KIM NOVAK BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Kim Novak was born February 13th, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois with the birth name Marilyn Pauline Novak to parents Joseph and Blanche Novak.  Both of her parents were former teachers and her father then went into different work, employed as a dispatcher on the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. 
 
Novak attended High School at David Glasgow Farragut High and won a scholarship to the Art Institute of San Diego.  When she completed school she found a job working as a teen model at various fashion shoots and once again received another scholarship, this time for a modeling academy.  While working part time as a model she got a part job touring the country as a spokes person for a refrigerator manufacturer.  When she completed her employment as Miss. Deepfreeze" she moved to Los Angeles to in search of more modeling work.
 
It was not too difficult for the attractive twenty year old to find work.  She first got a small unaccredited role in the film, "The French Line" (1954).  Soon after, a talent scout from Columbia Pictures saw her and did a screen test in which she was then offered a six month contract with Columbia.  The studio gave her the stage name Kim and kept her biological last name Novak.  They felt that she was their answer to being their next Marilyn Monroe.  The studio tinted her blonde hair with lavender highlights earning her the nickname, "Lavender Girl".   

She began working on films right away with roles on two films both in 1954, "Phffft" and "Pushover".  Viewers were very much taking a liking to Novak and she was building a decent fan base.
 
In 1995, Novak won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer and for World Film Favorite for her role in the film, "Picnic" (1955) starring William Holden.  She also had the chance to work with Frank Sinatra on two films, "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955) and then again in 1957 on, "Pal Joey".

There was no shortage of work for Kim Novak and many directors wanted to work with her.  Alfred Hitchcock directed her in the thriller, "Vertigo" (1958) starring James Stewart.  The film today is still considered a classic of romantic suspense.  Some of her other roles were on films such as, "Strangers When We Meet" (1960) starring Kirk Douglas, "The Notorious Landlady" (1962), "Of Human Bondage" (1964) and "Boys Night Out" (1962) was a film she produced on her own and also starred in.  In 1965, Novak took on another lead role in the film, "The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders" and directly following this film, she decided to take a small break from film acting.
 
She returned to the screen in 1968 with a role on, "The Legend of Lylah Clare" (1968)  which sadly as her comeback movie, did not receive great ratings.  Her next role was on, "The Great Bank Robbery" (1969) which although along with a decent cast such as Clint Walker and Claude Akins, she took another four year hiatus from the screen.
 
Upon her return back to film she continued to work on a number of successful films such as, "Tales That Witness Madness" (1973), "Third Girl From the Left" (1973), "Satan's Triangle" (1975) and in 1979 she also starred in, "Just a Gigolo". 

Along with a highly successful film career she also took occasional roles on television.   She worked on the television movie, "Malibu" (1983) and was a regular on the series, "Falcon Crest" (1986-1987).  Her most recent screen appearance was on, "Liebestraum" (1991) playing a terminally ill writer.
 
Novak has not returned to the screen since, however she is open to the opportunity if the right role was offered to her.  Kim Novak has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the Motion Picture industry.  She was also ranked as the 92nd out of 100 sexiest stars by Empire Magazine.    
 
Novak has married twice, first to an English actor, Richard Johnson from 1965 to 1966.  She is now currently married to Dr. Robert Malloy who is a veterinarian.  They married in 1976 and currently reside on a ranch. 
 
Along with being a beautiful model and talented actress, Novak also has a love for art.  She paints and creates sculptures, stained glass and writes poetry.  In October 2010, Kim Novak was diagnosed with breast cancer, but is currently recovering.      
 

Filmography

1991   Liebestraum
1990   The Children 
1986-1987  Falcon Crest
1987   Es hat mich sehr gefreut
1985   Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1983   Malibu
1980   The Mirror Crack'd 
1978   Just a Gigolo 
1977   The White Buffalo 
1975   Satan's Triangle
1973   Tales That Witness Madness 
1973   The Third Girl from the Left
1969   The Great Bank Robbery 
1968   The Legend of Lylah Clare 
1965   The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
1964   Kiss Me, Stupid 
1964   Of Human Bondage 
1962   Boys' Night Out 
1962   The Notorious Landlady 
1960   Strangers When We Meet 
1959   Middle of the Night
1958   Bell Book and Candle 
1958   Vertigo
1957   Pal Joey 
1957   Jeanne Eagels 
1956   The Eddy Duchin Story 
1955   The Man with the Golden Arm 
1955   Picnic  
1955   5 Against the House 
1955   Son of Sinbad
1954   Phffft 
1954   Pushover
1953   The French Line