Lauren Bacall, a true Hollywood icon and legend of the silver screen has died at the age of 89. A family member reported Bacall had a “massive stroke Tuesday morning at her home” and was confirmed by the Bogart family on Twitter.
Born Betty Joan Perske in New York in 1924, Lauren began her career as model before the bright lights of Hollywood came calling for her hypnotising looks and trademark husky voice. She made her name in 1944’s thriller To Have and Have Not opposite another screen legend Humphrey Bogart, who she went on to wed the next year. They appeared together in a number of films, including The Big Sleep (1946) and Key Largo (1948) and were married until his death in 1957.
Bacall’s captivating beauty was seen in more than 30 other films including How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) with Marilyn Monroe and Designing Woman (1957) with Gregory Peck. She received a number of accollades including Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for 1996’s The Mirror Has Two Faces.
In 2009, Bacall received an honorary award from the Academy “in recognition of her central place in the Golden Age of motion pictures”. Her career also extended to Broadway, where she won Tony Awards for Applause in 1970 and Woman of the Year in 1981.
Becall’s iconic moment in film history is her line delivered to future husband Bogart in To Have and Have not, “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.”
Their son Stephen told People in 1996, “Everyone could see their love right there on celluloid. He was the great love of her life, and she his.”
With deep sorrow, yet with great gratitude for her amazing life, we confirm the passing of Lauren Bacall. pic.twitter.com/B8ZJnZtKhN
— BogartEstate (@HumphreyBogart) August 12, 2014
