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Born
The Bronx, New York, NY
Born as Betty Joan Perske to Natalie Weinstein-Bacal, a Romanian Jewish immigrant and to William Perske, a Polish Jewish. Her parents later divorced when she was five and she became estranged from her father. Growing up, her family was middle class. -
Working in the Theatre
As a teenager, Bacall became obsessed with the idea of working in theatre. She began taking lessons at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and even went on to work as an usher at the St. James Theatre just to get closer to the stage. -
Harper's Bazaar
In the height of her modelling career, Bacall appears in what is now deemed an "iconic" cover of Harper's Bazaar. The cover caught the attention of "Slim" Hawks, Howard Hawks wife. She demanded he have her take a screen test for the role in To Have and Have Not. Hawks requested his secretary to contact Bacall for a screen test, but she misunderstood and sent Bacall a ticket to Hollywood for the audition. Thus begun Lauren Bacall's film career. -
To Have and Have Not cont.
Set in France, fishing captain Harry (Bogart) avoids getting involved in politics, and refuses to smuggle French Resistance fighters into Martinique. That is, until he is persuaded by Slim (Bacall), and his best friend Eddie is captured and held hostage. In order to free Eddie, he must fight for the resistance.
To Have and Have not originated the famous line said by 19-year old Lauren Bacall, "You know how to whistle, don't you Steve? You just put your lips together and blow." -
To Have and Have Not
To Have and Have not is the movie that began Lauren Bacall's career. It was directed by Howard Hawks, a director Bacall would work closely with over the next few years. It starred Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, and it would later come out that it was on the set of this film that there romance began. At the time, she was 19 and he was 45. He was also on his third marriage to Mayo Methot. This movie made Bacall who she is, coining the "Look" and introducing her to the world of film. -
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Marriage to Bogart
Their marriage ended when Bogart died of esophagus cancer in 1957. -
The Big Sleep
Bogart plays private investigator Phillip Marlowe, who is hired by Gen. Sternwood to help resolve the gambling problems of his youngest daughter, Carmen. However, when his eldest daughter Vivian (Bacall) suggests that the issue is deeper than this, the case becomes complicated as people close to the Sternwoods start getting killed off. -
The Big Sleep cont.
Bacall's second movie, once again costarring alongside Humphrey Bogart. It was also directed by Howard Hawks, who relied on Bogart and Bacall's chemistry to make his films successful.
Hawks signed Bacall to a seven year contract immediatley follwoing the success of To Have and Have Not, and wanted to push out as many movies with Bogart and Bacall as he could. -
Dark Passage
The film centres around Vincent Parry (Bogart), a man who has just escaped from prison for a crime he did not commit. Parry finds that his face is inhibiting him, it is posted around the city on "Wanted" posters. He decides that he must get a new face, he goes to a plastic surgeon to have his replaced. After getting a ride out of town, he runs into a young woman (Bacall) who lets him stay with her despite his alleged criminal past. They fall in love as Parry continues to try and clear his name. -
Dark Passage cont.
