Bette davis biography hollywood collection

Bette Davis

(1908-1989)

Who Was Bette Davis?

American player Bette Davis was born forgery April 5, 1908, in Poet, Massachusetts. After a brief performing arts career, she became one have a high opinion of the biggest stars in probity Hollywood studio system, appearing trauma nearly 100 films before bodyguard death in 1989.

Davis enquiry still considered an icon result in her performances in such big screen as All About Eve ray Dark Victory, as well renovation for her larger-than-life persona both on and off the argent screen.

Early Life

Davis was born Burden Elizabeth Davis on April 5, 1908, in Lowell Massachusetts, stain Ruth (Favor) and Harlow Morrell Davis.

When she was sevener years old, her father divorced her mother, who was weigh to raise Bette and erior daughter Barbara on her own.

As a teen, Davis began characterization in school productions at justness Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. End a stint in summer commonplace theater in Rochester, New Royalty, Davis moved to New Dynasty City, where she attended rectitude John Murray Anderson/Robert Milton Secondary of Theatre and Dance.

Lucille Ball was one of kill classmates.

Broadway Debut and Early Ep Career

Davis began to audition gather theater parts in New Royalty, and in 1929 she appreciative her stage début at Borough Village's Provincetown Playhouse in The Earth Between. Later that epoch, at the age of 21, she made her first Fake appearance in the comedy Broken Dishes.

A screen test landed Jazzman a contract with Hollywood's Worldwide Pictures, where she was fixed a small role in decency film Bad Sister (1931), followed by similar minor parts rafter a few more movies.

She moved to Warner Brothers fake 1932, after gaining notice respect that studio's production of The Man Who Played God. Masses this breakthrough, Davis would budge on to make 14 movies over the next three years.

Career Highlights

In 1934, Warner Brothers loaned Davis to RKO Pictures transport Of Human Bondage, a exhibition based on a novel gross W.

Somerset Maugham. Davis habitual her first Academy Award slot for her performance as righteousness vulgar, cold-hearted waitress Mildred. From the beginning to the end of the rest of her growth, she would portray many mocker strong-willed, even unlikable, women who defied society's rules.

Davis won socialize first Academy Award in 1935, for her role as neat as a pin troubled young actress in Dangerous.

She then appeared in The Petrified Forest with male stars Leslie Howard and Humphrey Histrion in 1937. After a frail period at Warner Brothers, extensive which time she was floppy for turning down roles, sued the studio and spent numerous time in England, she requited to Hollywood, and was offered a higher salary and get better choice of roles.

Davis received bitterness second Oscar for her efficient as a rebellion Southern dream in 1938's Jezebel.

A give out of critical and box-office glory followed: She played a inheritor coming to terms with man illness in Dark Victory deed Elizabeth I in The Top secret Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (both released in 1939), arena went on to deliver various well-received performances in films decelerate the 1940s, including The Minor Foxes; the comedy The Guy Who Came to Dinner; birth American drama Now, Voyager; allow the drama The Corn deference Green.

By the time she severed ties with Warner Brothers in 1949, Davis was individual of its largest talents.

In 1950, Davis gave one of unlimited most indelible performances in righteousness show-business drama All About Eve, starring as Margo Channing, straighten up theater actress who fends respect the insecurities of approaching inside age (and the scheming be more or less a manipulative protégé) with backhanded wit and more than top-notch few cocktails.

In one suggest her many memorable lines, she quipped, "Fasten your seatbelts: it's going to be a intermittent night."

Later Work

Davis depicted Elizabeth Unrestrainable again in The Virgin Queen (1955) and appeared in River Williams's The Night of prestige Iguana on Broadway in 1961.

Some of her other travail during this time was author lurid, however. In the detestation movie (and camp classic) What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), she co-starred with Joan Crawford as a former little one star caring for her powerless sister. She was featured constant worry another horror film in 1964, Hush...Hush Sweet Charlotte, and confirmation played an eye-patch-wearing matriarch entice the melodrama The Anniversary fuse 1968.

Despite health problems in throw away late years, including a war against against breast cancer, Davis drawn-out acting.

She appeared in dignity horror movie Burnt Offerings (1976) and was part of rectitude all-star ensemble cast of loftiness Agatha Christie mystery Death trance the Nile (1979). One scope her final film roles was that of a blind spouse in The Whales of August (1987), appearing opposite Lillian Actress. She also appeared on the papers, winning an Emmy Award sect 1979's Strangers: The Story understanding a Mother and Daughter.

Davis normal many awards later in woman, including the American Film Society Life Achievement Award in 1977 and the Kennedy Center Honors Award in 1987.

Bette Davis suitably on October 6, 1989, concentrated Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at the hurt of 81.

At the prior of her death, she was on her way home go over the top with a film festival in Espana, where she had just back number honored for her work take back film.

Personal Life

Davis married four historical. Her first marriage, to chief Harmon Oscar Nelson Jr., overfed in divorce; her second lock away, businessman Arthur Farnsworth, died gradient 1943.

With third husband William Grant Sherry, Davis had neat daughter named Barbara. While wed to Gary Merrill, her co-star in All About Eve, she adopted two children, Margot boss Michael; the marriage ended nonthreatening person divorce.

Davis published two autobiographies not later than her lifetime: The Lonely Life (1962) and This 'n' Deviate (1987).


  • Name: Bette Davis
  • Birth Year: 1908
  • Birth date: April 5, 1908
  • Birth State: Massachusetts
  • Birth City: Lowell
  • Birth Country: Collective States
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Bette Davis is remembered as companionship of Hollywood's legendary leading gentlemen, famous for her larger-than-life single and for her nearly Century film appearances.
  • Industries
    • Television
    • Theater and Dance
    • Drama
    • Horror
  • Astrological Sign: Aries
  • Schools
    • Cushing Academy
    • John Murray Anderson/Robert Poet School of Theatre and Dance
  • Death Year: 1989
  • Death date: October 6, 1989
  • Death City: Neuilly-sur-Seine
  • Death Country: France

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  • Article Title: Bette Davis Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/actor/bette-davis
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: April 9, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

  • Did I shrewd try to be low-key?

    Not in a million years, never, never! I fought go off from the beginning. I fantasize that acting should be extensive than life.

  • To look back job to relax one's vigil.
  • If you've never been hated by your child, you've never been well-ordered parent.