Dawn Addams was a British actress who starred in Hollywood films and British TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s. She became a princess in 1954 when she married an Italian nobleman, but her fairy-tale life ended with a tragic death from cancer in 1985. In this article, we will explore the life, career, and death of Dawn Addams, and how she left behind a legacy of beauty and grace.
Early Life and Career
Dawn Addams was born on September 21, 1930, in Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, the daughter of Captain James Ramage Addams, an R.A.F. officer, and Ethel Mary Hickie, a socialite. Her mother died when she was young, and she spent her early life in Calcutta, India, where her father was stationed. She later attended schools in England and California.
Dawn Addams began her career as a model before making her film debut in the British comedy The Runaway Bus (1954). She then signed a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, and appeared in several A-grade productions, such as Singin’ in the Rain (1952), Plymouth Adventure (1952), Young Bess (1953), and The Hour of 13 (1952). She also played David Niven’s daughter in The Moon Is Blue (1953), a film that helped loosen the system of censorship of Hollywood that had been in place since 1934. She also embarked on a USO tour the same year to help entertain troops in Korea.
Marriage and Divorce
In 1954, Dawn Addams married Don Vittorio Emanuele Massimo, Prince of Roccasecca, in a wedding that was the subject of a cover story in Life magazine. She became a princess and a mother of two children, Prince Stefano and Princess Valeria. However, the marriage was not a happy one, and they separated four years later, though they did not formally divorce until 1971. Dawn Addams later remarried to Jimmy White, a British actor, in 1974.
Later Career and Death
Dawn Addams continued to work in films and TV shows, mainly in Britain and France, during the 1960s and 1970s. She starred in several episodes of The Saint (1962-69), which featured Roger Moore as Simon Templar, and was a regular in the British sitcom Father, Dear Father (1971-73). She also appeared in two British horror films, The Vampire Lovers (1970) and The Vault of Horror (1973), and in the science fiction serial Star Maidens (1977).
Dawn Addams retired in the early 1980s, dividing her remaining years between Europe and the United States. In April 1985, she was treated for cancer in Florida, but died soon after at a London hospital at the age of 54. According to Dead or Kicking, her cause of death was cancer. She was buried in the family vault of the Massimo family in Rome, Italy.
Legacy and Influence
Dawn Addams was a beautiful and talented actress who had a promising career in Hollywood and beyond. She was also a princess who lived a glamorous and adventurous life. She left behind a legacy of films and TV shows that showcase her charm and grace. She also inspired many other actresses who followed her footsteps, such as Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Julie Andrews. Dawn Addams was a star who shone brightly in the sky of cinema and television.
