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Bette Davis
Born · April 5, 1908
Died · October 6, 1989 (81 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Bio
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.
Faye
Self - Actor (archive footage)
6.7
2024
Faye
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
6.7
2024
Madonna: Madame X
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
7.5
2021
Mike Wallace Is Here
(archive footage)
6.5
2019
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
6.0
2018
Always at The Carlyle
Self (archive footage)
7.0
2018
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
Self (archive footage)
6.0
2017
Bette and Joan
Self (archive footage)
0.0
2017
Listen to Me Marlon
Self (archive footage)
7.5
2015
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actress (archive footage)
7.3
2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
7.0
2014
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
Self (archive footage)
5.5
2013
Talking Pictures
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
5.0
2013
Footsteps on the Ceiling
Margo Channing (archive footage)
0.0
2013
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
Self (archive footage)
4.0
2009
Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis
Self (archive footage)
0.0
2009
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
7.5
2009
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Self (archive footage)
4.9
2007
Jezebel: Legend of the South
Self (archive footage)
0.0
2006
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Self (archive footage)
7.0
2006
Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition
Self (archive footage)
7.0
2006
The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert
Self (archive footage)
5.0
2005
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Queen Elizabeth (archive footage)
7.8
2005
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
6.7
2003
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self (archive footage)
2.0
2002
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
Self (archive footage)
8.0
2001
Backstory: 'All About Eve'
Self (archive footage)
0.0
2000
Parkinson
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
0.0
1998
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
5.3
1997
Frank Capra's American Dream
Self (archive footage)
6.2
1997
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
Self (archive footage)
7.5
1996
Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis
Self (archive footage)
8.0
1996
Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill
Self (archive footage)
0.0
1994
All About Bette
Self
7.0
1994
Intimate Portrait
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
4.5
1993
Wicked Stepmother
Miranda Pierpoint
4.5
1989
Hairway to the Stars
Self [Archive Footage]
0.0
1989
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Self (archive footage)
8.0
1988
The Whales of August
Libby Strong
7.0
1987
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
(archive footage)
6.4
1987
As Summers Die
Hannah Loftin
6.2
1986
Directed by William Wyler
Self
0.0
1986
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
Self (from All About Eve [1950]) (archive footage)
7.5
1986
Bette Davis at the Cinémathèque Française
Herself
0.0
1986
Murder with Mirrors
Carrie Louise Serrocold
6.5
1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
0.0
1985
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
10.0
1984
Right of Way
Miniature Dwyer
7.3
1983
Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano
Self
7.3
1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
6.5
1983
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
10.0
1982
Little Gloria... Happy at Last
Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt · (2 episodes)
6.8
1982
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
(in "Deception") (archive footage)
6.6
1982
Night of 100 Stars
Self
6.5
1982
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
Esther McDonald Cimino
8.0
1982
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
6.0
1982
Family Reunion
Elizabeth Winfield
8.0
1981
Skyward
Billie Dupree
7.0
1980
The Watcher in the Woods
Mrs. Aylwood
5.9
1980
White Mama
Estelle Malone
8.0
1980
Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter
Lucy Mason
10.0
1979
The Horror Show
(archive footage)
6.0
1979
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
7.3
1978
Death on the Nile
Marie Van Schuyler
7.2
1978
Return from Witch Mountain
Letha Wedge
5.9
1978
The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
Widow Fortune · (2 episodes)
7.3
1978
Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette
Marie Van Schuyler (archive footage)
6.3
1978
Laugh-In
Self · (1 episode)
5.8
1977
The Disappearance of Aimee
Minnie Kennedy
8.0
1976
Burnt Offerings
Aunt Elizabeth
6.5
1976
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
6.0
1974
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
Mother · (1 episode)
6.0
1974
Scream, Pretty Peggy
Mrs. Elliott
6.1
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (3 episodes)
6.3
1973
The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor
Self (archive footage)
6.0
1973
Bette Davis
Self
0.0
1972
The Judge and Jake Wyler
Judge Meredith
3.0
1972
The Scopone Game
'A vecchia
7.4
1972
Madame Sin
Madame Sin
6.8
1972
Bunny O'Hare
Bunny O'Hare
5.6
1971
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self · (2 episodes)
6.0
1971
Connecting Rooms
Wanda Fleming
6.0
1970
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (7 episodes)
6.7
1968
The Anniversary
Mrs. Taggart
6.5
1968
It Takes a Thief
Bessie Grindel · (1 episode)
7.0
1968
The Nanny
Nanny
6.9
1965
The Decorator
Liz
6.0
1965
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Charlotte Hollis
7.2
1964
