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Bette Davis
Actor, Producer
Born April 5, 1908Died October 6, 1989 (81 years)
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.
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Bette Davis Filmography
| 2019 | Mike Wallace Is Here · as (archive Footage) |
| 2016 | Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn · as Cast |
| 2015 | Women He's Undressed · as Cast |
| 2011 | Vito · as Judith Traherne |
| 2011 | These Amazing Shadows · as Margo |
| 2008 | Warner at War · as Cast |
| 2008 | Hollywood contra Franco · as Sara Muller |
| 2008 | Strictly Courtroom · as Leslie Crosbie |
| 2007 | P.S. I Love You · as Joyce Heath |
| 2007 | Memoirs of a Cigarette · as Charlotte Vale |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Errol Flynn · as Queen Elizabeth (archive Footage) |
| 2004 | Behind the Tunes: Looney Tunes Go Hollywood · as Charlotte Vale |
| 1999 | ABC 2000: The Millennium · as Cast |
| 1998 | |
| 1994 | Mina Tannenbaum · as Mildred Rogers |
| 1989 | Wicked Stepmother · as Miranda Pierpoint |
| 1987 | South of Reno · as Mildred Rogers |
| 1987 | The Whales of August · as Libby Strong |
| 1987 | Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood! · as (archive Footage) |
| 1986 | As Summers Die · as Hannah Loftin |
| 1986 | Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend · as Margo |
| 1985 | Murder with Mirrors · as Carrie Louise Serrocold |
| 1984 | Terror in the Aisles · as Baby Jane Hudson |
| 1984 | Going Hollywood: The '30s · as (archive Footage) |
| 1983 | Right of Way · as Miniature Dwyer |
| 1983 | Hotel (TV Series) · as Laura Trent |
| 1982 | Showbiz Goes to War · as (archive Footage) |
| 1982 | Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies · as Julie Marsden |
| 1982 | Little Gloria... Happy at Last (TV Series) · as Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt |
| 1982 | Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid · as (in "deception") (archive Footage) |
| 1982 | A Piano for Mrs. Cimino · as Esther Mcdonald Cimino |
| 1981 | Family Reunion · as Elizabeth Winfield |
| 1981 | Sixty Years of Seduction · as Cast |
| 1980 | Skyward · as Billie Dupree |
| 1980 | The Watcher in the Woods · as Mrs. Aylwood |
| 1980 | White Mama · as Estelle Malone |
| 1980 | Windows · as Charlotte Vale |
| 1979 | Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter · as Lucy Mason |
| 1979 | The Horror Show · as (archive Footage) |
| 1978 | Death on the Nile · as Marie Van Schuyler |
| 1978 | Return from Witch Mountain · as Letha Wedge |
| 1978 | The Dark Secret of Harvest Home (1978) (TV Series) · as Widow Fortune |
| 1978 | Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette · as Marie Van Schuyler |
| 1977 | Laugh-In (TV Series) · as Guest Performer |
| 1976 | The Disappearance of Aimee · as Minnie Kennedy |
| 1976 | Burnt Offerings · as Aunt Elizabeth |
| 1974 | |
| 1973 | Scream, Pretty Peggy · as Mrs. Elliott |
| 1972 | The Judge and Jake Wyler · as Judge Meredith |
| 1972 | The Scopone Game · as 'a Vecchia |
| 1972 | Madame Sin · as Madame Sin |
| 1971 | Bunny O'Hare · as Bunny O'hare |
| 1970 | Connecting Rooms · as Wanda Fleming |
| 1968 | The Anniversary · as Mrs. Taggart |
| 1968 | It Takes a Thief (TV Series) · as Bessie Grindel |
| 1965 | The Nanny · as Nanny |
| 1965 | The Decorator · as Liz |
| 1964 | Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte · as Charlotte Hollis |
| 1964 | Where Love Has Gone · as Mrs. Gerald Hayden |
| 1963 | Dead Ringer · as Margaret Delorca / Edith Phillips |
| 1963 | The Empty Canvas · as Dino's Mother |
| 1963 | Hollywood: The Great Stars · as Margaret Elliot |
| 1962 | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? · as Baby Jane Hudson |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV Series) · as Celia Miller |
| 1961 | Pocketful of Miracles · as Apple Annie |
| 1959 | The June Allyson Show (TV Series) · as Sarah Whitney |
| 1959 | The Scapegoat · as Countess |
| 1959 | John Paul Jones · as Empress Catherine The Great |
| 1957 | Suspicion (TV Series) · as Mrs. Wilfred Ellis |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Constant Doyle |
