Bette Davis
Known For
Acting
Born
1908-04-05 in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Died
1989-10-06
Biography
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres; from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, though her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas. After appearing in Broadway plays, Davis moved to Hollywood in 1930, but her early films for Universal Studios were unsuccessful. She joined Warner Bros. in 1932 and established her career with several critically acclaimed performances. In 1937, she attempted to free herself from her contract and although she lost a well-publicized legal case, it marked the beginning of the most successful period of her career. Until the late 1940s, she was one of American cinema's most celebrated leading ladies, known for her forceful and intense style. Davis gained a reputation as a perfectionist who could be highly combative, and confrontations with studio executives, film directors and costars were often reported. Her forthright manner, clipped vocal style and ubiquitous cigarette contributed to a public persona which has often been imitated and satirized. Davis was the co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen, and was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Her career went through several periods of eclipse, and she admitted that her success had often been at the expense of her personal relationships. Married four times, she was once widowed and thrice divorced, and raised her children as a single parent. Her final years were marred by a long period of ill health, but she continued acting until shortly before her death from breast cancer, with more than 100 films, television and theater roles to her credit. In 1999, Davis was placed second, after Katharine Hepburn, on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of all time.
Most Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host
Perry Mason
as Constant Doyle
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter
What's My Line?
as Self
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
Wagon Train
as Ella Lindstrom
Wagon Train
as Madame Elizabeth McQueeny
The Virginian
as Celia Miller
The Oscars
as Self
Intimate Portrait
as Self (archive footage)
Gunsmoke
as Etta Stone
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Miss Fox
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
Dinah!
as Self
It Takes a Thief
as Bessie Grindel
The Ford Television Theatre
as Dolley Madison
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
as Self