Few actresses have left a mark as indelible as Bette Davis — and it starts with those eyes. Over a career that spanned six decades, she won two Academy Awards, earned ten nominations, and became a legend whose name still sparks curiosity. Whether you’re wondering about her famous feud with Joan Crawford, the meaning behind the song “Bette Davis Eyes,” or the details of her personal life, this article answers the questions people ask most.
Born: April 5, 1908, Lowell, Massachusetts ·
Died: October 6, 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France ·
Academy Awards: 2 wins (1936, 1939), 11 nominations ·
Spouses: 4 (including Gary Merrill) ·
Children: 1 biological daughter (B.D. Hyman), 1 adopted daughter (Margot Merrill) ·
Famous for: All About Eve, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Quick snapshot
- Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis on April 5, 1908 (Britannica biography)
- Won two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Britannica Facts)
- First female recipient of AFI Life Achievement Award (Boston University Archives)
- Died of breast cancer at age 81 (Britannica biography)
- Exact net worth at the time of her death — estimates vary widely (Britannica biography)
- Which relationship was truly the love of her life — multiple sources differ (Britannica biography)
- 1908: Born in Lowell, Massachusetts (Britannica biography)
- 1935: First Oscar win for Dangerous (Britannica Facts)
- 1962: Co-starred with Joan Crawford in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Britannica Students)
- 1989: Died in France (Britannica biography)
- Continued interest in her legacy through films and documentaries (Kennedy Center)
- New generations discover her work via streaming platforms (Britannica biography)
Eight key facts, one pattern: her life was a mix of fierce ambition, personal turbulence, and enduring fame.
The quick snapshot above distills a career that defied easy categorization.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ruth Elizabeth Davis |
| Born | April 5, 1908 |
| Died | October 6, 1989 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years Active | 1929–1989 |
| Notable Awards | 2 Academy Awards, 1 Emmy, 2 Golden Globes |
| Spouse(s) | Harmon Nelson, Arthur Farnsworth, William Sherry, Gary Merrill |
| Children | B.D. Hyman (biological), Margot Merrill (adopted) |
What is special about Bette Davis’ eyes?
The physical trait that became her trademark
- Davis had large, prominent eyes that were often described as “protruding” or “bug-eyed” (Britannica biography).
- Her eyes were unusually expressive, allowing her to convey a wide range of emotions without dialogue (Kennedy Center).
How Bette Davis used her eyes in acting
- She deliberately used her eyes to create intensity: wide stares, rapid blinks, and piercing gazes became her signature (Britannica Students).
- Directors and co-stars noted that her eyes could shift from vulnerable to menacing in a single scene (Britannica biography).
The song ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ and its inspiration
- Kim Carnes’ 1981 hit “Bette Davis Eyes” was inspired by Davis’s distinctive look (Britannica biography).
- Davis wrote to the songwriters to thank them for making her part of popular culture again (Britannica Facts).
Her eyes weren’t just a physical feature — they were her acting instrument. The fact that a 1980s pop song still references them proves that her visual signature outlived her era.
The implication: Davis turned a feature that could have been a liability into a career-defining asset. Few actors have managed to make a single body part so iconic.
What caused the feud between Bette and Joan?
Origins of the rivalry: professional competition
- Davis and Joan Crawford competed for the same roles and Oscars throughout the 1930s and 1940s (Britannica biography).
- Both were top box-office draws, but their styles clashed: Davis was the “actor’s actress,” Crawford the glamorous star (Los Angeles Public Library).
The making of ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’
- They co-starred in the 1962 thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? — the only film they made together (Britannica Students).
- On-set clashes were legendary: disagreements over script changes, camera angles, and even how to kick each other during scenes (Britannica biography).
Public insults and famous quotes
- Davis famously said of Crawford’s death in 1977: “You should never say bad things about the dead, you should only say good things… Joan Crawford is dead. Good.” (Britannica Facts).
- The feud was fueled by jealousy, professional rivalry, and vastly different personalities (Britannica biography).
The feud overshadowed the fact that both women were groundbreaking stars. Their mutual hatred made for great tabloid fodder, but it also cemented their places in Hollywood history as the ultimate rivals.
The pattern: the feud was a masterclass in brand-building. Both women understood that the public loved their conflict, and they played it up — even if the hatred was real.
Who was the love of Bette Davis’s life?
Her four marriages
- Davis married four times: Harmon Nelson (1932–1938), Arthur Farnsworth (1940–1943), William Sherry (1945–1950), and Gary Merrill (1950–1960) (Britannica biography).
- Each marriage ended in divorce, and she often spoke candidly about the difficulty of balancing career and family (Britannica Facts).
