Bette Davis

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Bette Davis
Studio publicity photo, c. 1935
Born	Ruth Elizabeth Davis April 5, 1908(1908-04-05) Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	October 6, 1989(1989-10-06) (aged 81) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Cause of death	Breast cancer
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1929–89
Spouse	Harmon Nelson (1932–38) Arthur Farnsworth (1940–43) William Grant Sherry (1945–50) Gary Merrill (1950–1960)
Children	Barbara Merrill, born on (1947-05-01) May 1, 1947 (age 64) Michael Merrill Margot Merrill

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, although 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

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