Faye Dunaway Biography: Awards, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Movies, Son, Husband

Dorothy Faye Dunaway is an esteemed American actress renowned for her skill in portraying complex, strong-willed female characters.

She gained international recognition for her iconic role as Bonnie Parker in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde alongside Warren Beatty. This performance earned her her first Academy Award nomination.

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Dunaway solidified her status as a leading actress with standout performances in films such as The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Chinatown (1974), The Towering Inferno (1974), and Network (1976), the latter of which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Profile

• Full Name: Dorothy Faye Dunaway
• Stage Name: Faye Dunaway
• Born: January 14, 1941
• Age: 84 years old
• Birthplace: Bascom, Florida, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American actress
• Height: 1.7 m
• Parent: Grace April (née Smith) and John MacDowell Dunaway Jr.
• Siblings: Mac Simmion Dunaway
• Spouse: Terry O’Neill (m. 1983–1987), Peter Wolf (m. 1974–1979)
• Children: Liam Dunaway O’Neill
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $50 million

Early Life And Education

Dorothy Faye Dunaway was born on January 14, 1941, in Bascom, Florida, United States. She is the daughter of Grace April (née Smith), a housewife, and John MacDowell Dunaway Jr., a career non-commissioned officer in the United States Army.

Faye had one younger brother, Mac Simmion Dunaway, who became a lawyer. Before pursuing higher education, she graduated from Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida.

Dunaway initially studied at Florida State University and the University of Florida before earning a degree in theatre from Boston University. Dunaway’s heritage combines Ulster, Scottish, Irish, and German ancestry. She has maintained a strong connection to her faith, identifying as a devout Catholic.  

Career

Faye Dunaway’s career began in the early 1960s on Broadway, where she showcased her acting talent before making her film debut in 1967. That same year, she appeared alongside an all-star cast in The Happening and Hurry Sundown.

However, her iconic portrayal of the infamous outlaw Bonnie Parker in Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde catapulted her to fame. This role earned Dunaway her first Academy Award nomination, marking the beginning of a remarkable career.

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Dunaway starred in several critically acclaimed films, including The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), The Arrangement (1969), Little Big Man (1970), and a two-part adaptation of The Three Musketeers (1973), with the sequel The Four Musketeers following in 1974.

Her performance in Chinatown (1974) earned her a second Oscar nomination. She also starred in the action-packed disaster film The Towering Inferno (1974) and the political thriller Three Days of the Condor (1975).

Dunaway continued to establish herself as a versatile actress, with her career reaching new heights in 1976 with her Academy Award-winning performance in Network, a film in which she portrayed a driven television executive.

In the late 1970s, she starred in Eyes of Laura Mars (1978) and the sports drama The Champ. Dunaway transitioned to more mature roles as her career progressed, often in independent films. In 1981, she delivered a controversial performance as Joan Crawford in the biographical drama Mommie Dearest.

Throughout the 1980s and beyond, she took on roles in films like Supergirl (1984), Barfly (1987), The Handmaid’s Tale (1990), and Arizona Dream (1994). Dunaway’s later works include Don Juan DeMarco (1995), The Twilight of the Golds (1997), Gia (1998), and The Rules of Attraction (2002).

She has also had a successful stage career, appearing in productions such as A Man for All Seasons (1961–63) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1973), and was honored with the Sarah Siddons Award for her portrayal of Maria Callas in Master Class (1996). In 2022, Dunaway reunited with Kevin Spacey in The Man Who Drew God, directed by Franco Nero.

A documentary about her life, titled Faye, directed by Laurent Bouzereau, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and will be available on HBO and Max. Additionally, she is set to star in the supernatural thriller The Evilry, slated for release in 2024.  

Awards and Nominations

Faye Dunaway has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her illustrious career.

Academy Awards

• Won: Best Actress for Network (1976)

Nominations:

• Best Actress for Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
• Best Actress for Chinatown (1974)
• Best Actress for The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
• Golden Globe Awards

Won:

• Best Supporting Actress for Ellis Island (1984)
• Best Supporting Actress for Gia (1998)

Nominations: Multiple nominations across various categories.

BAFTA Awards

• Won: Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for Bonnie and Clyde (1968)
• Nominations: Best Actress for Chinatown (1975) and Network (1978).

Emmy Awards

• Won: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Columbo (1994).

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @fayedunawayofficial
• Facebook handle: Faye Dunaway
• Twitter handle: @_FayeDunaway

Personal Life

Faye Dunaway has been married twice during her career. Her first marriage was to American musician Peter Wolf, the lead singer of The J. Geils Band, from 1974 to 1979.

The couple met backstage at a concert in 1972 and married two years later in Los Angeles. However, their marriage ended due to the strain caused by conflicting work schedules and time spent apart, which both parties cited as contributing factors.

Dunaway’s second marriage was to British photographer Terry O’Neill, lasting from 1983 to 1987. They first met in 1977 when O’Neill photographed her for People Magazine.

The couple adopted a son, Liam Dunaway O’Neill, in 1980. In addition to her marriages, Dunaway had a notable relationship with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni during the late 1960s while filming A Place For Lovers. However, Mastroianni was still married then.

Currently, Dunaway describes herself as a “loner,” prioritizing her work and focusing on raising her son, Liam. Despite her past relationships, she remains dedicated to her personal and professional pursuits.

Filmography

• The American Connection (2021)
• The Man Who Drew God (2022)
• A Family Thanksgiving (2010)
• The Bye Bye Man (2017)
• The Case for Christ (2017)
• Inconceivable (2017)
• La Rabbia (2008)
• The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi (2009)
• Balladyna (2009)
• 21 and a Wake-Up (2009)
• The Magic Stone (2009)
• The Yards (2000)
• The Rules of Attraction (2002)
• Blind Horizon (2003)
• Jennifer’s Shadow (2004)
• Ghosts Never Sleep (2005)
• Love Hollywood Style (2006)
• Albino Alligator (1996)
• Gia (1998)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
• The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999)
• Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
• Midnight Crossing (1988)
• Barfly (1987)

Net Worth

As of 2025, Faye Dunaway’s net Worth is estimated to be around $50 million. This wealth comes from her illustrious film and television career, spanning over six decades.

She is renowned for her roles in iconic films such as Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. In addition to acting, Dunaway has also worked as a producer and earned income through endorsements with high-profile brands like Gucci.