Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres; from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional comedies, though her greatest successes were her roles in romantic dramas. After appearing in Broadway plays, Davis moved to Hollywood in 1930, but her early films for Universal Studios were unsuccessful. She joined Warner Bros. in 1932 and established her career with several critically acclaimed performances. In 1937, she attempted to free herself from her contract and although she lost a well-publicized legal case, it marked the beginning of the most successful period of her career. Until the late 1940s, she was one of American cinema's most celebrated leading ladies, known for her forceful and intense style. Davis gained a reputation as a perfectionist who could be highly combative, and confrontations with studio executives, film directors and costars were often reported. Her forthright manner, clipped vocal style and ubiquitous cigarette contributed to a public persona which has often been imitated and satirized. Davis was the co-founder of the Hollywood Canteen, and was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, was the first person to accrue 10 Academy Award nominations for acting, and was the first woman to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Her career went through several periods of eclipse, and she admitted that her success had often been at the expense of her personal relationships. Married four times, she was once widowed and thrice divorced, and raised her children as a single parent. Her final years were marred by a long period of ill health, but she continued acting until shortly before her death from breast cancer, with more than 100 films, television and theater roles to her credit. In 1999, Davis was placed second, after Katharine Hepburn, on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female stars of all time.
Acted in 136
2020s
- 2023
1939: Secrets of Hollywood's Golden Year
TV
2010s
- 2019
- 2013
Footsteps on the Ceiling
Margo Channing (archive footage)
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
South of Reno
Movie
- 1987
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
(archive footage)
- 1986
As Summers Die
Hannah Loftin
- 1985
Murder with Mirrors
Carrie Louise Serrocold
- 1984
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
- 1983
- 1982
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
Little Gloria... Happy at Last
Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt · 2 episodes
- 1981
Family Reunion
Elizabeth Winfield
Family Reunion
Elizabeth Winfield · 2 episodes
- 1980
Skyward
Billie Dupree
The Watcher in the Woods
Mrs. Aylwood
White Mama
Estelle Malone
1970s
- 1979
Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter
Lucy Mason
The Horror Show
(archive footage)
- 1978
The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
Widow Fortune · 2 episodes
- 1976
The Disappearance of Aimee
Minnie Kennedy
- 1974
Miss Moffat
Miss Moffat
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
Mother
Hello Mother, Goodbye!
Mother · 1 episode
- 1973
Scream, Pretty Peggy
Mrs. Elliott
- 1972
The Judge and Jake Wyler
Judge Meredith
The Scopone Game
'A vecchia
- 1971
Bunny O'Hare
Bunny O'Hare
- 1970
Connecting Rooms
Wanda Fleming
1960s
- 1968
The Anniversary
Mrs. Taggart
- 1965
The Nanny
Nanny
The Decorator
Liz
- 1964
- 1963
The Empty Canvas
Dino's Mother
- 1962
- 1961
1950s
- 1959
John Paul Jones
Empress Catherine the Great
- 1957
- 1956
Storm Center
Alicia Hull
The Catered Affair
Agnes Hurley
- 1955
The Virgin Queen
Queen Elizabeth I
- 1953
General Electric Theater
Miss Burrows, Christine Marlowe · 1 episode
- 1952
Phone Call from a Stranger
Marie Hoke
- 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, Aimee's mother · 1 episode
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Irene Van Buren · 1 episode
- 1950
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
Winter Meeting
Susan Grieve
- 1946
A Stolen Life
Kate Bosworth / Patricia Bosworth
- 1945
- 1944
- 1943
Stars on Horseback
Movie
- 1942
In This Our Life
Stanley Timberlake Kingsmill
- 1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Joan Winfield
Shining Victory
Movie
The Great Lie
Maggie Patterson Van Allen
- 1940
1930s
- 1939
- 1938
The Sisters
Louise Elliott Medlin
- 1937
Kid Galahad
Louise 'Fluff' Phillips
A Day at Santa Anita
Bette Davis (uncredited)
- 1936
The Golden Arrow
Daisy Appleby
Dick Powell and Joan Blondell home movies: "No. 1, From beginning"
Movie
- 1935
A Dream Comes True
Movie
Dangerous
Joyce Heath
Special Agent
Julie Gardner
Front Page Woman
Ellen Garfield
The Girl from 10th Avenue
Miriam A. Brady
Bordertown
Mrs. Marie Roark
- 1934
Fog Over Frisco
Arlene Bradford
Jimmy the Gent
Joan Martin
Fashions of 1934
Lynn Mason
The Big Shakedown
Norma Nelson
- 1933
Bureau of Missing Persons
Norma Roberts
Just Around the Corner
Ginger
- 1932
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Fay Wilson
Three on a Match
Ruth Westcott
The Cabin in the Cotton
Madge Norwood
The Dark Horse
Kay Russell
The Rich Are Always with Us
Malbro
So Big!
