Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

211

Gender

Female

Birthday

1908-04-05

Day of Death

1989-10-06 (81 years old)

Place of Birth

Lowell, Massachusetts, USA

Also Known As

The First Lady of Film

Ruth Elizabeth Davis

The Fourth Warner Brother

베티 데이비스

Μπέτι Ντέιβις

Бетт Дейвіс

Bette Davis

Biography

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, though 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 Canteen, and was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Her career went through several periods of eclipse, and she admitted that her success had often been at the expense of her personal relationships. Married four times, she was once widowed and thrice divorced, and raised her children as a single parent. Her final years were marred by a long period of ill health, but she continued acting until shortly before her death from breast cancer, with more than 100 films, television and theater roles to her credit. In 1999, Davis was placed second, after Katharine Hepburn, on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of all time.

Known For

Pocketful of Miracles

Pocketful of Miracles

All About Eve

All About Eve

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Death on the Nile

Death on the Nile

Now, Voyager

Now, Voyager

The Bride Came C.O.D.

The Bride Came C.O.D.

The Virgin Queen

The Virgin Queen

The Corn Is Green

The Corn Is Green

The Little Foxes

The Little Foxes

All This, and Heaven Too

All This, and Heaven Too

The Old Maid

The Old Maid

Hollywood Canteen

Hollywood Canteen

The Petrified Forest

The Petrified Forest

The Letter

The Letter

Showbiz Goes to War

Showbiz Goes to War

The Scopone Game

The Scopone Game

The Star

The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse

The Catered Affair

The Catered Affair

June Bride

June Bride

The Adventures of Errol Flynn

The Adventures of Errol Flynn

The Man Who Played God

The Man Who Played God

Right of Way

Right of Way

Housewife

Housewife

Madonna: Madame X

Madonna: Madame X

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

The Disappearance of Aimee

The Disappearance of Aimee

White Mama

White Mama

Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter

Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s

A Piano for Mrs. Cimino

A Piano for Mrs. Cimino

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

Family Reunion

Family Reunion

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

Listen to Me Marlon

Listen to Me Marlon

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano

Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis

Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis

Acting

Pocketful of Miracles

1961

Pocketful of Miracles

as

Apple Annie

All About Eve

1950

All About Eve

as

Margo Channing

Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

1985

Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

as

Self (archive footage)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

1962

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

as

Baby Jane Hudson

The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert

2005

The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert

as

Self (archive footage)

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

1964

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

as

Charlotte Hollis

Jezebel

1938

Jezebel

as

Julie Marsden

Death on the Nile

1978

Death on the Nile

as

Marie Van Schuyler

The Watcher in the Woods

1980

The Watcher in the Woods

as

Mrs. Aylwood

Murder with Mirrors

1985

Murder with Mirrors

as

Carrie Louise Serrocold

Dead Ringer

1964

Dead Ringer

as

Margaret DeLorca / Edith Phillips

Deception

1946

Deception

as

Christine Radcliffe

Marked Woman

1937

Marked Woman

as

Mary Dwight Strauber

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

1982

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

as

(in "Deception") (archive footage)

The Man Who Came to Dinner

1941

The Man Who Came to Dinner

as

Maggie Cutler

Bordertown

1935

Bordertown

as

Mrs. Marie Roark

Now, Voyager

1942

Now, Voyager

as

Charlotte Vale

The Horror Show

1979

The Horror Show

as

(archive footage)

Dark Victory

1939

Dark Victory

as

Judith Traherne

Burnt Offerings

1976

Burnt Offerings

as

Aunt Elizabeth

Satan Met a Lady

1936

Satan Met a Lady

as

Valerie Purvis

Wicked Stepmother

1989

Wicked Stepmother

as

Miranda Pierpoint

Beyond the Forest

1949

Beyond the Forest

as

Rosa Moline

The Bride Came C.O.D.

