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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
April 5, 1908
Died
October 6, 1989
Place of Birth
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Also Known As
- The First Lady of Film
- Ruth Elizabeth Davis
- The Fourth Warner Brother
- 베티 데이비스
- Μπέτι Ντέιβις
- Бетт Дейвіс
Bette Davis
2.1 Popularity
Biography
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
7.5
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Madonna: Madame X
2021
6.5
(archive footage)
Mike Wallace Is Here
2019
6.0
Self (archive footage)
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
2018
6.0
Self (archive footage)
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
2017
0.0
Self (archive footage)
Bette and Joan
2017
7.5
Self (archive footage)
Listen to Me Marlon
2015
7.3
Self - Actress (archive footage)
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
2014
5.5
Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
2013
5.8
Self (archive footage)
Talking Pictures
2013
0.0
Margo Channing (archive footage)
Footsteps on the Ceiling
2013
Credits
Madonna: Madame X
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
7.5
Mike Wallace Is Here
as (archive footage)
2019
6.5
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
2018
6.0
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
as Self (archive footage)
2017
6.0
Bette and Joan
as Self (archive footage)
2017
0.0
Listen to Me Marlon
as Self (archive footage)
2015
7.5
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
as Self - Actress (archive footage)
2014
7.3
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
as Self (archive footage)
2013
5.5
Talking Pictures
as Self (archive footage)
2013
5.8
Footsteps on the Ceiling
as Margo Channing (archive footage)
2013
0.0
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
as Self (archive footage)
2009
4.0
Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis
as Self (archive footage)
2009
0.0
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
2009
7.5
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
as Self (archive footage)
2007
4.3
Jezebel: Legend of the South
as Self (archive footage)
2006
7.0
Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition
as Self (archive footage)
2006
6.7
The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert
as Self (archive footage)
2005
5.0
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
as Queen Elizabeth (archive footage)
2005
7.8
Complicated Women
as Self (archive footage)
2003
6.7
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
as Self (archive footage)
2002
2.0
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
as Self (archive footage)
2001
8.0
🎬
Bride of Trailer Camp
as (archive footage)
2001
0.0
Backstory: 'All About Eve'
as Self (archive footage)
2000
0.0
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
1997
4.9
Frank Capra's American Dream
as Self (archive footage)
1997
6.3
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
as Self (archive footage)
1996
7.5
Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis
as Self (archive footage)
1996
8.0
Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill
as Self (archive footage)
1994
0.0
The World of Hammer
as Self (archive footage)
1994
6.5
All About Bette
as Self
1994
7.6
Intimate Portrait
as Self (archive footage)
1993
4.5
Wicked Stepmother
as Miranda Pierpoint
1989
4.5
Hairway to the Stars
as Self [Archive Footage]
1989
0.0
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
as Self (archive footage)
1988
8.0
The Whales of August
as Libby Strong
1987
7.0
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
as (archive footage)
1987
6.4
As Summers Die
as Hannah Loftin
1986
6.2
Directed by William Wyler
as Self
1986
0.0
Bette Davis at the Cinémathèque Française
as Self
1986
0.0
Murder with Mirrors
as Carrie Louise Serrocold
1985
6.5
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
1985
0.0
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
1984
10.0
Right of Way
as Miniature Dwyer
1983
7.3
Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano
as Self
1983
7.3
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
6.5
Showbiz Goes to War
as (archive footage)
1982
10.0
Little Gloria... Happy at Last
as Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt
1982
5.4
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
as (in "Deception") (archive footage)
1982
6.6
Showbiz Ballyhoo
as Self (archive footage)
1982
0.0
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
1982
6.7
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino
as Esther McDonald Cimino
1982
7.8
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
1982
6.0
Family Reunion
as Elizabeth Winfield
1981
0.0
Family Reunion
as Elizabeth Winfield
1981
8.0
Skyward
as Billie Dupree
1980
6.9
The Watcher in the Woods
as Mrs. Aylwood
1980
5.9
White Mama
as Estelle Malone
1980
8.0
Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter
as Lucy Mason
1979
9.2
The Horror Show
as (archive footage)
1979
3.8
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
1978
7.4
Mickey's 50
as Self
1978
0.0
Death on the Nile
as Marie Van Schuyler
1978
7.1
Return from Witch Mountain
as Letha Wedge
1978
5.9
The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
as Widow Fortune
1978
7.6
🎬
Laugh-In
as Guest Performer
1977
5.8
The Disappearance of Aimee
as Minnie Kennedy
1976
8.0
Burnt Offerings
as Aunt Elizabeth
1976
6.5
Dinah!
