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Biography
Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924 in
New York City. Her parents were middle-class with her father
working as a salesman and her mother as a secretary. They divorced
when she was five. When she was a young sbackchool girl, Lauren
originally wanted to be a dancer, but later became enthralled with
acting so she switched gears to head into that field. She had
studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, after
high school, which enabled her to get her feet wet in some
off-Broadway productions. Once out of school, Lauren entered
modeling and, because of her beauty, appeared on the cover of
Harper's Bazaar, one of the most popular magazines in the US. The
wife of famed director, Howard Hawks spotted the picture in the
publication and arranged with her husband to have Lauren take a
screen test. As a result, which was entirely positive, she was
given a part as Marie Browning in TO HAVE OR HAVE NOT (1944), a
thriller opposite the great Humphrey Bogart, when she was just 19
years old. This not only set the tone for a fabulous career, but
also one of Hollywood's greatest love stories. (She married him in
1945.) It was, also, the first of several Bogie-Bacall films. After
1945's CONFIDENTIAL AGENT, Lauren received second billing in THE
BIG SLEEP (1946) with Bogart. The mystery, in the role of Vivian
Sternwood Rutledge, would be a resounding success. Although she was
making one film a year, each production would be eagerly awaited by
the public. In 1947, again with her husband, Lauren starred in the
thriller DARK PASSAGE. The film kept movie patrons on the edge of
their seats. The following year she starred with Bogart, Edward G.
Robinson, and Lionel Barrymore in KEY LARGO. The crime drama was
even more of a nail biter than the previous film. In 1950, Lauren
played in BRIGHT LEAF (1950), a drama set in 1894. It was a film of
note because she appeared without her husband. Her co-star was Gary
Cooper. In 1953, Lauren appeared in her first comedy as Schatze
Page in HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE. The film, with co-stars Marilyn
Monroe and Betty Grable, was a smash hit all across the theaters of
America. After filming DESIGNING WOMEN which was released in 1957,
Humphrey Bogart died on January 14, 1957 from throat cancer.
Devastated at being a widow, Lauren returned to the silver screen
with THE GIFT OF LOVE in 1958 opposite Gregory Peck. The production
turned out to be a big disappointment. Not undaunted, Lauren moved
back to New York City and appeared in several Broadway plays to
huge critical acclaim. She was enjoying playing before live
audiences and the audiences in turn enjoyed her fine performances.
Lauren was away from the big screen for five years returning in
1964 to appear in SHOCK TREATMENT and SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL. The
latter film was a comedy starring Henry Fonda and Tony Curtis. In
1966, Lauren starred in HARPER with Paul Newman and Julie Harris.
It was one of Newman's signature films. Alternating her time
between films and the stage, Lauren returned in 1974's MURDER ON
THE ORIENT EXPRESS. The film, based on Agatha Christie's best
selling book was a huge hit. It, also, garnered Ingrid Bergman her
third Oscar. Actually, the huge star studded cast helped to ensure
its success. Two years later, in 1976, Lauren co-starred with John
Wayne in THE SHOOTIST. The film was to be Wayne's last. He died
from cancer in 1979. In 1981, Lauren played an actress being
stalked by a crazed admirer in THE FAN. The thriller was absolutely
fascinating with Lauren in the lead role. After that production,
Lauren was away from films, again, this time for seven years. In
the interim, she again appeared on the stages of Broadway. When she
returned, it was for the filming of 1988's MR. NORTH. After MISERY,
in 1990, and several made for television films, Lauren appeared in
1996's MY FELLOW AMERICANS. It was a wonderful comedy romp with
Jack Lemmon and James Garner as two ex-presidents and their
escapades. Lauren's last public performance was in the TV
mini-series "Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke". Currently
she has completed two films scheduled for release in 1999, DIAMONDS
and JOHNNY HIT AND RUN PAULINE. Both are in different phases of
production.
Biography courtesy of the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com).
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Lauren Bacall
