The First Lady of Cinema died Saturday. Cause of death was not released. She was 96.
Katharine Hepburn, who was ranked the number one actress in the American Film Institute’s list of “50 Greatest Movie Legends,” acted for more than 60 years, both on stage and in film.
Her first starring role on Broadway occurred in 1932 as an Amazon princess in “A Warrior’s Husband.” Later that year, Hepburn made her film debut in “A Bill of Divorcement,” starring opposite John Barrymore. She made five more movies in the next two years, including “Morning Glory,” for which she won her first Academy Award.
At the time, Hollywood was not prepared for someone like Hepburn. She relished her privacy, skipped the interview process and chose her own wardrobe (she favored pants). Studio executives declared her to be “demanding,” and her next few movies flopped.
Undaunted, Hepburn returned to Broadway to star in “The Philadelphia Story.” It was a huge hit and Hepburn used its success to buy the film rights and return to Hollywood on her own terms. The 1940 film version, which costarred Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant, was a box office hit and earned Hepburn her third Oscar nomination.
In 1942, Hepburn worked with Spencer Tracy on the film, “Woman of the Year.” They fell in love off-screen, and began a relationship that lasted 25 years and eight more movies together. Her last film with Tracy was “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” She received her 10th Oscar nomination and her second win, though it was a movie she never actually watched. Tracy died weeks after it wrapped.
Even as she aged, Hepburn continued working. In the ’70s, she made TV movies like “The Glass Menagerie” and “Love Among the Ruins.” In the ’80s, she made “On Golden Pond” with Henry Fonda. She received her 12th Oscar nomination for the film, and her fourth win. In 1994, she appeared in the remake of “An Affair to Remember,” with Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
Until 2002, Hepburn held the record for being the actress with the most Oscar nominations and most Oscar wins. (Meryl Streep finally beat her in the nominations category with her nod for “Adaptation.”)
“I welcome death,” Hepburn once said. “In death there are no interviews!”
• IMDb Filmography
• Complete Coverage From The New York Times
June 29, 2003 by
Katharine Hepburn
Categories: Actors
Katharine Hepburn was/ is indeed a true ledgend. She is a true actress and one of the greatest of the 20th century.
Two years before Miss Hepburn died i sent her some of her favorite flowers…a few weeks later i got a lovely note from her with her famous letter head….i was touched i had that connection with the GREAT KATE….
Another comment Miss Hepburn made about death:
“As a matter of fact, I rather look forward to dying; it’s a tremendous relief, isn’t it. The Big Sleep.” Katharine Hepburn
Peaceful sleep lovely lady.
It’s what Hepburn & Tracy didn’t say that said it all.
Katharine will be remembered as one of the all time greats.
It took me this long to express my high regard to the great Katharine Hepburn. Maybe because I felt a great sense of loss and still couldn’t believe that the great Kate is no longer with us here. However, I know that she will always be remembered. She is a great and classy lady, a superb actress and a remarkable woman. She’s truly a great force to be reckoned in her field even after her death. She’s the one and only and there will be no other like her. Her endearing unconventionality has always impressed me and has been quite a refreshing alternative in our world full of superficialities and weak principles. Rest peacefully Ms Kate!
Je d