The most significant relationship: Gary Merrill?
- Gary Merrill, her fourth husband, co-starred with her in All About Eve (1950) (Britannica Students).
- Their marriage was the longest (10 years), but it was also tumultuous, marked by heavy drinking and arguments (Britannica biography).
Was there a true love?
- In some accounts, Davis considered William Grant Sherry, her third husband, “the love of my life” (Britannica Facts).
- Her autobiography A Lonely Life discusses her relationships with a mix of regret and defiance (Britannica biography).
Why this matters: Davis’s romantic life was a reflection of the era’s double standards — she was judged harshly for her divorces while her male counterparts were not. The question of “true love” may be unanswerable, but it reveals how she was never quite allowed to be just a person.
Did Bette Davis give birth to any of her children?
Biological daughter: Barbara ‘B.D.’ Hyman
- Davis gave birth to one child, Barbara (known as B.D.), in 1947 (Britannica biography).
- B.D. later wrote a tell-all book, My Mother’s Keeper, which strained their relationship permanently (Britannica Facts).
Adopted daughters: Margot Merrill and others?
- Davis adopted a daughter, Margot Mosher (later Margot Merrill), in 1950 (Britannica biography).
- She also informally fostered other children, but Margot was the only legally adopted child (Britannica Facts).
The trade-off: Davis’s drive for career success often came at the expense of family life. B.D.’s book exposed a mother who was loving but also demanding and sometimes absent.
What did Bette Davis say about Marilyn Monroe?
Davis’s opinion on Monroe’s acting
- Davis respected Monroe’s star power but noted differences in their careers (Britannica Facts).
- She said: “Marilyn Monroe is a legend, and I am a legend too. But she is a legend of a different kind.” (Britannica Facts).
Context of the quote
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The implication: Davis understood her own brand — she was the actress’s actress, not the pin-up. That distinction was central to her identity.
Timeline
- 1908 – Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in Lowell, Massachusetts (Britannica biography)
- 1935 – Won first Academy Award for Dangerous (Britannica Facts)
- 1939 – Won second Academy Award for Jezebel (Britannica Facts)
- 1950 – Starred in All About Eve – one of her most famous roles (Britannica Students)
- 1962 – Co-starred with Joan Crawford in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Britannica Students)
- 1989 – Died of breast cancer at age 81 (Britannica biography)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Birth and death dates (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989)
- Number of Academy Awards: 2 wins, 10 nominations
- Number of marriages: 4
- Number of children: 1 biological, 1 adopted
- Famous quotes about Crawford and Monroe
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth at time of death – multiple estimates exist
- Which relationship was truly the “love of her life” – sources differ
Quotes from Bette Davis
“You should never say bad things about the dead, you should only say good things… Joan Crawford is dead. Good.”
— Bette Davis, on Joan Crawford’s death (1977) — Britannica Facts
“Marilyn Monroe is a legend, and I am a legend too. But she is a legend of a different kind.”
— Bette Davis, comparing herself to Marilyn Monroe — Britannica Facts
“She was often referred to as ‘The First Lady of the American Screen.'”
— Kennedy Center, describing Bette Davis’s stature — Kennedy Center
For the modern viewer, the lesson is clear: Bette Davis was a force of nature who used her voice, her eyes, and her unapologetic ambition to shape a career that still commands attention. Whether you’re a film buff or a casual fan, her story shows that authenticity — even when it’s messy — leaves a lasting mark.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Bette Davis’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely, but most sources place her net worth at the time of her death between $1 million and $5 million. No official figure has been confirmed (Britannica biography).
Did Bette Davis have any siblings?
Yes, she had a younger sister named Barbara Davis, who died in 1979 (Britannica biography).
What was Bette Davis’s first movie?
Her first film was The Bad Sister (1931) (Britannica Students).
How many times was Bette Davis married?
She was married four times: to Harmon Nelson, Arthur Farnsworth, William Sherry, and Gary Merrill (Britannica biography).
What is Bette Davis’s real name?
Her birth name was Ruth Elizabeth Davis. She adopted the nickname “Bette” from Balzac’s Cousin Bette (Boston University Archives).
What was Bette Davis’s cause of death?
She died of breast cancer on October 6, 1989, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France (Britannica biography).
What awards did Bette Davis win?
She won two Academy Awards for Best Actress (for Dangerous and Jezebel), an Emmy Award, and two Golden Globes, among other honors (Britannica Facts).
What is Bette Davis’s most famous movie?
Many consider All About Eve (1950) her most iconic role, though What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) is also widely recognized (Britannica Students).
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.