She was born Grace Patricia Kelly on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she died in 1982, she was Princess Grace of Monaco. The Pennsylvania native first tasted fame during the Golden Age of Television by starring in many shows during the 1950s. This would result in a film career of even greater renown. She would win an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1954 for The Country Girl, starred in three now-legendary Alfred Hitchcock movies (Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief), and starred opposite some of the most prominent stars of the era, including James Stewart, Cary Grant, and Alec Guinness.

It’s hard to think that her career was rather short. Grace Kelly retired from acting at age 26 to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco. As Princess of Monaco, Grace and Rainier had three children – Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stéphanie. The three children would give Grace eleven grandchildren in total.

With her royal title, Grace worked on humanitarian efforts, focusing on helping young children and the arts. Sadly, Her life was cut short in 1982. She suffered a small stroke while driving on Sept. 13, and lost control of her car. She died the next day due to the injuries she sustained in the crash.

Nearly forty years after her death, take a look back at Grace Kelly’s life, her legacy, and her family.