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.
Filmography
This Is Joan Collins
as Self (Archive Footage)
This Is Joan Collins
as Self (Archive Footage)
Madonna: Madame X
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Madonna: Madame X
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Morceaux de Cannes
as Self (archive footage)
Morceaux de Cannes
as Self (archive footage)
Mike Wallace Is Here
as (archive footage)
Mike Wallace Is Here
as (archive footage)
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
as Self (archive footage)
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
as Self (archive footage)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
as Self (archive)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
as Self (archive)
Listen to Me Marlon
as Self (archive footage)
Listen to Me Marlon
as Self (archive footage)
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
as Self - Actress (archive footage)
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
as Self - Actress (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
as Self (archive footage)
Footsteps on the Ceiling
as Margo Channing (archive footage)
Footsteps on the Ceiling
as Margo Channing (archive footage)
Vito
as Self (archive)
Vito
as Self (archive)
Marilyn at the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Marilyn at the Movies
as Self (archive footage)
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
as Self (archive footage)
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
as Self (archive footage)
Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis
as Self (archive footage)
Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis
as Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition
as Self (archive footage)
Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition
as Self (archive footage)
Jezebel: Legend of the South
as Self (archive footage)
Jezebel: Legend of the South
as Self (archive footage)
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
as Self (archive footage)
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
as Self (archive footage)
The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert
as Self (archive footage)
The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert
as Self (archive footage)
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
as Queen Elizabeth (archive footage)
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
as Queen Elizabeth (archive footage)
How Real is 'The Star'?
as Self (archive footage)
How Real is 'The Star'?
as Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
as Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
as Self (archive footage)
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
as Self (archive footage)
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
as Self (archive footage)
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Bride of Trailer Camp
as (archive footage)
Bride of Trailer Camp
as (archive footage)
Backstory: 'All About Eve'
as Self (archive footage)
Backstory: 'All About Eve'
as Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Capra's American Dream
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Capra's American Dream
as Self (archive footage)
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
as Self (archive footage)
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
as Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage)
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
as Self (archive footage)
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
as Self (archive footage)
All About Bette
as Self
All About Bette
as Self
Wicked Stepmother
as Miranda Pierpoint
Wicked Stepmother
as Miranda Pierpoint
Hairway to the Stars
as Self [Archive Footage]
Hairway to the Stars
as Self [Archive Footage]
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
as Self (archive footage)
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
as Self (archive footage)
The Whales of August
as Libby Strong
The Whales of August
as Libby Strong
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
as (archive footage)
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
as (archive footage)
As Summers Die
as Hannah Loftin
As Summers Die
as Hannah Loftin
Directed by William Wyler
as Self
Directed by William Wyler
as Self
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
as archive footage
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
as archive footage
Murder with Mirrors
as Carrie Louise Serrocold
Murder with Mirrors
as Carrie Louise Serrocold
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
as (in "Deception") (archive footage)
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
as (in "Deception") (archive footage)
Showbiz Ballyhoo
as Self (archive footage)
Showbiz Ballyhoo
as Self (archive footage)
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
as Esther McDonald Cimino
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
as Esther McDonald Cimino
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
The Watcher in the Woods
as Mrs. Aylwood
The Watcher in the Woods
as Mrs. Aylwood
White Mama
as Estelle Malone
White Mama
as Estelle Malone
The Horror Show
as (archive footage)
The Horror Show
as (archive footage)
Mickey's 50
as Self
Mickey's 50
as Self
Return from Witch Mountain
as Letha Wedge
Return from Witch Mountain
as Letha Wedge
Burnt Offerings
as Aunt Elizabeth
Burnt Offerings
as Aunt Elizabeth
Bette Davis
as Self
