Bette Davis – Life, Death, and Enduring Legacy
Bette Davis remains one of the most formidable figures in Hollywood history, a two-time Academy Award winner whose career stretched from the silent era to the 1980s. Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis on April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts, she defied studio expectations and carved a path as a fiercely independent actress. Her life off-screen was equally dramatic, marked by four marriages, three children, and a final battle with cancer.
Davis died on October 6, 1989 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France at the age of 81. The cause was metastasized breast cancer, according to records from the time. Her death closed a chapter on one of cinema’s most enduring legacies, but her influence continues to resonate through her films and the cultural touchstone that is the song “Bette Davis Eyes.”
From her breakthrough in Of Human Bondage to her Oscar-winning turns in Dangerous and Jezebel, Davis defined what it meant to be a serious actress in Hollywood’s Golden Age. She was also the first woman to serve as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, though her tenure was brief and contentious.
What Did Bette Davis Die Of?
April 5, 1908, Lowell, Massachusetts
October 6, 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Harmon Nelson, Arthur Farnsworth, William Grant Sherry, Gary Merrill
All About Eve, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Jezebel
Key Insights
- Davis was known for her intense acting style and distinctive voice, often playing strong-willed women.
- She won two Academy Awards and was nominated 10 times, a record for actresses at the time.
- Her personal life was marked by four marriages and a strained relationship with her daughter.
- The song “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes became a global hit in 1981, cementing her cultural legacy.
- She became the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1941.
- Her later years included a mastectomy and a stroke, followed by continuing health problems.
Snapshot Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ruth Elizabeth Davis |
| Birth | April 5, 1908 |
| Death | October 6, 1989 (age 81) |
| Cause of Death | Metastasized breast cancer |
| Spouses | Harmon Nelson (1932–1938), Arthur Farnsworth (1940–1943), William Grant Sherry (1945–1950), Gary Merrill (1950–1960) |
| Children | Three, including Barbara Davis (later B.D. Hyman) |
| Oscars | Two wins (Dangerous 1935, Jezebel 1938), 10 nominations |
| Net Worth | Estimated $2–$5 million at death (1970s financial struggles) |
Who Was Bette Davis Married To?
Davis was married four times, and each relationship was marked by intensity and public scrutiny. Her first husband was musician Harmon Nelson, whom she married in 1932 and divorced in 1938. She then married Arthur Farnsworth in 1940; he died suddenly three years later. Her third marriage was to William Grant Sherry (1945–1950), and her final marriage was to actor Gary Merrill (1950–1960).
The marriages to Sherry and Merrill were particularly turbulent. Davis and Merrill adopted a daughter, B.D., and later had a second daughter, but the relationship ended in a bitter divorce. According to accounts, Davis’s relationship with her daughter remained strained for the rest of her life.
Davis had three children, but the names of two are often reported as Ruthie and Bobbie in biographical sources. Her eldest daughter, Barbara (known as B.D. Hyman), wrote a memoir that portrayed a difficult upbringing, which Davis publicly disputed.
Did Bette Davis Have Children?
Yes, she had three children. With her first husband Harmon Nelson she had a daughter named Barbara. With Gary Merrill she had a daughter named Margot, who died shortly after birth, and they adopted a second daughter, also named Barbara, who later became known as B.D. Hyman. The relationship with B.D. was notably fraught.
What Are the Most Iconic Bette Davis Movies?
Davis’s filmography spans more than 80 pictures, but a handful stand out as career-defining. Her first major success was Of Human Bondage (1934), though she did not receive an Oscar nomination for it. She won her first Academy Award the following year for Dangerous (1935), and her second for Jezebel (1938).
The 1940s brought a string of critically acclaimed performances in The Letter, The Little Foxes, Now, Voyager, Watch on the Rhine, and The Corn Is Green. Her career experienced a resurgence with All About Eve (1950), which earned her another Oscar nomination, and the psychological thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), which also earned a nomination. For a broader look at the era, see Other Golden Age Actresses.
After her 1960s comeback, Davis continued working into the 1980s. Notable late films include Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), Death on the Nile (1979), and The Whales of August (1987), her final major film role.
What Was Bette Davis Like as a Young Actress?
