96-Year-Old Hollywood Icon Seen After a Year as Reports Say She Can't Recall Her Career amid Her Battle with Dementia

The legendary Hollywood actress, known for her work in Alfred Hitchcock films, was seen in public for the first time in a year. The rare sighting came as reports continue to state that the star is living with dementia and is no longer able to recall her decades-long career.

The reclusive icon was photographed Monday night during a rare public appearance as she celebrated her 96th birthday. The intimate event took place at the Los Angeles home of her daughter, actress Melanie Griffith, surrounded by a tight-knit circle of family and friends.

This marked Tippi Hedren's first time being seen in public since reports confirmed the "The Birds" star is battling dementia and is no longer able to recall her legendary career.

Glamour Endures Despite Illness

Despite the heartbreaking reports, Tippi appeared to be in stable physical health during the outing. Walking without a wheelchair, walker, or cane, the actress navigated steps with the help of a man believed to be her grandson, Alexander Bauer, son of Griffith and actor Steven Bauer.

The gesture appeared more like loving support than necessity, offering a glimpse of quiet strength amid her ongoing health decline.

Tippi's outfit paid tribute to her enduring sense of Hollywood glamour. She donned a bold floral blazer layered over a flowing purple blouse and black slacks. Her signature golden locks remained intact, evoking memories of her screen siren days. Later that evening, she was seen wrapped in a monochrome sweater while leaving the dinner.

Melanie Steps In to Host and Support

Melanie, 66, who hosted the low-key celebration, was also photographed during the evening. Dressed in a fitted black long-sleeved top and matching leather trousers, the "Working Girl" star had been seen in the same look earlier in the day while walking her dog. Her cropped hair and striking red lipstick echoed the effortless style the Griffith-Hedren lineage is known for.

The touching evening unfolded against the backdrop of deeply troubling reports. Sources claim the Hollywood icon, once a Golden Globe-winning newcomer, is now unable to participate in interviews due to health issues and has lost all memory of her acting career.

These heartbreaking revelations have cast a long shadow over the actress's golden legacy — one that began well before her days as Hitchcock's muse.

From Fashion Runways to the Big Screen

Tippi's story began in the 1950s as a successful New York fashion model. But her career catapulted to global stardom in the early 1960s when she took on leading roles in Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thrillers.

Her unforgettable performance in "The Birds" earned her a Golden Globe in 1964 for most promising newcomer, sealing her status as one of the most recognized faces of the era.

Even off-screen, Tippi remained a style icon. In a past interview focused on fashion and jewelry, she offered a candid glimpse into her personal aesthetic.

"I'm not a minimalist in anything," she confessed. "I have way too many clothes and jewelry and bags, all colorful, all quite different from the next, and I love a lot of bling on my wardrobe... I certainly don't let age dictate anything I wear, be it fashion or jewelry."

A Legacy Built on Love and Film

Tippi's personal life has always been entwined with her public persona. She welcomed Melanie in 1957 with her then-husband, advertising executive Peter Griffith. Though the marriage ended in divorce, the mother-daughter bond flourished both off-screen and on through multiple film collaborations.

Melanie would later become a major Hollywood star in her own right, famously earning an Oscar nomination for her role in "Working Girl."

Tippi is grandmother to Melanie's four children, Jesse Johnson, Alexander Bauer, Dakota Johnson, and Stella Banderas. As each of them pursued their own creative paths, the Hedren family name remained firmly in the public eye, even as the matriarch herself stepped away from the spotlight.

In January 2025, Melanie paid tribute to her mother on Instagram with a touching post. She uploaded a reel with the caption, "My beautiful Mama turned 95 yesterday! 🥰♥️🥰♥️🥰 She's happy, healthy, and feisty!!"

Fans flooded the post with praise. One person wrote, "Amazing! And doesn't look a day over 60!" Another one said, "She looks amazing 😍." A third added, "She is so beautiful and classy - happy birthday 🎉."

Tigers, Danger, and Unforgettable Stories

Of course, the Hedren legacy also includes one of the most bizarre chapters in Hollywood history, living with big cats. During an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show," granddaughter Dakota described Tippi's former life with lions and tigers, allegedly 13 or 14 at one point.

She recalled a photo of a tiger leaping through a kitchen window, and another terrifying moment where a tiger had its jaws clamped around Melanie's leg. Thankfully, Dakota assured the audience, "She did not lose her leg."

At 96, Tippi remains an enduring symbol of old Hollywood. The birthday sighting was brief but meaningful, offering the public a rare update on a woman whose life has been both celebrated and shrouded in mystery.

As dementia continues to steal her memories, Tippi Hedren's legacy remains — a blend of cinematic brilliance, personal glamour, and family devotion that even illness cannot erase.