1941

The Bride Came C.O.D.

as

Joan Winfield

20,000 Years in Sing Sing

1932

20,000 Years in Sing Sing

as

Fay Wilson

Return from Witch Mountain

1978

Return from Witch Mountain

as

Letha Wedge

Three on a Match

1932

Three on a Match

as

Ruth Westcott

Mr. Skeffington

1944

Mr. Skeffington

as

Fanny Trellis

The Cabin in the Cotton

1932

The Cabin in the Cotton

as

Madge Norwood

The Virgin Queen

1955

The Virgin Queen

as

Queen Elizabeth I

Winter Meeting

1948

Winter Meeting

as

Susan Grieve

A Stolen Life

1946

A Stolen Life

as

Kate Bosworth / Patricia Bosworth

The Corn Is Green

1945

The Corn Is Green

as

Miss Lilly Christabel Moffat

Thank Your Lucky Stars

1943

Thank Your Lucky Stars

as

Self

In This Our Life

1942

In This Our Life

as

Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill

The Little Foxes

1941

The Little Foxes

as

Regina Hubbard Giddens

All This, and Heaven Too

1940

All This, and Heaven Too

as

Henriette Deluzy-Desportes

The Great Lie

1941

The Great Lie

as

Maggie Patterson Van Allen

Of Human Bondage

1934

Of Human Bondage

as

Mildred Rogers

The Old Maid

1939

The Old Maid

as

Charlotte Lovell

Storm Center

1956

Storm Center

as

Alicia Hull

Hollywood Canteen

1944

Hollywood Canteen

as

Self

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

1983

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Breakdowns of 1938

1938

Breakdowns of 1938

as

Self (archive footage)

Shining Victory

1941

Shining Victory

as

A Day at Santa Anita

1937

A Day at Santa Anita

as

Bette Davis (uncredited)

A Dream Comes True

1935

A Dream Comes True

as

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

1939

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

as

Queen Elizabeth

The Petrified Forest

1936

The Petrified Forest

as

Gabrielle "Gabby" Maple

The Nanny

1965

The Nanny

as

Nanny

The Letter

1940

The Letter

as

Leslie Crosbie

Watch on the Rhine

1943

Watch on the Rhine

as

Sara Müller

The Whales of August

1987

The Whales of August

as

Libby Strong

Fog Over Frisco

1934

Fog Over Frisco

as

Arlene Bradford

Breakdowns of 1941

1941

Breakdowns of 1941

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Showbiz Goes to War

1982

Showbiz Goes to War

as

(archive footage)

Jimmy the Gent

1934

Jimmy the Gent

as

Joan Martin

Dangerous

1935

Dangerous

as

Joyce Heath

Special Agent

1935

Special Agent

as

Julie Gardner

Bureau of Missing Persons

1933

Bureau of Missing Persons

as

Norma Roberts

Ex-Lady

1933

Ex-Lady

as

Helen Bauer

Kid Galahad

1937

Kid Galahad

as

Louise 'Fluff' Phillips

Where Love Has Gone

1964

Where Love Has Gone

as

Mrs. Gerald Hayden

Another Man's Poison

1951

Another Man's Poison

as

Janet Frobisher

Fashions of 1934

1934

Fashions of 1934

as

Lynn Mason

Old Acquaintance

1943

Old Acquaintance

as

Kit Marlowe

John Paul Jones

1959

John Paul Jones

as

Empress Catherine the Great

Payment on Demand

1951

Payment on Demand

as

Joyce Ramsey (nee Jackson)

Madame Sin

1972

Madame Sin

as

Madame Sin

The Scopone Game

1972

The Scopone Game

as

'A vecchia

Phone Call from a Stranger

1952

Phone Call from a Stranger

as

Marie Hoke

Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood

1987

Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood

as

(archive footage)

Bette and Joan

2017

Bette and Joan

as

Self (archive footage)

The Empty Canvas

1963

The Empty Canvas

as

Dino's Mother

1952

The Star

as

Margaret Elliot

The Anniversary

1968

The Anniversary

as

Mrs. Taggart

Waterloo Bridge

1931

Waterloo Bridge

as

Janet Cronin

Juarez

1939

Juarez

as

Empress Carlotta von Hapsburg

The Dark Horse

1932

The Dark Horse

as

Kay Russell

The Working Man

1933

The Working Man

as

Jenny Hartland alias Jane Grey

The Big Shakedown

1934

The Big Shakedown

as

Norma Nelson

That Certain Woman

1937

That Certain Woman

as

Mary Donnell/Mme Al Haines

Bunny O'Hare

1971

Bunny O'Hare

as

Bunny O'Hare

So Big!