Bette Davis
as Self
The Judge and Jake Wyler
as Judge Meredith
The Judge and Jake Wyler
as Judge Meredith
The Scopone Game
as 'A vecchia
The Scopone Game
as 'A vecchia
Madame Sin
as Madame Sin
Madame Sin
as Madame Sin
Bunny O'Hare
as Bunny O'Hare
Bunny O'Hare
as Bunny O'Hare
The Anniversary
as Mrs. Taggart
The Anniversary
as Mrs. Taggart
The Nanny
as Nanny
The Nanny
as Nanny
The Decorator
as Liz
The Decorator
as Liz
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
as Charlotte Hollis
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
as Charlotte Hollis
Dead Ringer
as Margaret DeLorca / Edith Phillips
Dead Ringer
as Margaret DeLorca / Edith Phillips
Pocketful of Miracles
as Apple Annie
Pocketful of Miracles
as Apple Annie
The Catered Affair
as Agnes Hurley
The Catered Affair
as Agnes Hurley
The Virgin Queen
as Queen Elizabeth I
The Virgin Queen
as Queen Elizabeth I
The Star
as Margaret Elliot
The Star
as Margaret Elliot
Payment on Demand
as Joyce Ramsey (nee Jackson)
Payment on Demand
as Joyce Ramsey (nee Jackson)
All About Eve
as Margo Channing
All About Eve
as Margo Channing
Breakdowns of 1949
as Self
Breakdowns of 1949
as Self
Beyond the Forest
as Rosa Moline
Beyond the Forest
as Rosa Moline
June Bride
as Linda Gilman
June Bride
as Linda Gilman
Deception
as Christine Radcliffe
Deception
as Christine Radcliffe
The Corn Is Green
as Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat
The Corn Is Green
as Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat
Breakdowns of 1944
as Self
Breakdowns of 1944
as Self
Hollywood Canteen
as Self
Hollywood Canteen
as Self
Old Acquaintance
as Kit Marlowe
Old Acquaintance
as Kit Marlowe
The Voice That Thrilled the World
as Self (segment 'Dangerous') (archive footage)
The Voice That Thrilled the World
as Self (segment 'Dangerous') (archive footage)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Self
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Self
Watch on the Rhine
as Sara Müller
Watch on the Rhine
as Sara Müller
Show-Business at War
as Self
Show-Business at War
as Self
Stars on Horseback
Stars on Horseback
Now, Voyager
as Charlotte Vale
Now, Voyager
as Charlotte Vale
In This Our Life
as Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill
In This Our Life
as Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill
The Man Who Came to Dinner
as Maggie Cutler
The Man Who Came to Dinner
as Maggie Cutler
The Little Foxes
as Regina Hubbard Giddens
The Little Foxes
as Regina Hubbard Giddens
The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Joan Winfield
The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Joan Winfield
Shining Victory
Shining Victory
The Great Lie
as Maggie Patterson Van Allen
The Great Lie
as Maggie Patterson Van Allen
The Letter
as Leslie Crosbie
The Letter
as Leslie Crosbie
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
as Self
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
as Self
All This, and Heaven Too
as Henriette Deluzy-Desportes
All This, and Heaven Too
as Henriette Deluzy-Desportes
Breakdowns of 1939
as Self
Breakdowns of 1939
as Self
The Old Maid
as Charlotte Lovell
The Old Maid
as Charlotte Lovell
Juarez
as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg
Juarez
as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg
Breakdowns of 1938
as Self (archive footage)
Breakdowns of 1938
as Self (archive footage)
Jezebel
as Julie Marsden
Jezebel
as Julie Marsden
Breakdowns of 1937
as Self
Breakdowns of 1937
as Self
It's Love I'm After
as Joyce Arden
It's Love I'm After
as Joyce Arden
That Certain Woman
as Mary Donnell
That Certain Woman
as Mary Donnell
Marked Woman
as Mary Dwight Strauber
Marked Woman
as Mary Dwight Strauber
Satan Met a Lady
as Valerie Purvis
Satan Met a Lady
as Valerie Purvis
The Golden Arrow
as Daisy Appleby
The Golden Arrow
as Daisy Appleby
The Petrified Forest
as Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple
The Petrified Forest
as Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple
Dick Powell and Joan Blondell home movies: "No. 1, From beginning"
Dick Powell and Joan Blondell home movies: "No. 1, From beginning"
A Dream Comes True
A Dream Comes True
Dangerous
as Joyce Heath
Dangerous
as Joyce Heath
Special Agent
as Julie Gardner
Special Agent
as Julie Gardner
Front Page Woman
as Ellen Garfield
Front Page Woman
as Ellen Garfield
Housewife
as Patricia Berkeley
Housewife
as Patricia Berkeley
Fog Over Frisco
as Arlene Bradford
Fog Over Frisco
as Arlene Bradford
Jimmy the Gent
as Joan Martin
Jimmy the Gent
as Joan Martin
The Big Shakedown
as Norma Nelson
The Big Shakedown
as Norma Nelson
Bureau of Missing Persons
as Norma Roberts
Bureau of Missing Persons
as Norma Roberts
Ex-Lady
as Helen Bauer
Ex-Lady
as Helen Bauer
The Working Man
as Jenny Hartland alias Jane Grey
The Working Man
as Jenny Hartland alias Jane Grey
Just Around the Corner
as Ginger
Just Around the Corner
as Ginger
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
as Fay Wilson
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
as Fay Wilson
Three on a Match
as Ruth Westcott
Three on a Match
as Ruth Westcott
The Cabin in the Cotton
as Madge Norwood
The Cabin in the Cotton
as Madge Norwood
The Dark Horse
as Kay Russell
The Dark Horse
as Kay Russell
The Rich Are Always with Us
as Malbro
The Rich Are Always with Us
as Malbro
Hell's House
as Peggy Gardner
Hell's House
as Peggy Gardner
The Menace
as Peggy Lowell
The Menace
as Peggy Lowell
Seed
as Margaret Carter
Seed
as Margaret Carter