Remembering Lauren Bacall on her 100th Birthday
The Hollywood Diva was born on this day in 1924
Remembering Lauren Bacall on her 100th Birthday
Today is the 100th birthday of the actress Lauren Bacall. She was born Betty Joan Perske, on September 16, 1924, and passed in 2014, just a month shy of her 90th birthday. Best known for her distinctive husky voice and sultry looks. Bacall first emerged as leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film, with whom she got married, “To Have And Have Not” (1944) and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in Bogart movies “The Big Sleep” (1946) and “Dark Passage” (1947), as well as a comedienne in “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953) with Marilyn Monroe and “Designing Woman” (1957) with Gregory Peck. Bacall has also worked on Broadway in musicals, gaining a Tony Awards for Applause in 1970 and Woman of the Year in 1981. Her performance in the movie “The Mirror Has Two Faces” (1996) earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
One of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses, known for her sultry voice, striking looks, and captivating on-screen presence, Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City to a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised by her mother. From a young age, Bacall was interested in acting and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She initially worked as a model, and her striking appearance landed her on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar in 1943. This cover caught the eye of director Howard Hawks, which would prove to be her big break.
Hawks cast Bacall in her first film, “To Have and Have Not” (1944), at the age of 19. Her performance, particularly her famous line “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve?” became iconic and established her as a star. During the making of the film, Bacall began a romantic relationship with her co-star, Humphrey Bogart, despite their 25-year age difference. The two married in 1945 and became one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, often referred to as “Bogie and Bacall”.
Following her success in To Have and Have Not, Bacall starred in several film noir classics, including “The Big Sleep” (1946), “Dark Passage” (1947), and “Key Largo” (1948), all alongside Bogart. Her smoky voice and magnetic presence made her a standout actress of the era.
After Bogart’s death in 1957, Bacall continued her career in both film and stage. In the 1950s and 1960s, her film roles included “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953) alongside Marilyn Monroe and “Designing Woman” (1957) with Gregory Peck. While her film career slowed during this period, Bacall found success on Broadway, winning Tony Awards for “Applause” (1970) and “Woman of the Year” (1981).
In the later stages of her career, Bacall continued to act in both film and television, appearing in “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974), “The Mirror Has Two Faces” (1996), for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and “Dogville” (2003).
Bacall’s marriage to Humphrey Bogart was one of the most celebrated in Hollywood. The couple had two children, Stephen and Leslie. After Bogart’s death, Bacall had a brief engagement to Frank Sinatra, and later married actor Jason Robards in 1961, with whom she had a son, actor Sam Robards. However, Bacall and Robards divorced in 1969.
In addition to her acting, Bacall was an outspoken advocate for liberal political causes and an author. She published her autobiography, “By Myself”, in 1978, which won a National Book Award.
Lauren Bacall passed away on August 12, 2014, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of iconic performances.
By Ken Warren, 2017/18
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