Tippi Hedren – The Director’s Obsession That Stopped Her Career & the Role That Led to Health Problems

Tippi Hedren, the talented actress from Minnesota, has had a remarkable career. Hedren, who is of Swedish, Norwegian, and German descent, was born on January 19, 1930. Her parents are Dorothea Eckhardt and Bernard Hedren, who operated a general store.

Hedren landed in Hollywood when Alfred Hitchcock discovered her while watching a commercial on NBC’s “Today.” Hitchcock had Hedren signed under a personal contract.

He cast her in the role of Melanie Daniels in “The Birds,” praising her performance as “remarkable.” Her ability to convey a wide range of terrors earned her the Golden Globe and Photoplay awards for Most Promising Newcomer for “The Birds.”

Before pursuing acting, Hedren had a thriving modeling career and did not envision herself as an actress. She was delightfully shocked when she received the call that Hitchcock, who was a famous director, wanted to talk to her.

After “The Birds,” Hitchcock cast Hedren in “The Marine.” In this movie, she took on the stimulating and difficult role of a frosty, typical thief. This movie wasn’t as recognized as “The Birds.”

So, it took a while before the actress climbed the ladders of acting, and her work was awarded. During this time, Hitchcock’s and Hedren’s mutual resentment and dissatisfaction led to the end of their professional relationship during the shooting of “Marnie.”

Hedren later opened up about Hedren’s alleged sexual advances towards her. She shared that it all started on the set of “The Birds.” She did not make the alleged sexual harassment a secret as everybody on set was aware of it.

The actress only kept this detail from her parents as she found the ordeal embarrassing. However, Hitchcock’s wife Alma knew. Hedren recalled, “When she said to me, ‘I’m so sorry you have to go through this,’ my eyes just got wide, and I said, ‘But, you could stop it!’”

Hedren described the harrowing experience of being the focus of Hitchcock’s obsessive behavior. She likened it to a form of stalking. The actress revealed that Alfred Hitchcock went to the extent of having her handwriting analyzed and having her followed.

The pervasive feeling of being overwhelmed and engulfed by his actions made the situation unbearable for her. Hitchcock went as far as reciting dirty verses and offensive jokes on set. “Some of them were terribly filthy and I didn’t want them in my head,” she added.

Hedren recounted an uncomfortable incident shortly after arriving at a hotel. Hitchcock unexpectedly approached her in an inappropriate manner, attempting to kiss her. This situation left her feeling deeply embarrassed and uneasy. Similar incidents happened a few more times.

When Hedren refused her former director’s alleged sexual advances, he reiterated by hurting her career. The actress attempted to break free from her contract with Hitchcock but he reacted with intense anger and absolute refusal.

This unwillingness to release her from the contract effectively stymied her career. Hedren was kept in the dark about potential roles and opportunities, as all offers were filtered through Hitchcock.

She explained, “It was the kind of thing where I had no control. I was under contract to him. It was awful. It was extremely difficult. It was unconscionable.”

Hitchcock also told Hedren that he would ruin her career, which eventually he did by denying her new opportunities and not letting her out of her contract.

The actress knew she had to leave the acting industry as she was dealing with one of its most powerful men. Everything Hitchcock did to her had also become disconcerting, hard, and offensive.

“I’d be a really big star if he hadn’t stopped my career. There were so many people who wanted me for their films. All he said was, ‘She isn’t available.’ That’s a mean, mean man,” shared Hedren.

Despite these challenges, Hedren found solace and support in her personal life. During this turbulent period, she was married to her first husband, Peter Griffith. Griffith, who was an actor and advertising executive, provided a steadying influence in her life.

The actor was known for starring in “Halloween,” “Suspense,” and “Road to Romance.” He and Hedren got married in 1952 and had a daughter, Melanie Griffith, who would go on to have a successful acting career of her own.

The first time Tippi Hedren left the US was in her twenties. Griffith was stationed in Korea and they met up in Tokyo. However in between, the actress chose to see the world.

She explored India for two months, went to Egypt to see the pyramids, and visited Germany where she witnessed the effects of the war.

Hedren also recalled that when she was in the south of France and was staying with friends, she met Senator John Kennedy, who asked her out on a date.

“I was disgusted with his behaviour, as his wife was in Italy, laid up with a broken ankle, and I was married too. I just declined and got on with my day,” she opened up. Hedren was loyal to her Griffith as much as they later divorced. He died on May 14, 2001.

After her divorce from her first husband, Hedren got married to her second husband, Noel Marshall. Marshall was a producer and director, who died on June 27, 2010. He starred in movies such as “The Exorcist,” “Roar,” and “Mister Kingstreet’s War.”

The idea for “Roar” came to Marshall when he and Hedren were in Zimbabwe. The actress was filming “Satan’s Harvest” at the time.

