Lauren Bacall at Reel Classics: Biography

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Lauren Bacall

Biography:

BETTY JOAN PERSKE was born in New York City on September 16, 1924. After doing some modeling she made her first film TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT (1944) with Humphrey Bogart at age 19. They went on to star in three more noteworthy films: THE BIG SLEEP (1946), DARK PASSAGE (1947), and KEY LARGO (1948). She later married Bogart (who was 25 years her senior) and they had two children.

Bacall was famous for her tough talk and husky voice as well as sultry good looks in many of classic Hollywood's famous film noirs, but went on a hiatus from movies in the late 60's and early 70's. During this time she did some work on the stage including an award winning Broadway performance in Applause in 1970. In 1974 she returned to the screen to lead a star-studded cast in Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, also starring Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Albert Finny, and Vanessa Redgrave.

She was married to second husband Jason Robards, Jr. from 1961 to 1969, and in 1979 Bacall published an autobiography, Lauren Bacall, By Myself. In 1996 she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES.

Biographical information from Cinemania '95.

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