Net Worth Ranker
What Is Faye Dunaway’s Net Worth?
Faye Dunaway, a celebrated American actress known for her captivating performances across film, stage, and television, has cultivated a substantial net worth estimated at $50 million. This financial standing reflects her successful career spanning several decades, marked by iconic roles and critical acclaim.
Faye Dunaway’s Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
Dorothy Faye Dunaway was born on January 14, 1941, in Bascom, Florida, marking the start of a journey that would lead her to become a household name. Her early life involved moving around the United States and Europe, exposing her to diverse cultural influences. During her teenage years at Leon High School in Tallahassee, she honed her artistic skills through dance, piano, and singing lessons, setting the stage for her future career. For her higher education, Dunaway attended Florida State University and the University of Florida before transferring to Boston University, graduating with a degree in theater. While at Boston University, she spent her summer in a stock company at Harvard’s Loeb Drama Center, further developing her acting abilities. She also enhanced her skills at the American National Theater and Academy and HB Studio. Her net worth at this time was negligible, and she was just beginning her long career.
After graduating from Boston University, Faye Dunaway embarked on her professional acting career, starting on Broadway. Her debut came in Robert Bolt’s play “A Man for All Seasons.” This was followed by roles in Arthur Miller’s “After the Fall,” “The Changeling,” and “Tartuffe,” gaining her recognition in the theater world. From 1965 to 1967, Dunaway played Kathleen Stanton in William Alfred’s acclaimed play “Hogan’s Goat”.
Dunaway’s transition to film began in 1967 with her debut in the crime comedy “The Happening.” In the same year, she appeared in Otto Preminger’s drama “Hurry Sundown.” However, her breakthrough role came in Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967). This role not only catapulted her to stardom but also earned her the first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. This film was a commercial success, grossing over $70 million against a budget of $2.5 million, significantly boosting Dunaway’s profile and opening doors to more prominent roles, steadily increasing her net worth. By the end of the 1960s, Dunaway had established herself as a leading actress, significantly increasing her net worth.
Faye Dunaway’s 1970s: Critical Acclaim and Awards
The 1970s were a defining period in Faye Dunaway’s career, marked by critically acclaimed performances and significant commercial success. Following the success of “Bonnie and Clyde,” Dunaway starred in the heist film “The Thomas Crown Affair” and the romantic drama “A Place for Lovers.” These roles solidified her status as a leading actress and contributed to her growing net worth. In 1970, she reunited with Arthur Penn to play a supporting role in his Western “Little Big Man,” further showcasing her versatility. Later in the 1970s, Dunaway appeared in “The Deadly Trap,” “Doc,” “Oklahoma Crude,” and “The Three Musketeers,” in which she played the villainous Milady de Winter, a role she reprised in the sequel “The Four Musketeers.” This increased not only her fame but also her net worth.
One of Dunaway’s most celebrated performances came in 1974 with her role as Evelyn Mulwray in Roman Polanski’s neo-noir film “Chinatown.” The film was a commercial and critical triumph, earning 11 Academy Award nominations, including Dunaway’s second for Best Actress. Grossing over $29 million against a budget of $6.5 million, “Chinatown” further enhanced her reputation and significantly boosted her earnings. The same year, she starred in the disaster epic “The Towering Inferno,” which became the highest-grossing film of 1974, earning over $203 million worldwide, adding considerably to her income and overall net worth. This era showcased her range and ability to command both artistic and commercial success.
In 1976, Faye Dunaway won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Diana Christensen, a ruthless television executive in Sidney Lumet’s “Network.” This prestigious award not only recognized her exceptional talent but also significantly increased her market value, leading to more lucrative roles and contributing to her growing net worth. Throughout the latter half of the 1970s, Dunaway continued to star in notable films, including “Eyes of Laura Mars” and “The Champ,” maintaining her position as a top-tier actress and further solidifying her financial success. Winning the Academy Award in 1976 marked a pivotal milestone, significantly increasing her earning potential and overall net worth, setting the stage for continued success in the following decades.