as Self
1974
6.7
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
1974
6.0
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
as Mother
1974
6.0
Scream, Pretty Peggy
as Mrs. Elliott
1973
6.1
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
as Self
1973
6.3
The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor
as Self (archive footage)
1973
6.0
🎬
Bette Davis
as Self
1972
0.0
The Judge and Jake Wyler
as Judge Meredith
1972
3.0
The Scopone Game
as 'A vecchia
1972
7.4
Madame Sin
as Madame Sin
1972
6.7
Bunny O'Hare
as Bunny O'Hare
1971
5.6
🎬
V.I.P. Schaukel
as Self
1971
7.5
Connecting Rooms
as Wanda Fleming
1970
5.5
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
1968
6.8
The Anniversary
as Mrs. Taggart
1968
6.5
It Takes a Thief
as Bessie Grindel
1968
7.2
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
as Self
1967
6.9
The Nanny
as Nanny
1965
6.9
The Decorator
as Liz
1965
6.0
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
as Charlotte Hollis
1964
7.3
Where Love Has Gone
as Mrs. Gerald Hayden
1964
5.9
Dead Ringer
as Margaret DeLorca / Edith Phillips
1964
6.9
The Hollywood Palace
as Self
1964
4.5
The Empty Canvas
as Dino's Mother
1963
5.9
The Andy Williams Christmas Show
1962
6.0
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
as Baby Jane Hudson
1962
7.9
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
7.5
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
1962
6.2
The Virginian
as Celia Miller
1962
6.4
Pocketful of Miracles
as Apple Annie
1961
7.3
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Host
1961
5.4
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
as Sarah Whitney
1959
6.3
The Scapegoat
as Countess
1959
6.8
John Paul Jones
as Empress Catherine the Great
1959
5.9
Suspicion
as Mrs. Wilfred Ellis
1957
5.9
Perry Mason
as Constant Doyle
1957
7.7
Wagon Train
as Ella Lindstrom
1957
6.6
Wagon Train
as Madame Elizabeth McQueeny
1957
6.6
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as Self
1956
6.0
Storm Center
as Alicia Hull
1956
6.6
The Catered Affair
as Mrs. Agnes Hurley
1956
7.1
Telephone Time
1956
6.3
Tony Awards
as Self - Presenter
1956
5.9
The 20th Century Fox Hour
as Marie Hoke
1955
5.4
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Miss Fox
1955
7.8
Gunsmoke
as Etta Stone
1955
6.6
The Virgin Queen
as Queen Elizabeth I
1955
7.2
Reflets de Cannes
as Self
1954
2.0
The Oscars
as Self
1953
7.0
General Electric Theater
as Miss Burrows
1953
6.4
General Electric Theater
as Christine Marlowe
1953
6.4
The Star
as Margaret Elliot
1952
7.2
The Ford Television Theatre
as Dolley Madison
1952
7.3
Phone Call from a Stranger
as Marie Hoke
1952
6.2
Hallmark Hall of Fame
as Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, Aimee's mother
1951
8.6
Another Man's Poison
as Janet Frobisher
1951
6.8
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
as Irene Van Buren
1951
7.2
Payment on Demand
as Joyce Ramsey (nee Jackson)
1951
6.0
All About Eve
as Margo Channing
1950
8.1
What's My Line?
