Bette Davis
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.
Known for
ActingBirthday
April 5, 1908Deathday
October 6, 1989Gender
FemaleKnown Movie Credits
175Place of birth
Lowell, Massachusetts, USAAlso known as
The First Lady of Film, Ruth Elizabeth Davis, The Fourth Warner Brother, Бетт Дэвис, 베티 데이비스, Бетті Девіс, Μπέτι Ντέιβις, Бети Дейвис, Бет ДэвісCast credits
Pocketful of Miracles
Apple AnnieAll About Eve
Margo ChanningJezebel
Julie MarsdenWhat Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Baby Jane HudsonHush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Charlotte HollisDeath on the Nile
Marie Van SchuylerThe Watcher in the Woods
Mrs. AylwoodMurder with Mirrors
Carrie Louise SerrocoldDeath on the Nile: Making of Featurette
Marie Van Schuyler (archive footage)Dead Ringer
Margaret DeLorca / Edith PhillipsDeception
Christine RadcliffeMarked Woman
Mary Dwight StrauberNow, Voyager
Charlotte ValeDead Men Don't Wear Plaid
(in "Deception") (archive footage)The Man Who Came to Dinner
Maggie CutlerBordertown
Mrs. Marie RoarkDark Victory
Judith TraherneBurnt Offerings
Aunt ElizabethSatan Met a Lady
Valerie PurvisWicked Stepmother
Miranda PierpointBeyond the Forest
Rosa Moline