With 432 film credits, Edith Head holds the Guinness World Record for the most prolific costume designer in cinema history. Beyond her vast filmography, she secured a record-setting 35 Academy Award nominations and won eight statues. Her career spanned over half a century, defining the aesthetic of Hollywood’s golden age through collaborative relationships with top performers and directors.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Born in 1897 in San Bernardino, California, Head pursued a rigorous academic path, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Arts in romance languages from Stanford University. Initially, she worked as a teacher of French and Spanish. To supplement her income, she enrolled in evening courses at the Chouinard Art Institute and Otis College of Art and Design before securing a position as a sketch artist at Famous Players–Lasky in 1923.
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Under the mentorship of Howard Greer and Travis Banton at Paramount Pictures, Head transitioned from a novice illustrator to a foundational figure in studio costuming. Her work on the 1936 film The Jungle Princess, specifically the sarong worn by Dorothy Lamour, established her reputation. She remained at Paramount for 44 years, becoming the head designer following Banton's 1938 resignation and shaping the wardrobes for iconic films including Notorious and Vertigo.
Academy Recognition and Later Years
Head's influence extended through the evolution of cinema color and black-and-white film. She won Academy Awards in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, and 1961 for Black-and-White costume design, along with a 1951 award for Color. In 1968, she moved to Universal Pictures at the invitation of Alfred Hitchcock. Her final Academy Award was achieved for her work on The Sting in 1974. In the 1970s, she designed the official women's uniform for the United States Coast Guard.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, San Bernardino, United States
- Died: 1981, Los Angeles, United States
- Total Academy Award wins: 8
- Total film credits: 432
- Longest tenure: 44 years at Paramount Pictures
- Notable commission: United States Coast Guard women's uniforms
- Final Academy Award: 1974 for The Sting
Questions readers ask
How many Academy Awards did Edith Head win?
She won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design eight times throughout her career.
Where is Edith Head buried?
She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White — 1955
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color — 1951
- Educated at University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University
- Worked as costume designer and fashion designer