So, they took a side trip to Mozambique and went to a house inhabited by 30 lions. Hedren recalled Marshall saying, “You know, we ought to make a movie about this.”

Unfortunately, Hedren endured severe injuries during “Roar’s” production. Among the incidents, an elephant crushed her leg, and she was mauled by a lion. These animals were part of her collection of exotic pets on her 50-acre ranch in California.

Amid these professional difficulties, Hedren was also navigating personal strife. She sought divorce from Marshall, her husband of 17 years and the director of “Roar.”

Additionally, the actress had obtained a restraining order to prevent Marshall from physically abusing her. He had to keep him at least 20 feet away from their home.

A few years after her divorce from her second husband, Hedren got married to her third husband, Luis Barrenechea. The two, who often attended events together, stayed married until their divorce in 1995.

As years moved by, Hedren opened up further about the injuries she got from shooting “Roar.” She also discussed the permanent effect on her body from some of these difficulties.

During the filming of “Roar” in Soledad Canyon, California, Hedren had to run across the compound and fall onto a log bridge. This took place as lions and tigers she had rescued for the movie walked over her.

Among the rescues were three lions from Texas. During rehearsal, one of the lions, Cherries, initially stepped over her. The lion then, seeing her head as a potential toy, patted it with her paw. Hedren yelled for Cherries to stop, which the lion did.

However, the lion suddenly turned back and, driven by instinct, clamped her jaws around Hedren’s head. Terrified, Hedren was quickly rescued by others, though her scalp was scratched by Cherries’ teeth.

The doctor recommended shaving her head to treat the wounds and prevent scarring, but Hedren opted to have her scalp cleaned instead.

The actress, who was shaken by the attack, noted, “It didn’t stop me making the film, though. Cherries’s attack doesn’t seem like a big deal now, looking back, although other people did get hurt during the shoot, too.”

Hedren also explained that her interactions with lions and tigers have led to numerous injuries. She has lost her senses of taste and smell.

As a result, dining out while traveling has become challenging, as she can no longer detect if something is wrong with the food. This limitation forces her to select dishes that others have already ordered.

Hedren also experienced severe headaches for years, and doctors were initially unsure of the cause. An MRI eventually revealed significant deterioration in her vertebrae.

Reflecting on her past, Hedren explained that she had been a figure skater in her youth, which led to numerous falls and whiplash injuries.

Later, caring for big cats resulted in more whiplash incidents. Coupled with the natural aging process, these factors contributed to her spinal issues.

To address these problems, Hedren underwent reconstructive surgery performed by Dr. Kayvanfar and Dr. Melamed at Henry Mayo in Valencia.

Due to her age, she had to undergo extensive physical testing to ensure her body could endure the 10-hour operation. Hedren credited her daily exercise routine. These workouts, which included lower body exercises before getting out of bed, helped her to pass these tests.

The need for her surgery became more urgent after she was hit by a deluge of water at a studio in San Diego. The surgery the actress went through involved the insertion of a four-inch titanium plate with eight screws in her neck.

After the surgery, Hedren was amazed to be walking the next day, although the recovery process has been lengthy. She now carries a device to enhance bone density in her neck.

The device enhanced the cadaver bones and a chip from her left hip, creating a new vertebra. The intricate surgery resulted in a 7.5-inch suture on the back of her neck, with a 7-inch plate secured by 12 screws.

Now, Hedren, who was a volunteer for Food for the Hungry in the 1970s, is involved in conservation works and animal rights.

She was deeply concerned about the lack of regulations surrounding the breeding and sale of exotic cats, such as lions and tigers, as pets or for financial gain.

Noticing the absence of any laws on the ownership of these animals, she decided to take action. She drafted a bill and presented it to her congressman. The lawmaker was initially skeptical due to the large business interests involved.

However, after showing him a compelling video, he agreed to support her effort. “I got the bill passed. It’s called the Captive Wildlife Safety Act. It regulates ownership of these animals and the breeding,” she explained.

This bill prohibits the transportation of exotic cats across state lines, which effectively prevents their sale and relocation for commercial purposes. This legislation has been highly effective in curbing the overbreeding of these animals, significantly reducing the problem.

Aside from this noble work, Hedren had also written a memoir titled “Tippi,” which was released in 2016. She admitted that she left out some stories about her life when she was writing the memoir.

When asked how she felt about writing a memoir, including opening up about her life and career, the actress answered, “I think it was inevitable because I have had such an incredible life that it needed to be put into a book.”

Even with what Hedren has accomplished in her career as an actress and her passion for animal rights and humanitarian work, the actress prioritizes family.

She said her most treasured possessions are her daughter and the grandchildren she has blessed her with, Dakota Johnson, Stella Banderas, and Alexander Bauer.