# 4350 - 2008 42c Legends of Hollywood: Bette Davis
U.S. #4350
Bette Davis
Legends of Hollywood Series
Issue Date: September 18, 2008
City: Boston, MA
Happy Birthday Bette Davis
Known as “Betty” from an early age, she attended a Spartan boarding school before moving with her family to New York City in 1921. It was around this time that she changed her name to “Bette” after Honoré de Balzac’s novel La Cousine Bette.
The following year Davis moved to Hollywood for her first screen test. Though her first two screen tests didn’t go well, cinematographer Karl Freund remarked that she had “lovely eyes” and recommended her for a part in Bad Sister, which would mark her film debut. Davis then had small parts in a string of unsuccessful movies, which led to plan to move back to New York. But then actor George Arliss suggested she play the female lead in The Man Who Played God. The film was a success and Davis always credited Arliss with helping her get her break in Hollywood.
Davis and many others were surprised that she wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Of Human Bondage. However, she did win one the following year for her role in Dangerous. Davis’ next film was The Petrified Forest, which was also Humphrey Bogart’s first major role.
Davis continued to appear in films and on television. In 1979, she was given a Best Actress Emmy. Davis continued to work into the 1980s and also wrote some autobiographies in later life. Her final role was in The Whales of August in 1987. Davis appeared in over 100 films, and was the first actress to receive ten Academy Award nominations. She was also the first woman to receive the American Film Institute’s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Suffering from cancer in her later years, Davis died on October 6, 1989.
U.S. #4350
Bette Davis
Legends of Hollywood Series
Issue Date: September 18, 2008
City: Boston, MA
Happy Birthday Bette Davis
Known as “Betty” from an early age, she attended a Spartan boarding school before moving with her family to New York City in 1921. It was around this time that she changed her name to “Bette” after Honoré de Balzac’s novel La Cousine Bette.
The following year Davis moved to Hollywood for her first screen test. Though her first two screen tests didn’t go well, cinematographer Karl Freund remarked that she had “lovely eyes” and recommended her for a part in Bad Sister, which would mark her film debut. Davis then had small parts in a string of unsuccessful movies, which led to plan to move back to New York. But then actor George Arliss suggested she play the female lead in The Man Who Played God. The film was a success and Davis always credited Arliss with helping her get her break in Hollywood.
Davis and many others were surprised that she wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Of Human Bondage. However, she did win one the following year for her role in Dangerous. Davis’ next film was The Petrified Forest, which was also Humphrey Bogart’s first major role.
Davis continued to appear in films and on television. In 1979, she was given a Best Actress Emmy. Davis continued to work into the 1980s and also wrote some autobiographies in later life. Her final role was in The Whales of August in 1987. Davis appeared in over 100 films, and was the first actress to receive ten Academy Award nominations. She was also the first woman to receive the American Film Institute’s highest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Suffering from cancer in her later years, Davis died on October 6, 1989.