Bette Davis

Date of Birth: April 5, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: October 6, 1989

Biography

Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis was born on April 5, 1908, in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. She was a celebrated American actress known for her intense and compelling performances in film, television, and theater. Davis began her career on Broadway before making her way to Hollywood in 1930. Over her six-decade-long career, she became one of the most iconic actresses of her time, known for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters and her distinctive eyes. Davis’s breakthrough came with the film “Of Human Bondage” (1934), where her performance earned critical acclaim and established her as a major star. She went on to win two Academy Awards for Best Actress for her roles in “Dangerous” (1935) and “Jezebel” (1938). Some of her other notable films include “All About Eve” (1950), “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962), and “Dark Victory” (1939). Davis was not only known for her acting talent but also for her strong-willed personality and determination to fight for better roles and working conditions for women in Hollywood. She served as the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Bette Davis passed away on October 6, 1989, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, due to breast cancer and a stroke. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest actresses in the history of American cinema.

5 Interesting Facts about Bette Davis

1. Bette Davis was the first actress to receive ten Academy Award nominations.

2. She was known for her feud with fellow actress Joan Crawford, which was notably dramatized in the TV series “Feud: Bette and Joan.”

3. Davis was the first woman to be honored with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1977.

4. She had a distinctive style of delivery and was known for her clipped vocal pattern and expressive, intense eyes.

5. Davis wrote an autobiography titled “The Lonely Life,” which was published in 1962.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bette Davis

1. “Old age is no place for sissies.”

2. “I’d like to kiss you, but I just washed my hair.”

3. “It has been my experience that one cannot, in any shape or form, depend on human relations. They are as unstable as the weather.”

4. “I will not retire while I’ve still got my legs and my make-up box.”

5. “You should never say bad things about the dead, you should only say good… Joan Crawford is dead. Good.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the height of her career, Bette Davis’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million, which would be significantly more in today’s dollars accounting for inflation.

Children

Bette Davis had three children: 1. Barbara Davis Sherry (B.D. Hyman) – Born in 1947, her daughter with her third husband, William Grant Sherry. 2. Michael Merrill – Born in 1950, her son with her fourth husband, Gary Merrill, whom she adopted. 3. Margot Merrill – Born in 1951, her daughter with Gary Merrill, whom she also adopted.