Miss Dallas O'Mara
The Man Who Played God
Grace Blair
Hell's House
Peggy Gardner
The Menace
Peggy Lowell
- 1931
Way Back Home
Mary Lucy Duffy
Waterloo Bridge
Janet Cronin
Seed
Margaret Carter
The Bad Sister
Laura Madison
Produced 1
1940s
- 1946
A Stolen Life
Producer
Other crew 1
1990s
- 1999
Appearances80
2020s
- 2022
This Is Joan Collins
Self (Archive Footage)
- 2021
Morceaux de Cannes
Self (archive footage)
2010s
- 2018
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
- 2017
Bette Davis: Larger Than Life
Self (archive footage)
Bette and Joan
Self (archive footage)
- 2015
Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn
Self (archive footage)
Listen to Me Marlon
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2014
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actress (archive footage)
- 2013
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
Self (archive footage)
- 2011
Vito
Self (archive footage)
Marilyn at the Movies
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2009
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
Self (archive footage)
Queer Icon: The Cult of Bette Davis
Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
- 2007
Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema
Self (archive footage)
- 2006
Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition
Self (archive footage)
Jezebel: Legend of the South
Self (archive footage)
Stardust: The Bette Davis Story
Self (archive footage)
- 2005
The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert
Self (archive footage)
How Real is 'The Star'?
Self (archive footage)
- 2003
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
- 2002
Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Self (archive footage)
- 2001
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
Self (archive footage)
- 2000
Backstory: 'All About Eve'
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1997
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
Frank Capra's American Dream
Self (archive footage)
- 1996
Joan Crawford: Always the Star
Self (archive footage)
Intimate Portrait: Bette Davis
Self (archive footage)
- 1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self (archive footage)
- 1994
Biography: Bette Davis — If Looks Could Kill
Self (archive footage)
All About Bette
Self
- 1993
1980s
- 1989
Hairway to the Stars
Self [Archive Footage]
- 1988
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Self (archive footage)
- 1986
Directed by William Wyler
Self
Bette Davis at the Cinémathèque Française
Self
- 1985
- 1983
Bette Davis: The Benevolent Volcano
Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1982
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
Self
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Self (archive footage)
Night of 100 Stars
Self
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
1970s
- 1978
Mickey's 50
Self
- 1974
- 1973
The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor
Self (archive footage)
1960s
- 1968
- 1967
- 1964
- 1962
- 1961
1950s
- 1956
- 1954
Reflets de Cannes
Self · 1 episode
- 1953
- 1950
1940s
- 1949
Breakdowns of 1949
Self
- 1944
Breakdowns of 1944
Self
Hollywood Canteen
Self
- 1943
The Voice That Thrilled the World
Self (segment 'Dangerous') (archive footage)
Show-Business at War
Self
- 1942
Breakdowns of 1942
Self
- 1941
Breakdowns of 1941
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1940
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self
1930s
- 1939
Breakdowns of 1939
Self
- 1938
Breakdowns of 1938
Self (archive footage)
- 1937
Breakdowns of 1937
Self
- 1936
Breakdowns of 1936
Self
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
Self
- 1933
The 42nd Street Special
Self (uncredited)