Lauren Bacall

Lauren Bacall: A Retrospective

Early Life

Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City to Jewish immigrants. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised by her mother in Brooklyn. Bacall attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began her acting career on the stage.

Film Career

Bacall's breakthrough role came in the 1944 film To Have and Have Not, directed by Howard Hawks. In this film, she played the role of Marie "Slim" Browning, and famously delivered the line, "If you want anything, just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you? Just put your lips together and blow." Bacall's performance in To Have and Have Not earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Bacall went on to star in a number of other classic films, including The Big Sleep (1946), Dark Passage (1947), and Key Largo (1948). She often played the role of the femme fatale, and her sultry voice and smoky eyes made her a popular pin-up girl.

Personal Life

Bacall was married four times. Her first marriage was to actor Humphrey Bogart, whom she met on the set of To Have and Have Not. They were married from 1945 until Bogart's death in 1957. Bacall later married actor Jason Robards, with whom she had two children. They divorced in 1969. Bacall's third marriage was to actor John Huston in 1979. They were married for six years until Huston's death in 1987.

Bacall's fourth marriage was to actor Robert Ryan in 1994. They were married until Ryan's death in 2003.

Bacall won two Tony Awards for her work on Broadway. She also received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997.

Later Years

Bacall continued to act in television and film throughout her later years and published her autobiography, By Myself, in 1978. She also wrote several other books, including a memoir about her life with Bogart and a collection of essays.

Bacall died of a stroke on August 12, 2014, at the age of 89.

Legacy

Lauren Bacall was a iconic actress who made a significant contribution to cinema. She was known for her beauty, her intelligence, and her smoky-voiced delivery.

Bacall is well-known for her role in the film noir genre. She remains one of the most iconic and admired actresses of all time.