Tippi Hedren, 96, Makes Rare Public Appearance to Celebrate Birthday
Tippi Hedren, the legendary star of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic The Birds, recently celebrated her 96th birthday with a rare public appearance, joining family in Los Angeles. The Hollywood icon was photographed arriving at her daughter Melanie Griffith’s home, supported by her grandson Alexander Bauer as she entered.
Hedren wore an elegant embroidered black jacket at the start of the evening and later left in a comfortable patterned sweater, looking happy and in good spirits.
Tippi Hedren out to dinner with family for her 96th birthday, surrounded by love! And I want that sweater! pic.twitter.com/0ydYoUlgUy
— 𝔻𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕙 🥃🖊️ (@DADiClementi) January 21, 2026
The milestone comes after reports in 2024 that Hedren is living with dementia. According to the Daily Mail, Spanish journalist Gustavo Egusquiza learned from her representatives that the actress has dementia, and is unable to remember her career at all, which is why she no longer participates in press events.
Despite this, her family continues to share updates that celebrate her enduring spirit. On a previous birthday, Griffith posted a video of her mother blowing out candles, calling her healthy and vibrant. She wrote, she’s happy, healthy and feisty!!
Hedren’s impact on Hollywood is enormous. Originally a fashion model, she was discovered by Hitchcock in a television commercial and cast as the lead in the 1963 horror classic The Birds. She won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year and went on to star in the 1964 psychological thriller Marnie, cementing her place in cinematic history.
Her career is also marked by her brave confrontation of abuse. In her 2016 memoir, Tippi, Hedren detailed harassment and assault by Hitchcock after she rejected his advances. She described times when the director would have her monitored and even threw himself on top of her in a limousine.
Her granddaughter, actress Dakota Johnson, has spoken openly about this history, criticizing the industry for allowing Hitchcock to avoid accountability. Hitchcock ruined her career because she didn’t want to sleep with him, and he terrorized her, Johnson said. She added that her grandmother was never held accountable but remained honest and firm about standing up for yourself.
Beyond acting, Hedren has devoted much of her life to animal rights. She founded the Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve, an 80-acre sanctuary in California that protects exotic big cats. Though she has mostly retired from acting, with her last credit in 2018, her influence continues through her activism and the careers of her descendants. Griffith and Johnson carry forward her legacy of courage, independence, and advocacy.
Tippi Hedren’s 96th birthday was a reminder of her remarkable life, from her unforgettable performances on screen to her tireless work in animal conservation. Her story is one of resilience, strength, and enduring impact on Hollywood and beyond.
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