The Big Sleep was Bacall's fourth movie, her third with her now husband Bogart. The film is interesting because it is filmed entirely from Bogart's point of view, up until he gets his new face. Once this happens, it is filmed like any other movie. -
Key Largo
Bogart plays World War II veteran Frank McCloud, who visits Key Largo to pay respect to the family of his fellow veteran who has passed away. He tries to comfort his friends widow, Nora (Bacall) and her father, who operate a hotel in the area. Unfortunately, mobsters who are staying in the hotel soon take over and conflict is inevitable. -
Stephen Humphrey Bogart born
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The Original Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a nickname for a group of Hollywood actors that were all friends, including Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. Other members included Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Sid Luft, Swifty Lazar, Nathaniel Benchley, David Niven, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, George Cukor, Cary Grant, Rex Harrison, and Jimmy Van Heusen. Bacall mentions most of these friends more than once in her autoboigraphy. The group disbanded after Bogarts death, around the 1960's. -
Young Man with a Horn
Kirk Douglas stars as Rick Martin, a man who has virtually no direction in life before he discovers he has a knack for the trumpet. His life suddenly takes off and he is performing at the hottest jazz clubs. He soon becomes obsessed with his new lifestyle, which drives away those close to him. However, it draws in others such as high-brow socialite Amy North (Lauren Bacall). -
The African Queen
The African Queen is a movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Despite not being in the film herself, Bacall spent much of her time in the Congo and in Uganda with Bogart while filming. During this time, she became close friends with Katharine Hepburn - a friendship that would last both of their lifetimes. Bacall describes the experience as interesting, there were lots of bugs and sickness, which was not something she was used to growing up in New York City. -
Leslie Bogart born
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How To Marry a Millionaire
Three women share a common goal - they all wish to marry a millionaire. Bacall stars as Schatze Page, the leader of the entire operation. Alongside her star Betty Grable as Loco Dempsey and Marilyn Monroe as Pola Debevoise. The three are models with a modest income, and they pool their money together to rent an expensive penthouse to lure in men of wealth. Unfortunately, most rich men seem to be creeps. They must decide which is more important - love, or wealth? -
Sabrina Controversy
Humphrey Bogart is cast in Sabrina alongside Audrey Hepburn. Rumours spread saying that Bogart and Hepburn hate each other, especially Bogart. He allegedly believed that his wife, Lauren Bacall should have gotten the role instead. -
Frank Sinatra
In the weeks, follwing Bogart's death, Bacall became involved with Frank Sinatra. She describes their relationship as explosive, but as she was so young at the time, she didn't understand what was happening. She often mentions not knowing where she stood with Sinatra. One night, several weeks into their relationship, Sinatra proposed to Bacall, and she accepted. He wanted it a secret, but when the news got out, he publically humiliated Bacall by completely cutting her out of his life. -
Designing Woman
Bacall plays a clothing designer named Marilla alongside Gregory Peck, who plays sports reporter Mike. They "fall in love" on vacation and marry very quickly before realizing they truly have almost nothing in common. However, when Mike writes a piece that ends up putting his life in danger, they must overcome their differences in order to save his life. -
Goodbye, Charlie
Bacall makes her Broadway debut in Goodbye, Charlie after taking weeks of vocal lessons in order to prepare her voice. Bacall expressed in her autobiography that prior to being on Broadway, she felt uncomfortable with her singing voice and felt it necessary to have extensive training in order to prepare herself. -
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Marriage to Jason Robards
Bacall's marriage to Robards ended in divorce. She credits it mostly to his alcoholism, citing one specific moment where she had invited friends over to celebrate his 40th, and he came out at 2am completely wasted and smashed a bottle of vodka onto his birthday cake. She says the real moment it was over was when she found a letter written to him from his then-girlfriend. -
Sam Robards born
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Cactus Flower
Bacall's first successful live show. After premiering in 1965, it ran for several years on Broadway and was nominated for Tony Awards. -
Applause
Bacall's third Broadway credit, Applause premiered on March 30, 1970, and ran for a total of 896 shows before moving on to play in the West End. Bacall won the Tony Award for best actress for her performance as Margo Channing -
Murder on the Orient Express
Detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) takes the Orient Express home after solving a case. What he expects to be a relaxing train ride soon turns into more when an unpopular billionaire is murdered on the train. When Poirot takes up the case, everyone on the train is suspect. This includes Mrs. Hubbard (Bacall). -
The Mirror Has Two Faces
Bacall plays Barbara Streisand's mother in this melodrama about the relationship between a college lecturer who specializes in romantic literature and a professor who wants nothing more than a friendship with an intelligent woman. -
Died
Manhattan, New York, NY
Her son credits her death to a massive stroke. She died in her home in Manhattan, five weeks short of her 90th birthday.