Faye Dunaway’s Career from 1980s to 2000s: Diverse Roles and Television Ventures
The 1980s began with Dunaway in a leading role in the crime thriller “The First Deadly Sin.” In 1981, Dunaway played Joan Crawford in the biographical drama “Mommie Dearest.” While the role was polarizing, it kept her in the public eye. Subsequently, she starred in “The Wicked Lady,” “Ordeal by Innocence,” and “Supergirl.” In 1987, Dunaway delivered an acclaimed supporting performance in “Barfly.”
Throughout the 1990s, Dunaway appeared in films such as “Midnight Crossing,” “The Gamble,” “Burning Secret,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Scorchers,” “Arizona Dream,” “The Temp,” and “Don Juan DeMarco.” During the latter half of the 1990s, she starred in “Dunston Checks In,” the crime thriller “Albino Alligator,” and the remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair.” In the early 2000s, Dunaway appeared in “The Yards,” “The Rules of Attraction,” “Blind Horizon,” and “El Padrino.” Later in the decade, she took on roles in “Rain,” “Cougar Club,” “The Gene Generation,” “The Rage,” and “21 and a Wake-Up.” After an eight-year hiatus from the big screen, Dunaway returned in 2017, appearing in “The Bye Bye Man,” “Inconceivable,” and “The Case for Christ.” This sustained activity helped maintain her net worth, even if the roles were not as high-profile as her earlier work.
In television, Dunaway primarily focused on made-for-TV movies and miniseries. Early credits include “The Woman I Love,” “The Disappearance of Aimee,” and “The Country Girl.” In 1984, she played Maud Charteris in the miniseries “Ellis Island,” winning a Golden Globe Award, adding to her accolades and marketability. Subsequent miniseries appearances included “Christopher Columbus” and television films such as “Thirteen at Dinner,” “Beverly Hills Madam,” “Casanova,” and “Cold Sassy Tree.” Dunaway had her first main role on a series in the 1993 sitcom “It Had to Be You,” although it was short-lived. In the same year, she won an Emmy Award for her guest-starring role in “Columbo.” Later in the decade, Dunaway was in “The People Next Door” and “Gia,” as well as the miniseries “Rebecca” and “A Will of Their Own.” In 2000, she earned acclaim for her role in the television film “Running Mates.” Later television film credits included “Anonymous Rex,” “Back When We Were Grownups,” “Midnight Bayou,” and “A Family Thanksgiving.” She also appeared in episodes of “Alias” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” While specific salary figures for her television roles are not publicly available, these consistent appearances contributed to her overall income and net worth, providing a steady stream of revenue throughout her career. Her presence in television also helped to maintain her public profile, which in turn supported her earning potential in other areas.
Faye Dunaway’s Personal Life and Relationships
Faye Dunaway’s personal life has been closely followed by the public, featuring many notable relationships. In 1962, she was involved with stand-up comic Lenny Bruce. Later, in 1967, she was engaged to photographer Jerry Schatzberg, although they called off their engagement the following year. Dunaway also had an affair with married Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, her costar in the film “A Place for Lovers.” These relationships, while not directly contributing to her net worth, kept her in the public eye, influencing her career and marketability. In 1974, Dunaway married her first husband, singer Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band; they divorced in 1979. She then married British photographer Terry O’Neill in 1983, three years after they adopted a son named Liam. They divorced in 1987. After this, she dated English author Frederick Forsyth and entertainment executive Warren Lieberfarb. Her most recent publicized romantic relationship was with French actor Bernard Montiel, dating in the mid-1990s. These personal relationships, although not directly tied to financial details, paint a more complete picture of her life and career.
Faye Dunaway’s net worth is a reflection of her talent, hard work, and enduring appeal in the entertainment industry. Through strategic career choices and memorable performances, she has built a financial legacy that aligns with her status as an icon of film, stage, and television. Her ongoing contributions to the arts continue to solidify her place as a prominent figure in the world of entertainment. She continues to make appearances at functions and conventions. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
