Bette Davis Family Tree: The Story Behind Hollywood's First Grande Dame

Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (1908–1989), born 5 April 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA, and died 6 October 1989 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, was one of Hollywood's most-decorated actresses — 2 Academy Awards Best Actress (Dangerous 1935; Jezebel 1938); iconic Now, Voyager (1942), The Little Foxes (1941), All About Eve (1950), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962); AFI Life Achievement Award (1977) — first woman recipient.

The Family's Roots: A Massachusetts Family

Parents divorced when Bette was 8.

Her Parents

Father: Harlow Morrell Davis (1885–1938) — patent attorney.

Mother: Ruth Augusta "Ruthie" Favor Davis (1885–1961) — photographer.

Her Sister

Barbara Harriet "Bobby" Davis (1909–1979) — younger sister.

Her 4 Husbands

Harmon "Ham" Nelson (m. 18 August 1932, div. 6 December 1938) — bandleader.

Arthur Farnsworth (m. 31 December 1940, until his death 25 August 1943) — hotel manager.

William Grant Sherry (m. 29 November 1945, div. 4 July 1950) — artist.

Gary Merrill (m. 28 July 1950, div. 6 July 1960) — actor (All About Eve co-star).

Her Children

Barbara Davis "B. D." Sherry Hyman, b. 1 May 1947 — daughter with William Sherry; wrote memoir My Mother's Keeper accusing Bette of abuse.

Margot Merrill, b. 6 July 1951 — adopted daughter (institutionalised for developmental disability).

Michael Merrill, b. 5 February 1952 — adopted son; attorney.

The Davis Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Harlow Morrell Davis (1885–1938).

Mother: Ruth "Ruthie" Favor Davis (1885–1961).

Sister: Bobby Davis (1909–1979).

Husbands: Ham Nelson (1932-38); Arthur Farnsworth (1940-43, died); William Sherry (1945-50); Gary Merrill (1950-60).

Children: B. D. Hyman (b. 1 May 1947); Margot (b. 6 July 1951, adopted); Michael (b. 5 February 1952, adopted).

Bette Davis:

  • Born 5 April 1908, Lowell
  • John Murray Anderson School of Theatre, NYC
  • Warner Bros. contract 1932
  • Academy Award Best Actress: 1936 (Dangerous), 1939 (Jezebel)
  • 11 Best Actress nominations — record until Meryl Streep
  • All About Eve (1950) — iconic role
  • AFI Life Achievement Award: 1977 (first woman)
  • Died: 6 October 1989, Neuilly-sur-Seine — breast cancer at 81

What the Davis Family Story Teaches Us

A patent-attorney father who divorced her mother when she was 8. A photographer mother. A younger sister. Four marriages — 2nd husband died. Three children including 2 adopted. A daughter who wrote a Mommie Dearest-style memoir accusing her of abuse. A career that produced 11 Best Actress nominations.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Davis story carries the same lesson. Some careers set a Best Actress nomination record and endure family scandal.

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