as Self
1950
6.9
Breakdowns of 1949
as Self
1949
6.0
Beyond the Forest
as Rosa Moline
1949
6.7
June Bride
as Linda Gilman
1948
7.2
Winter Meeting
as Susan Grieve
1948
6.5
Deception
as Christine Radcliffe
1946
6.5
A Stolen Life
as Kate Bosworth / Patricia Bosworth
1946
6.3
The Corn Is Green
as Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat
1945
7.2
Breakdowns of 1944
as Self
1944
6.5
Hollywood Canteen
as Self
1944
7.3
Mr. Skeffington
as Fanny Trellis
1944
6.7
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter
1944
7.2
🎬
A Present with a Future
as Mother
1943
6.0
Old Acquaintance
as Kit Marlowe
1943
7.0
The Voice That Thrilled the World
as Self (segment 'Dangerous') (archive footage)
1943
5.3
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Self
1943
6.0
Watch on the Rhine
as Sara Müller
1943
6.8
Show-Business at War
as Self
1943
7.0
Stars on Horseback
1943
4.0
Breakdowns of 1942
as Self
1942
6.0
Now, Voyager
as Charlotte Vale
1942
7.4
In This Our Life
as Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill
1942
6.8
The Man Who Came to Dinner
as Maggie Cutler
1941
6.9
Breakdowns of 1941
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1941
7.0
The Little Foxes
as Regina Hubbard Giddens
1941
7.5
The Bride Came C.O.D.
as Joan Winfield
1941
6.9
Shining Victory
1941
5.9
The Great Lie
as Maggie Patterson Van Allen
1941
6.9
The Letter
as Leslie Crosbie
1940
7.3
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
as Self
1940
6.5
All This, and Heaven Too
as Henriette Deluzy-Desportes
1940
7.2
🎬
If I Forget You
as Bette Davis
1940
5.3
Breakdowns of 1939
as Self
1939
7.0
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
as Queen Elizabeth
1939
6.3
The Old Maid
as Charlotte Lovell
1939
7.0
Juarez
as Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg
1939
6.5
Dark Victory
as Judith Traherne
1939
7.0
Breakdowns of 1938
as Self (archive footage)
1938
4.7
The Sisters
as Louise Elliott Medlin
1938
5.8
Jezebel
as Julie Marsden
1938
7.0
Breakdowns of 1937
as Self
1937
6.0
It's Love I'm After
as Joyce Arden
1937
7.0
That Certain Woman
as Mary Donnell
1937
5.4
Kid Galahad
as Louise 'Fluff' Phillips
1937
7.0
A Day at Santa Anita
as Bette Davis (uncredited)
1937
5.0
Marked Woman
as Mary Dwight Strauber
1937
6.5
Breakdowns of 1936
as Self
1936
0.0
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
as Self
1936
6.0
Satan Met a Lady
as Valerie Purvis
1936
5.7
The Golden Arrow
as Daisy Appleby
1936
6.1
The Petrified Forest
as Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple
1936
7.1
A Dream Comes True
1935
5.5
Dangerous
as Joyce Heath
1935
6.6
Special Agent
as Julie Gardner
1935
6.2
Front Page Woman
as Ellen Garfield
1935
5.8
The Girl from 10th Avenue
as Miriam A. Brady
1935
6.5
Bordertown
as Mrs. Marie Roark
1935
5.9
Housewife
as Patricia Berkeley
1934
7.7
Of Human Bondage
as Mildred Rogers
1934
6.5
Fog Over Frisco
as Arlene Bradford
1934
6.2
Jimmy the Gent
as Joan Martin
1934
6.3
Fashions of 1934
as Lynn Mason
1934
6.4
The Big Shakedown
as Norma Nelson
1934
5.6
Bureau of Missing Persons
as Norma Roberts
1933
5.6
Ex-Lady
as Helen Bauer
1933
6.1
The Working Man
as Jenny Hartland alias Jane Grey
1933
6.6
The 42nd Street Special
as Self (uncredited)
1933
5.3
Parachute Jumper
as Patricia 'Alabama' Brent
1933
5.9
Just Around the Corner
as Ginger
1933
6.0
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
as Fay Wilson
1932
6.3
Three on a Match
as Ruth Westcott
1932
6.2
The Cabin in the Cotton
as Madge Norwood
1932
6.3
The Dark Horse
as Kay Russell
1932
7.2
The Rich Are Always with Us
as Malbro
1932
4.6
So Big!
as Miss Dallas O'Mara
1932
5.6
The Man Who Played God
as Grace Blair
1932
7.2
Hell's House
as Peggy Gardner
1932
5.1
The Menace
as Peggy Lowell
1932
4.5
Way Back Home
as Mary Lucy Duffy
1931
6.2
Waterloo Bridge
as Janet Cronin
1931
6.9
Seed
as Margaret Carter
1931
6.0
The Bad Sister
as Laura Madison
1931
5.4
Miss Moffat
as Miss Moffat
N/A
0.0