These Rare Photos of Bette Davis Just Resurfaced

She ruled Hollywood’s Golden Age with eyes that could slice steel. Breakthrough as toxic Mildred in Of Human Bondage shook the industry. She captivated audiences with her fierce gaze and unyielding spirit. She embodied Hollywood’s golden era, defying norms as a trailblazing star. Her roles often mirrored her bold personality and sharp wit.

Her Story the Rise of Bette Davis

Full Name: Ruth Elizabeth Davis

Date of Birth: April 5, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Place of Birth: Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

Date of Death: October 6, 1989 aged 81

Place of Death: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Cause of Death: Breast cancer with metastases

Place of Birth: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States

Nationality & Ethnicity: American; English, Welsh, and French ancestry

Nicknames:
• The First Lady of Film
• The Fourth Warner Brother

Family

Father Name: Harlow Morrell Davis

Mother Name: Ruth Augusta Davis

Sister: Barbara Harriet Davis

Bete Davis Boyfriends:

• George Brent
• Howard Hughes
• William Wyler
• Franchot Tone

Romantic Relationships & MarriagesBete Davis Husbands:
• Harmon Nelson
• Arthur Farnsworth
• William Grant
• Gary Merrill

Daughter Names:
• Barbara Davis Hyman
• Margot

Son Name:
• Michael Merrill

Pets: Beloved terrier named Tibby; later dachshunds in the Merrill years

Physical Traits:

Bete Davis Height: 5 ft 3 in

Height in Centimeters: 160 cm

Body Measurements: 34-25-35

Bete Davis Weight: 48 kg

Weight in Pounds: 105 lbs

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Brown

Education or Acting Training

• Attended Crestalban boarding school from 1915 to 1921 for basics.
• Completed high school at Cushing Academy by 1926 graduation.
• Studied drama at the John Murray Anderson School in 1928.
• Auditioned for Eva Le Gallienne’s theater group around 1928.

Hobbies & Interests

• Collecting antique dolls
• Oil painting seascapes
• Penning witty letters and memoirs
• Dancing sparked her early passion, which later shifted to acting.

Bete Davis Movies

• Bad Sister 1931
• Of Human Bondage, 1934.
• Dangerous 1935.
• Jezebel 1938.
• Dark Victory, 1939.
• The Letter highlighted 1940.
• Voyager 1942.
• All About Eve 1950.
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962.
• Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte, 1964.
• Death on the Nile, 1978.
• The Whales of August 1987.

Bete Davis TV Shows

• Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter, 1979.
• White Mama 1980.
• Little Gloria… Happy at Last, 1982.
• Murder with Mirrors, 1985.

Major Awards and Recognitions

• Academy Award for Best Actress in Dangerous, 1935.
• Academy Award for Best Actress in Jezebel, 1938.
• Emmy Award for Strangers in 1979 for a television role.
• AFI Lifetime Achievement Award honored her in 1977.
• The Kennedy Center Honors celebrated her legacy in 1987.

Business Ventures

• Co-founded B.D. Hyman Productions with her daughter, 1970s
• Endorsed Max Factor “Bette Davis Eyes” makeup line, 1981
• Invested in Santa Malibu real estate during Warner Bros. peak

Philanthropy or Advocacy Work

• She co-founded the Hollywood Canteen in 1942 to entertain servicemen and women.
• Lifelong supporter of the American Cancer Society after mastectomy in 1983.

Interesting or Lesser-Known Fun Facts

• Took the name “Bette” from Balzac’s La Cousine Bette
• Once filled Joan Crawford’s Pepsi set with Coca-Cola machines
• Wrote thank-you notes to Kim Carnes for “Bette Davis Eyes,” 1981
• Featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 2008.
• Feuded famously with Joan Crawford for decades.

Controversies

• Bette sued Warner Bros. for better roles in 1936.
• Her feud with Joan Crawford fueled Hollywood gossip endlessly.
• Daughter’s tell-all book caused family rift in 1985.
• Affair with Howard Hughes led to divorce drama.

Bete Davis Net Worth at the time of Death

• One million dollars.