Davis, Bette

Davis, Bette
(1908-1989)
   Future movie star Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in Lowell, Massachusetts. She worked as a secretary before turning to acting in the late 1920s. Her first Broadway role was in 1929. She joined Universal Studios in 1930 and appeared in The Bad Sister in 1931. She moved to Warner Studios and achieved a breakthrough with The Man Who Played God, followed by Of Human Bondage, both in 1934. Davis won an Academy Award for her role in Dangerous (1935) and appeared with Humphrey Bogart in The Petrified Forest (1936). Her second Academy Award came for her acting in Jezebel (1938). Not a conventional star, Davis appeared onscreen and offscreen as a liberated, independent woman. This involved her in some conflict with the studio, and her contract ended in 1949. Nonetheless, she made a number of successful film appearances, including Dark Victory (1939), Watch on the Rhine (1943), and Mr. Skeffington (1944).
   During World War II, Davis made several public appearances to raise war bonds, and in 1942 she was one of several Hollywood stars to established the Hollywood Canteen to cater for servicemen in Los Angeles, California. She was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal in 1980 for her war work. Although her career faltered in the late 1940s, Davis received Academy nominations for her role in All About Eve (1950) and The Star (1952). A major success came later with Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1977, she made her last film appearance in 1987.
   See also Cinema.

Historical Dictionary of the Roosevelt–Truman Era . . 2015.

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  • Davis,Bette — Davis, Bette. Originally Ruth Elizabeth Davis. 1908 1989. American actress who won an Academy Award for Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938). * * * …   Universalium

  • Davis, Bette — in full Ruth Elizabeth Davis born April 5, 1908, Lowell, Mass, U.S. died Oct. 6, 1989, Neuilly sur Seine, France U.S. film actress. She played small parts onstage before going to Hollywood in 1931. After a series of minor roles, she established… …   Universalium

  • Davis, Bette — ► (1908 89) Nombre artístico de Ruth Elizabeth Davis, actriz cinematográfica estadounidense. Películas: La loba y Eva al desnudo, entre otras. * * * p. ext. Ruth Elizabeth Davis (5 abr. 1908, Lowell, Mass. EE.UU.–6 oct. 1989, Neuilly sur Seine,… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Davis, Bette — pseud. di Davis, Ruth Elizabeth …   Sinonimi e Contrari. Terza edizione

  • Bette Davis — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Bette Davis ]] Bette Davis en Now, Voyager (1942).]] Nombre real Ruth Elizabeth Davis …   Wikipedia Español

  • Davis — Davis, Angela Davis, Bette Davis, Copa Davis, Jefferson Davis, John Davis, Miles Dewey * * * (as used in expressions) Davis, Angela (Yvonne) Davis, Benjamin O(liver), Jr. Davis, Bette …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Bette Davis — This article is about the actress. For the song by Kim Carnes, see Bette Davis Eyes. For other people, see Elizabeth Davis (disambiguation). Bette Davis Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis April 5, 1908( …   Wikipedia

  • Bette Davis — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Davis. Bette Davis …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Davis — /day vis/, n. 1. Alexander Jackson, 1803 92, U.S. architect. 2. Benjamin Oliver, 1877 1970, U.S. military officer: first black Army brigadier general. 3. his son, Benjamin Oliver, Jr., born 1912, U.S. military officer: first black Air Force… …   Universalium

  • Bette Davis — noun United States film actress (1908 1989) • Syn: ↑Davis • Instance Hypernyms: ↑actress * * * Bette Davis [Bette Davis] …   Useful english dictionary

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