1932

So Big!

as

Miss Dallas O'Mara

It's Love I'm After

1937

It's Love I'm After

as

Joyce Arden

The Rich Are Always with Us

1932

The Rich Are Always with Us

as

Malbro

The Catered Affair

1956

The Catered Affair

as

Mrs. Agnes Hurley

June Bride

1948

June Bride

as

Linda Gilman

The Sisters

1938

The Sisters

as

Louise Elliott Medlin

The Adventures of Errol Flynn

2005

The Adventures of Errol Flynn

as

Queen Elizabeth (archive footage)

Hairway to the Stars

1989

Hairway to the Stars

as

Self [Archive Footage]

The Scapegoat

1959

The Scapegoat

as

Countess

The Man Who Played God

1932

The Man Who Played God

as

Grace Blair

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

2018

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

as

Self (archive footage)

The Bad Sister

1931

The Bad Sister

as

Laura Madison

Front Page Woman

1935

Front Page Woman

as

Ellen Garfield

Hell's House

1932

Hell's House

as

Peggy Gardner

Parachute Jumper

1933

Parachute Jumper

as

Patricia 'Alabama' Brent

Backstory: 'All About Eve'

2000

Backstory: 'All About Eve'

as

Self (archive footage)

Way Back Home

1931

Way Back Home

as

Mary Lucy Duffy

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

1982

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

as

Self (archive footage)

Scream, Pretty Peggy

1973

Scream, Pretty Peggy

as

Mrs. Elliott

Right of Way

1983

Right of Way

as

Miniature Dwyer

Housewife

1934

Housewife

as

Patricia Berkeley

Madonna: Madame X

2021

Madonna: Madame X

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Girl from 10th Avenue

1935

The Girl from 10th Avenue

as

Miriam A. Brady

The Golden Arrow

1936

The Golden Arrow

as

Daisy Appleby

The Menace

1932

The Menace

as

Peggy Lowell

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

1986

Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

as

Self (from All About Eve [1950]) (archive footage)

The Disappearance of Aimee

1976

The Disappearance of Aimee

as

Minnie Kennedy

Just Around the Corner

1933

Just Around the Corner

as

Ginger

Seed

1931

Seed

as

Margaret Carter

Connecting Rooms

1970

Connecting Rooms

as

Wanda Fleming

White Mama

1980

White Mama

as

Estelle Malone

Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter

1979

Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter

as

Lucy Mason

Skyward

1980

Skyward

as

Billie Dupree

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

Going Hollywood: The '30s

as

(archive footage)

A Piano for Mrs. Cimino

1982

A Piano for Mrs. Cimino

as

Esther McDonald Cimino

The Decorator

1965

The Decorator

as

Liz

Bette Davis at the Cinémathèque Française

1986

Bette Davis at the Cinémathèque Française

as

Herself

Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

1994

Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill

as

Self (archive footage)

Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

2006

Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition

as

Self (archive footage)

Jezebel: Legend of the South

2006

Jezebel: Legend of the South

as

Self (archive footage)

A Present with a Future

1943

A Present with a Future

as

Mother

Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored

2013

Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored

as

Self (archive footage)

As Summers Die

1986

As Summers Die

as

Hannah Loftin

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

2006

Stardust: The Bette Davis Story

as

Self (archive footage)

The Andy Williams Christmas Show

1962

The Andy Williams Christmas Show

as

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

1996

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

as

Self (archive footage)

Mike Wallace Is Here

2019

Mike Wallace Is Here

as

(archive footage)

Always at The Carlyle

2018

Always at The Carlyle

as

Self (archive footage)

Family Reunion

1981

Family Reunion

as

Elizabeth Winfield

The Judge and Jake Wyler

1972

The Judge and Jake Wyler

as

Judge Meredith

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

2001

Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies

as

Self (archive footage)

Breakdowns of 1936

1936

Breakdowns of 1936

as

Self

All About Bette

1994

All About Bette

as

Self

Faye

2024

Faye

as

Self - Actor (archive footage)

The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor

1973

The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor

as

Self (archive footage)