Where Love Has Gone
Mrs. Gerald Hayden
6.1
1964
Hollywood and the Stars
(archive footage)
0.0
1964
Dead Ringer
Margaret DeLorca / Edith Phillips
6.9
1964
The Hollywood Palace
Self · (1 episode)
4.5
1964
The Empty Canvas
Dino's Mother
6.1
1963
The Andy Williams Christmas Show
6.0
1962
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Baby Jane Hudson
7.9
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (4 episodes)
7.4
1962
The Virginian
Celia Miller · (1 episode)
6.4
1962
Pocketful of Miracles
Apple Annie
7.3
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (1 episode)
5.1
1961
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Sarah Whitney · (1 episode)
6.3
1959
The Scapegoat
Countess
6.8
1959
John Paul Jones
Empress Catherine the Great
6.1
1959
Suspicion
Mrs. Wilfred Ellis · (1 episode)
5.9
1957
Perry Mason
Constant Doyle · (1 episode)
7.7
1957
Wagon Train
Ella Lindstrom · (1 episode)
6.4
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (1 episode)
5.3
1956
Storm Center
Alicia Hull
6.4
1956
The Catered Affair
Mrs. Agnes Hurley
7.1
1956
Telephone Time
(1 episode)
6.3
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
4.6
1956
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Marie Hoke · (1 episode)
5.2
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Miss Fox · (1 episode)
7.7
1955
Gunsmoke
Etta Stone · (1 episode)
6.6
1955
The Virgin Queen
Queen Elizabeth I
7.1
1955
Reflets de Cannes
Self · (1 episode)
0.0
1954
The Oscars
Self · (5 episodes)
7.0
1953
General Electric Theater
Miss Burrows · (1 episode)
6.0
1953
General Electric Theater
Christine Marlowe · (1 episode)
6.0
1953
The Star
Margaret Elliot
7.2
1952
The Ford Television Theatre
Dolley Madison · (1 episode)
7.0
1952
Phone Call from a Stranger
Marie Hoke
6.4
1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, Aimee's mother · (1 episode)
8.7
1951
Another Man's Poison
Janet Frobisher
6.6
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Irene Van Buren · (1 episode)
7.0
1951
Payment on Demand
Joyce Ramsey (nee Jackson)
6.2
1951
All About Eve
Margo Channing
8.1
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (5 episodes)
6.9
1950
Breakdowns of 1949
Self
6.0
1949
Beyond the Forest
Rosa Moline
6.8
1949
June Bride
Linda Gilman
7.2
1948
Winter Meeting
Susan Grieve
6.5
1948
Deception
Christine Radcliffe
6.5
1946
A Stolen Life
Kate Bosworth / Patricia Bosworth
6.4
1946
The Corn Is Green
Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat
7.1
1945
Breakdowns of 1944
Self
6.5
1944
Hollywood Canteen
Self
7.3
1944
Mr. Skeffington
Fanny Trellis
6.7
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
6.8
1944
A Present with a Future
Mother
6.0
1943
Old Acquaintance
Kit Marlowe
6.9
1943
The Voice That Thrilled the World
Self (segment 'Dangerous') (archive footage)
5.3
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Self
6.1
1943
Watch on the Rhine
Sara Müller
6.8
1943
Show-Business at War
Self
7.0
1943
Stars on Horseback
0.0
1943
Breakdowns of 1942
Self
6.0
1942
Now, Voyager
Charlotte Vale
7.3
1942
In This Our Life
Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill
6.7
1942
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Maggie Cutler
6.9
1941
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
7.0
1941
The Little Foxes
Regina Hubbard Giddens
7.5
1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Joan Winfield
7.1
1941
Shining Victory
5.9
1941
The Great Lie
Maggie Patterson Van Allen
6.9
1941
The Letter
Leslie Crosbie
7.3
1940
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
6.5
1940
All This, and Heaven Too
Henriette Deluzy-Desportes
7.1
1940
If I Forget You
Bette Davis
5.3
1940
Breakdowns of 1939
Self
7.0
1939
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Queen Elizabeth
6.2
1939
The Old Maid
Charlotte Lovell
7.1
1939
Juarez
Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg
6.5
1939
Dark Victory
Judith Traherne
6.9
1939
Breakdowns of 1938
Self (archive footage)
5.0
1938
The Sisters
Louise Elliott Medlin
6.1
1938
Jezebel
Julie Marsden
7.0
1938
Breakdowns of 1937
Self
6.0
1937
It's Love I'm After
Joyce Arden
7.0
1937
That Certain Woman
Mary Donnell/Mme Al Haines
6.1
1937
Kid Galahad
Louise 'Fluff' Phillips
6.9
1937
A Day at Santa Anita
5.0
1937
Marked Woman
Mary Dwight Strauber
6.5
1937
Breakdowns of 1936
Self
0.0
1936
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
Self
6.0
1936
Satan Met a Lady
Valerie Purvis
5.9
1936
The Golden Arrow
Daisy Appleby
6.1
1936
The Petrified Forest
Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple
7.1
1936
A Dream Comes True
5.5
1935
Dangerous
Joyce Heath
6.7
1935
Special Agent
Julie Gardner
6.3
1935
Front Page Woman
Ellen Garfield
5.8
1935
The Girl from 10th Avenue
Miriam A. Brady
6.5
1935
Bordertown
Mrs. Marie Roark
5.9
1935
Housewife
Patricia Berkeley
7.6
1934
Of Human Bondage
Mildred Rogers
6.5
1934
Fog Over Frisco
Arlene Bradford
6.1
1934
Jimmy the Gent
Joan Martin
6.2
1934
Fashions of 1934
Lynn Mason
6.4
1934
The Big Shakedown
Norma Nelson
5.6
1934
Bureau of Missing Persons
Norma Roberts
5.6
1933
Ex-Lady
Helen Bauer
6.3
1933
The Working Man
Jenny Hartland alias Jane Grey
6.6
1933
The 42nd Street Special
Self (uncredited)
5.3
1933
Parachute Jumper
Patricia 'Alabama' Brent
6.1
1933
Just Around the Corner
Ginger
6.0
1933
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Fay Wilson
6.5
1932
Three on a Match
Ruth Westcott
6.2
1932
The Cabin in the Cotton
Madge Norwood
6.3
1932
The Dark Horse
Kay Russell
7.2
1932
The Rich Are Always with Us
Malbro
5.2
1932
So Big!
Miss Dallas O'Mara
5.8
1932
The Man Who Played God
Grace Blair
7.4
1932
Hell's House
Peggy Gardner
5.3
1932
The Menace
Peggy Lowell
4.5
1932
Way Back Home
Mary Lucy Duffy
6.2
1931
Waterloo Bridge
Janet Cronin
7.0
1931
Seed
Margaret Carter
6.0
1931
The Bad Sister
Laura Madison
5.4
1931