Davis began acting in Broadway plays before moving to Hollywood in 1930. Her early films for Universal Pictures were unsuccessful, but after joining Warner Bros. in 1932, she quickly established herself as a serious performer. She became a star with Of Human Bondage and was known for her willingness to take on unsympathetic roles, a trait that set her apart from many of her contemporaries.
What Was Bette Davis’s Personality Like?
Contemporaries described Davis as strong-willed, combative, and fiercely dedicated to her craft. She had a reputation for speaking her mind, even when it meant clashing with studio executives or co-stars. Her public persona matched the forceful characters she often played on screen. She was also known for a dry wit and a distinctive, clipped speaking style that became iconic.
What Was Bette Davis’s Net Worth?
A precise figure for Davis’s net worth at the time of her death is not available from the primary sources. Estimates from biographical sources place it in the range of $2 million to $5 million, though some accounts indicate she faced financial difficulties in the 1970s due to a combination of taxes, legal fees, and a lavish lifestyle.
The available research does not provide a verified net worth. The estimates vary and should be treated with caution. No official estate documents have been made publicly available to confirm any specific figure.
What Is the Song ‘Bette Davis Eyes’?
“Bette Davis Eyes” is a song written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, recorded by Kim Carnes and released in 1981. It became a massive international hit, spending nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics reference Davis’s striking eyes and her independent, glamorous image. Davis herself reportedly enjoyed the song and received a gold record from Carnes.
The song has since become a cultural touchstone, introducing Davis’s persona to a new generation and cementing her status as an enduring icon of classic Hollywood.
Timeline: Key Events in Bette Davis’s Life
- 1908 – Born in Lowell, Massachusetts.
- 1929 – Moved to Hollywood; screen test.
- 1935 – First Best Actress Oscar win for Dangerous.
- 1938 – Second Oscar win for Jezebel.
- 1950 – Marries third husband Gary Merrill.
- 1962 – What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? revitalizes career.
- 1981 – Song “Bette Davis Eyes” released.
- 1989 – Died from metastasized breast cancer.
Established Facts and Unclear Details
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Cause of death: metastasized breast cancer | Exact net worth at death (estimates vary from $2 million to $5 million) |
| Marriage dates and spouse names | Details of her final years and financial struggles are subject to interpretation |
| Academy Award wins and nominations | The extent of the feud with Joan Crawford has often been dramatized |
| Date and place of birth and death | Precise number and names of children are inconsistently reported in some sources |
Why Does Bette Davis Still Matter?
Bette Davis remains a towering figure in Hollywood history, known for her refusal to conform to studio expectations and her ability to portray complex, often abrasive women. Her legacy extends beyond film into popular culture via the iconic song. Financially, she faced challenges later in life but left an indelible mark on acting. She won the first American Film Institute Life Achievement Award in 1977 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1987. Her films continue to be restored and celebrated in retrospectives, and the song “Bette Davis Eyes” still streams millions of times annually. For those interested in the era, you can read more about Other Golden Age Actresses.
Sources and Notable Quotes
“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
– Margo Channing in All About Eve (1950)
“I was a character actress from the start.”
– Bette Davis, in an interview
“The Lonely Life”
– Title of her 1962 autobiography
Key sources for this article include: Wikipedia – Bette Davis, Britannica – Bette Davis, IMDb – Bette Davis, Kennedy Center – Bette Davis, Official Bette Davis Website, and Vanity Fair – Bette Davis Autobiography.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Bette Davis’s personality like?
She was known as strong-willed, combative, and intensely dedicated to her craft. Contemporaries noted her dry wit and willingness to take on unsympathetic roles.
What was Bette Davis like as a young actress?
She began on Broadway and moved to Hollywood in 1930. Early films were unsuccessful, but she broke through after joining Warner Bros. in 1932 and became a star with Of Human Bondage.
How many Oscars did Bette Davis win?
She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: for Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938). She received a total of 10 nominations.
Did Bette Davis have a feud with Joan Crawford?
Yes, a well-documented rivalry existed between them, especially during the filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The extent of the feud has been dramatized in later portrayals.
What is Bette Davis’s most famous quote?
Probably “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night” from All About Eve. Her autobiography is titled The Lonely Life.
How old was Bette Davis when she died?
She was 81 years old at the time of her death on October 6, 1989.
What was Bette Davis’s last film?
Her final major film role was in The Whales of August (1987), co-starring Lillian Gish.
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