Her mother died when she was young, and she spent her early life in Calcutta, India.

Addams' face and physique attracted the attention of talent agents. In December 1950, she signed a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios.

Read the full biography

Her film career began with a role in Night into Morning (1951), and her subsequent MGM films included Singin' in the Rain (1952), Plymouth Adventure (1952), Young Bess (1953) and the female lead opposite Peter Lawford in The Hour of 13 (1952). She played David Niven's daughter in The Moon Is Blue (1953), a film which helped loosen the system of censorship of Hollywood which had been in place since 1934. She also embarked on a USO tour the same year to help entertain troops in Korea. She worked steadily in films during the remainder of the 1950s, including a heavily publicised role as Richard Carlson's model girlfriend in the science fiction film Riders to the Stars (1954) and the female lead opposite actor-director-filmmaker legend Charlie Chaplin in his final comedy to star himself, A King in New York (1957). During the 1960s and 1970s, she appeared mainly in British TV shows and French films.

She was a semi-regular on the instructional series En France (1962) and the leading lady in several episodes of The Saint (1962–69), which starred Roger Moore as Simon Templar. Among her last film credits were two British horror films, The Vampire Lovers (1970) and The Vault of Horror (1973), and she was also a regular in the British sitcom Father, Dear Father (1971–1973). One of her last television roles was in the science fiction serial Star Maidens (1977). Addams retired in the early 1980s, dividing her remaining years between Europe and the United States.

She married Don Vittorio Emanuele Massimo, Prince of Roccasecca, in 1954; the wedding was the subject of a cover story in Life magazine. They separated four years later, though they did not formally divorce until 1971. Their son, Prince Stefano (b.1955), married Atalanta Foxwell, daughter of film producer Ivan Foxwell and Lady Edith (Lambart), granddaughter of the 9th Earl of Cavan.

In 1974 she married retired businessman Jimmy White.

Addams died in 1985 in a London hospital at age 54 from lung cancer.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2018Die 1000 Glotzböbbel vom Dr. MabuseFilm: Sabine Hirrlinger (archive footage)
  2. 1981TriangleSeries: Mrs. Landers (26 episodes)
  3. 1976Star MaidensSeries: Clara (5 episodes)
  4. 1974Dial M for MurderSeries: Sybil Willis (1 episode)
  5. 1973A Friend IndeedFilm: Rosie Butterfield
  6. 1973The Vault of HorrorFilm: Inez (segment 3 "This Trick'll Kill You")
  7. 1972The AdventurerSeries: Lady Anne Benson (1 episode)
  8. 1971The Bargain HuntersFilm: Cynthia Fenton
  9. 1971SapphoFilm: Marianne
  10. 1970The Vampire LoversFilm: The Countess
  11. 1970A Room in TownFilm: Margo
  12. 1969Zeta OneFilm: Zeta
  13. 1969Department SSeries: Dianne Lynne (1 episode)
  14. 1968Father, Dear FatherSeries: Georgie Thompson (26 episodes)
  15. 1967ITV PlayhouseSeries: Alma Rostalba (1 episode)
  16. 1966Where the Bullets FlyFilm: Felicity 'Fiz' Moonlight
  17. 1965Ballad in BlueFilm: Gina Graham
  18. 1964The Black TulipFilm: La marquise Catherine de Vigogne
  19. 1963Come Fly with MeFilm: Katie Rinard
  20. 1962The £20,000 KissFilm: Maxine Hagen
  21. 1962The SaintSeries: Queen Adana, Magda Vamoff, Countess Audrey Morova (1 episode)
  22. 1962Sentimental EducationFilm: Catherine Dambreuse
  23. 1961House of SinFilm: Norma O'Brien
  24. 1961Follow That ManFilm: Janet Clark
  25. 1960The Two Faces of Dr. JekyllFilm: Kitty Jekyll
  26. 1960The Thousand Eyes of Dr. MabuseFilm: Marion Menil
  27. 1960The Angry Young MenFilm: Irene
  28. 1959Come Dance with Me!Film: Anita Florès
  29. 1959Secret professionnelFilm: Dr. Catherine Langeac
  30. 1959The Black ChapelFilm: Tilla Turner
  31. 1959The Third ManSeries: Eva (1 episode)
  32. 1959Melodie und RhythmusFilm: (uncredited)
  33. 1959The Treasure of San TeresaFilm: Hedi von Hartmann
  34. 1959Prisoner of the VolgaFilm: Irina Tatyana
  35. 1959Pensione EdelweissFilm: Nadia Rakesy
  36. 1959TemptationFilm: Victoria
  37. 1959The Scarlet BaronessFilm: Szaga de Bor
  38. 1958The Silent EnemyFilm: Third Officer Jill Masters, W.R.N.S
  39. 1957A King in New YorkFilm: Ann Kay - TV Specialist
  40. 1956The House of IntrigueFilm: Mary
  41. 1956Armchair TheatreSeries: Margo, Cynthia Fenton (1 episode)
  42. 1955Four of the Thundering JetFilm: Moglie di Rovi
  43. 1955Rommel's TreasureFilm: Sofia
  44. 1954The Count of BragelonneFilm: Hélène de Winter
  45. 1954Sherlock HolmesSeries: Doreen Meredith (1 episode)
  46. 1954Khyber PatrolFilm: Diana Rivington
  47. 1954Return to Treasure IslandFilm: Jamesina 'Jamie' Hawkins
  48. 1954The Secrets of the BedFilm: Janet Meredith (segment "Divorce, Le")
  49. 1954The Woman Who Came from the SeaFilm: Mizar
  50. 1954Riders to the StarsFilm: Susan Manners
  51. 1953The Girl on The RoofFilm: Cynthia Slader
  52. 1953The RobeFilm: Junia
  53. 1953The Moon Is BlueFilm: Cynthia Slater
  54. 1953Young BessFilm: Kate Howard
  55. 1952Plymouth AdventureFilm: Priscilla Mullins
  56. 1952The Hour of 13Film: Jane Frensham
  57. 1952Singin' in the RainFilm: Teresa - a Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
  58. 1951The Unknown ManFilm: Ellie Fansworth
  59. 1951Night Into MorningFilm: Dottie Phelps
  60. 1951Racket SquadSeries: Betty Grant (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.