Find Famous People Fast!

Browse by Name:

Edith Head

Fashion Designer

"Gowns by Edith Head" was one of the most-seen motion picture credits of the 20th century. Head began as an assistant costume designer in the Hollywood of the 1920s, and she eventually became the preeminent costume designer of Hollywood's golden age, earning eight Oscars (and over 30 nominations) during a career that included work on hundreds and hundreds of movies. Head had a long professional relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, designing the costumes for most of his features: she dressed Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant for Notorious (1946), and Grace Kelly and Grant for To Catch a Thief (1955). Her other films include Beau Geste (1939), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and Sometimes a Great Notion (1971).

Extra credit: Head's last film was the Steve Martin comedy Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, which was released after her death in 1982.

Other winners of multiple Oscars include animator Walt Disney (an amazing 48), director Frank Capra (three) and actor Katharine Hepburn (four).

Four Good Links

The Magic of Edith Head

Introductory biography from the site Suite 101

Edith Head

Filmography, biography, trivia and quotes

Edith Head's Hollywood

Site for a one-woman show about Head, with a good bio and other Head details

The Edith Head Collection

Porcelain dolls dressed up in Head costumes

Vital Stats

Birth

28 October 1897

Birthplace

San Bernadino, California

Death

24 October 1981
(age 83)

Best Known As

Costume designer for Hollywood movies from 1924-82