Kim Novak, the enigmatic star of Hollywood’s Golden Age, best remembered for her haunting performance in Vertigo, now embraces a quieter life as a painter, her legacy honored anew in a poignant documentary.
Early Life & Education
Born Marilyn Pauline Novak on February 13, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, Kim Novak came from Czech-American roots and initially pursued artistic aspirations, winning scholarships to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
She transitioned into modeling during junior college, which led to her discovery by an agent in Hollywood and a contract with Columbia Pictures, a dramatic pivot from her original dreams of being a painter.
Kim Novak’s Career
Kim Novak quickly established herself as one of Hollywood’s foremost leading ladies following her 1954 debut under contract with Columbia Pictures.
In 1955 alone, she appeared in major hits such as Picnic and The Man with the Golden Arm, earning Golden Globe recognition for Most Promising Newcomer and World Favorite Female Actress. Her role in Pal Joey (1957) cemented her breakthrough status with audiences.
Kim Novak’s most iconic performance came in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958), in which she portrayed dual roles as Madeleine Elster and Judy Barton. Although the film’s acclaim came later, it is now celebrated as a cinematic masterpiece and perhaps Novak’s most enduring legacy.
She continued starring in films like Bell, Book and Candle (1958), Strangers When We Meet (1960), and Kiss Me, Stupid (1964). Disenchanted with Hollywood’s constraints, she withdrew from acting in 1966.
Sporadic roles followed, including The Mirror Crack’d (1980) and a recurring part in Falcon Crest (1986–87). A challenging experience during the filming of Liebestraum (1991) prompted her retirement from acting.
Though she stepped away from the spotlight, Kim Novak continued to receive recognition. Honors include lifetime achievement awards, a Golden Globe, an Honorary Golden Bear, a Golden Lion from Venice in 2025, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A resurgence of interest now surrounds her due to the documentary Kim Novak’s Vertigo, premiering at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, where she also accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
The film explores her refusal to conform to Hollywood’s constructs, her turbulent childhood, her battles with bipolar disorder, and the healing solace she found through painting while living in Oregon.
Personal Life
Kim Novak married twice. Her first marriage, to Richard Johnson, lasted from 1965 to 1966. In 1976, she wed Robert Malloy, a veterinarian, and the couple settled in Oregon, living a quieter, creative life together.
Novak devoted herself to painting, often drawing inspiration from the natural beauty surrounding her new home. She later shared her artistic journey through exhibitions and the memoir Kim Novak: Her Art and Life, displaying protective refusal of sensationalism in favor of dignity and truth.
Net Worth
Kim Novak’s net worth is estimated to be between $14 million and $15 million. Her wealth likely reflects decades of earnings from her legendary acting career and continued branding through her paintings and artistic projects, including exhibitions and publications.