| 1957 | Wagon Train (TV Series) · as Ella Lindstrom |
| 1956 | Storm Center · as Alicia Hull |
| 1956 | The Catered Affair · as Mrs. Agnes Hurley |
| 1956 | Telephone Time (TV Series) |
| 1955 | The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) · as Marie Hoke |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Miss Fox |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Etta Stone |
| 1955 | The Virgin Queen · as Queen Elizabeth I |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) · as Paula Brand |
| 1953 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) · as Christine Marlowe |
| 1952 | The Star · as Margaret Elliot |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Dolley Madison |
| 1952 | Phone Call from a Stranger · as Marie Hoke |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, Aimee's Mother |
| 1951 | Another Man's Poison · as Janet Frobisher |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Irene Van Buren |
| 1951 | Payment on Demand · as Joyce Ramsey (nee Jackson) |
| 1950 | All About Eve · as Margo Channing |
| 1949 | Beyond the Forest · as Rosa Moline |
| 1948 | June Bride · as Linda Gilman |
| 1948 | Winter Meeting · as Susan Grieve |
| 1946 | Deception · as Christine Radcliffe |
| 1946 | A Stolen Life · as Kate Bosworth / Patricia Bosworth |
| 1945 | The Corn Is Green · as Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat |
| 1944 | Mr. Skeffington · as Fanny Trellis |
| 1943 | Old Acquaintance · as Kit Marlowe |
| 1943 | Watch on the Rhine · as Sara Müller |
| 1943 | |
| 1942 | Now, Voyager · as Charlotte Vale |
| 1942 | In This Our Life · as Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill |
| 1941 | The Man Who Came to Dinner · as Maggie Cutler |
| 1941 | The Little Foxes · as Regina Hubbard Giddens |
| 1941 | The Bride Came C.O.D. · as Joan Winfield |
| 1941 | |
| 1941 | The Great Lie · as Maggie Patterson Van Allen |
| 1940 | The Letter · as Leslie Crosbie |
| 1940 | All This, and Heaven Too · as Henriette Deluzy-Desportes |
| 1939 | The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex · as Queen Elizabeth |
| 1939 | The Old Maid · as Charlotte Lovell |
| 1939 | Land of Liberty · as Julie Marsden |
| 1939 | Juarez · as Empress Carlotta Von Hapsburg |
| 1939 | Dark Victory · as Judith Traherne |
| 1938 | The Sisters · as Louise Elliott Medlin |
| 1938 | Jezebel · as Julie Marsden |
| 1937 | It's Love I'm After · as Joyce Arden |
| 1937 | That Certain Woman · as Mary Donnell |
| 1937 | Kid Galahad · as Louise 'fluff' Phillips |
| 1937 | Marked Woman · as Mary Dwight Strauber |
| 1936 | Satan Met a Lady · as Valerie Purvis |
| 1936 | The Golden Arrow · as Daisy Appleby |
| 1936 | The Petrified Forest · as Gabrielle "gabby" Maple |
| 1935 | Dangerous · as Joyce Heath |
| 1935 | Special Agent · as Julie Gardner |
| 1935 | Front Page Woman · as Ellen Garfield |
| 1935 | The Girl from 10th Avenue · as Miriam A. Brady |
| 1935 | Bordertown · as Mrs. Marie Roark |
| 1934 | Housewife · as Patricia Berkeley |
| 1934 | Of Human Bondage · as Mildred Rogers |
| 1934 | Fog Over Frisco · as Arlene Bradford |
| 1934 | Jimmy the Gent · as Joan Martin |
| 1934 | Fashions of 1934 · as Lynn Mason |
| 1934 | The Big Shakedown · as Norma Nelson |
| 1933 | Bureau of Missing Persons · as Norma Roberts |
| 1933 | Ex-Lady · as Helen Bauer |
| 1933 | The Working Man · as Jenny Hartland Alias Jane Grey |
| 1933 | Parachute Jumper · as Patricia 'alabama' Brent |
| 1932 | 20,000 Years in Sing Sing · as Fay Wilson |
| 1932 | Three on a Match · as Ruth Westcott |
| 1932 | The Cabin in the Cotton · as Madge Norwood |
| 1932 | Hell's House · as Peggy Gardner |
| 1932 | The Dark Horse · as Kay Russell |
| 1932 | The Rich Are Always with Us · as Malbro |
| 1932 | So Big! · as Miss Dallas O'mara |
| 1932 | The Man Who Played God · as Grace Blair |
| 1932 | The Menace · as Peggy Lowell |
| 1931 | Way Back Home · as Mary Lucy Duffy |
| 1931 | Waterloo Bridge · as Janet Cronin |
| 1931 | Seed · as Margaret Carter |
| 1931 | Bad Sister · as Laura Madison |
The Decorator (TV Series) · as Liz |
| 1946 |