Faye

2024

Faye

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Listen to Me Marlon

2015

Listen to Me Marlon

as

Self (archive footage)

Breakdowns of 1937

1937

Breakdowns of 1937

as

Self

Breakdowns of 1939

1939

Breakdowns of 1939

as

Self

Breakdowns of 1944

1944

Breakdowns of 1944

as

Self

Breakdowns of 1949

1949

Breakdowns of 1949

as

Self

Show-Business at War

1943

Show-Business at War

as

Self

If I Forget You

1940

If I Forget You

as

Bette Davis

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

1940

Cavalcade of the Academy Awards

as

Self

Complicated Women

2003

Complicated Women

as

Self (archive footage)

Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

2002

Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

as

Self (archive footage)

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

1988

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

as

Self (archive footage)

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

1936

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

as

Self

Bette Davis: Larger Than Life

2017

Bette Davis: Larger Than Life

as

Self (archive footage)

Hello Mother, Goodbye!

1974

Hello Mother, Goodbye!

as

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

2009

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

as

Self (archive footage)

Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano

1983

Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano

as

Self

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

2007

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

as

Self (archive footage)

The Voice That Thrilled the World

1943

The Voice That Thrilled the World

as

Self (segment 'Dangerous') (archive footage)

Stars on Horseback

1943

Stars on Horseback

as

Frank Capra's American Dream

1997

Frank Capra's American Dream

as

Self (archive footage)

And the Oscar Goes To...

2014

And the Oscar Goes To...

as

Self (archive footage)

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

1997

The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

as

Self (archive footage)

Directed by William Wyler

1986

Directed by William Wyler

as

Self

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

2014

Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire

as

Self - Actress (archive footage)

The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka

2009

The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka

as

Self (archive footage)

Breakdowns of 1942

1942

Breakdowns of 1942

as

Self

Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis

1996

Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis

as

Self (archive footage)

Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis

2009

Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis

as

Self (archive footage)

Footsteps on the Ceiling

2013

Footsteps on the Ceiling

as

Margo Channing (archive footage)

The 42nd Street Special

1933

The 42nd Street Special

as

Self (uncredited)

Night of 100 Stars

1982

Night of 100 Stars

as

Self

Bette Davis

1972

Bette Davis

as

Self

Miss Moffat

Miss Moffat

as

Miss Moffat

Mickey's 50

1978

Mickey's 50

as

Self

Bride of Trailer Camp

2001

Bride of Trailer Camp

as

(Archival)

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

as

Constant Doyle

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke

as

Etta Stone

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

as

Miss Burrows

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as

Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, Aimee's mother

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as

Miss Fox

The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace

as

Self

The Virginian

The Virginian

as

Celia Miller

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as

Irene Van Buren

The 20th Century Fox Hour

The 20th Century Fox Hour

as

Marie Hoke

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

as

Self

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

as

Self

The Dark Secret of Harvest Home

The Dark Secret of Harvest Home

as

Widow Fortune

Telephone Time

Telephone Time

as

The Oscars

The Oscars

as

Self

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

as

Sarah Whitney

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Kennedy Center Honors

as

Self

Talking Pictures

Talking Pictures

as

Self (archive footage)

Wagon Train

Wagon Train

as

Ella Lindstrom

Intimate Portrait

Intimate Portrait

as

Self (archive footage)

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

as

Christine Marlowe

Little Gloria... Happy at Last

Little Gloria... Happy at Last

as

Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt

Hello Mother, Goodbye!

Hello Mother, Goodbye!

as

Mother

V.I.P. Schaukel

V.I.P. Schaukel

as

Self

It Takes a Thief

It Takes a Thief

as

Bessie Grindel

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

as

Self - Guest

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

as

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

as

Self - Presenter

Suspicion

Suspicion

as

Mrs. Wilfred Ellis

The Ford Television Theatre

The Ford Television Theatre

as

Dolley Madison

Reflets de Cannes

Reflets de Cannes

as

Self

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

as

Self - Co-Host

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Presenter

Dinah!

Dinah!

as

Self

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

as

Self

Laugh-In

Laugh-In

as

Guest Performer

Production

A Stolen Life

1946

A Stolen Life

as

Crew

Directing