GRACE KELLY

Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12th, 1929 - September 14th, 1982) was an American movie actress who became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III, in April 1956.
(All information is from Wikipedia)
After embarking on an acting career in 1950, when she was 20, Grace appeared in New York City theatrical productions and more than 40 episodes of live drama productions broadcast during the early 1950s Golden Age of Television. In October 1953, she gained stardom from her performance in the film Mogambo starring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner, which won her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination in 1954. She had leading roles in five films, as well as The Country Girl, High Noon, Dial M For Murder, Rear Window, To Catch A Thief and High Society.

Kelly retired from acting at the age of 26 to marry Prince Rainier and began her duties as Princess of Monaco. They had three children : Caroline, Albert II and Stephanie. Kelly retained her link to America by her dual U.S. and Monegasque citizenship. Princess Grace suffered a stroke while driving home to Monaco on September 1st, 1982, and had a road accident which led to her death the following day.

Grace was born in Pennsylvania to an affluent and influential family. Her father was in politics and her mother focused on being a housewife and mother. Grace had two older siblings, Margaret and John Junior, and a younger sister Elizabeth. The children were raised in the Roman Catholic faith. Even at the young age of twelve, Grace played the lead in Don't Feed The Animals, a play produced by the East Falls Old Academy Players. Before graduating in May 1947 from Stevens School, Grace acted and danced.

Her parents initially disapproved of their daughter's choice of career but this did not stop Grace from pursuing her dreams of being an actress. Grace was admitted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and worked as a model to support her studies.
After many films and winning awards, Grace headed the U.S. delegation at the Cannes Film Festival in April 1955. While there, she was invited to participate in a photo session at the Palace of Monaco with Prince Rainier III, the sovereign of the principality. After a series of delays and complications, she met the Prince in Monaco. Upon returning to America, Grace began a private correspondence with Prince Rainier.

While in the United States, Rainier met Grace and her family, and after three days, he proposed. Grace accepted, and the families began preparations for what the press at the time dubbed "The Wedding of the Century." The religious wedding was set for April 19th, 1956, which was estimated to have been watched by over 30 million viewers on live television.
During her marriage, Grace performed her daily duties as a Princess and became involved in philanthropic work. She founded AMADE Mondale, a Monico-based non-profit organization which promotes and protects the "moral and physical integrity" and "spiritual well-being of children throughout the world." Grace was also active in improving the arts institutions of Monaco, forming the Princess Grace Foundation in 1964 to support local artists.

After the car accident in 1982, Grace died the following night after Prince Rainier chose to take her off life support. Prince Rainier was buried alongside Grace in 2005.