LAUREN BACALL - dies aged 89 - R.I.P.

Lauren Bacall died of a Stroke on Tuesday 12th August 2014 at her New York home. Born Betty Joan Perske on 12th September 1924, she died aged 89.

Born in New York City, at school age she had sights set on becoming a dancer, but was later enticed into an acting career. After High School she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which in turn led to some theatre productions in which she starred. Once out of school she embarked on a modelling career and appeared on the cover of 'Harpers Bazaar' magazine which came to the attention of the wife of renowned Hollywood Director, Howard Hawks. She persuaded him to have her audition for a role in the 1944 film 'To Have and Have Not' opposite Humphrey Bogart - she was 19 years of age. A year later in 1945 the two were married - she was 20 years old.

Bacall subsequently went on to star in a number of films opposite her husband - 'The Big Sleep', 'Dark Passage' and 'Key Largo' in 1948. In the early 50's she starred with Gary Cooper in period drama 'Dark Leaf' and then her first comedy 'How to Marry a Millionaire' with Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable in 1953. In 1957 Bogart died of throat cancer, but she returned a year later to the big screen in 'The Gift of Love'.

In between films at the latter end of the 50's and the mid 60's she starred, to much critical acclaim, in a number of Broadway plays before returning to the silver screen with 'Sex and the Single Girl' alongside Henry Fonda and Tony Curtis, and then 'Harper' with Paul Newman. Following another prolonged break from films she returned in 1974 in the star studded Agatha Christie screen adaptation of 'Murder on the Orient Express', and two years later in John Wayne's last film 'The Shootist'.

As the 80's and 90's wore on she became more selective with her roles with the likes of 'The Fan', 'Misery', 'Pret-a-Porter', 'The Mirror Has Two Faces' and 'My Fellow Americans' as being the highlights. Then since the turn of the century Bacall had appeared in the likes of 'Dogville', 'Manderlay', Birth', 'The Walker', 'The Forger' and 'Wide Blue Yonder', and as well, there were several TV movies and TV series appearances which continued right up to her death - with 'Trouble is my Business' still filming at the time of her passing.

In 1961 she married actor Jason Robards whom she divorced in 1969. With Bogart and Robards she had three children - sons Sam Robards and Stephen Bogart, and a daughter Leslie Bogart.

She had 72 acting credits to her name, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2010, and nominated in 1997 for 'The Mirror Has Two Faces'. She won the Golden Globe in 1997 for 'The Mirror Has Two Faces' and in 1993 received the Cecil B. DeMille Award. She also received two BAFTA nominations - in 1997 for 'The Mirror Has Two Faces' and in 1977 for 'The Shootist'. All up 20 lifetime worldwide award wins and a further nine nominations.

She was known for her husky voice, her deep piercing eyes and her sultry good looks. A true Hollywood screen legend from the golden era of film making whose off screen persona was almost as renowned as her on screen performances.

Lauren Bacall
Rest In Peace
1924-2014.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-