Kim Darby
She brought a fierce, unflinching intelligence to the role of Mattie Ross in 'True Grit,' creating one of the most memorable heroines in Western film.
Born 1947 (age 79)·American actress·Birthday: July 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Kim Darby's path to stardom was unconventional and brief, defined largely by a single, perfect performance. Discovered as a teenager, she projected a preternatural maturity and stubborn resolve that made her an ideal Mattie Ross in the 1969 classic 'True Grit.' Opposite John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn, her Mattie was no mere sidekick but the film's moral and narrative engine—a fourteen-year-old girl of steely determination. The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination and instant fame. However, the pressures of Hollywood and a desire for a stable family life led her to step back from the spotlight relatively quickly. She continued to work in television and film sporadically, often in strong-willed character roles, and later dedicated herself to teaching acting. Her legacy rests firmly on that one iconic portrayal, which continues to resonate for its lack of sentimentality and its powerful depiction of female grit.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kim was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her starring role as Mattie Ross in 'True Grit' (1969).
- Nominated for a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her performance in 'True Grit.'
- Starred in the cult television film 'The People' and had a recurring role on the series 'The Streets of San Francisco.'
- Maintained a decades-long career in film and television while largely prioritizing life outside of Hollywood.
Did You Know?
She was originally cast as the female lead in 'Bonnie and Clyde' but was replaced by Faye Dunaway early in production.
She taught drama at a high school in the San Fernando Valley for many years.
She was married to actor James Stacy from 1968 to 1969.
Her daughter, Heather, from her marriage to stuntman James Westmoreland, also became an actress.
“I was never interested in being a movie star; I just wanted to act.”
