The walls of Lauren Bacall's iconic Dakota apartment in New York City were a treasure trove of art, photographs, and mementos from her extraordinary life. In 1971, she reflected on her voracious appetite for collecting, saying, “When I was younger, I thought, ‘If I could just have this, buy that!’ Then I could, and I went crazy and bought 90 of everything.” But she was quick to add, “I worked my tail off for every cent.” Her passion for collecting was a testament to her zest for life and her hard-earned success.
An Overnight Sensation and a Lasting Love
Even the things that seemed to come easily to Lauren carried a weight of their own. Her breakout role in the 1944 film To Have and Have Not catapulted her to stardom at the tender age of 19 and sparked a romance with her on-screen partner, the legendary Humphrey Bogart. Despite the pressures of fame and motherhood, Lauren cherished her time as Bogie's wife. In 2011, she fondly recalled, “I was happy being his wife. I loved it because I really loved him.” However, Bogart's untimely death in 1957 left her a young widow at 32, raising two small children alone.
A Life Beyond the Spotlight
Throughout her life, Lauren, born Betty Joan Perske in New York City, worked hard to maintain authenticity despite her fame. According to author and The Washington Post contributor Sally Quinn, Lauren didn’t succumb to the "movie star disease." She preferred being called Betty by her closest friends and never demanded special treatment. “She was one of the gang and had a very good sense of humor,” Quinn explains. This down-to-earth demeanor made her all the more endearing.
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Charisma and Celebrity Connections
Lauren's charm extended far beyond the silver screen. She effortlessly mingled with other Hollywood icons like Anjelica Huston and Barbra Streisand, who cast her in the 1996 film The Mirror Has Two Faces, earning her an Oscar nomination. Her friendship with Ted Kennedy was so strong that she proudly displayed a signed lithograph of a daffodil painting he made for his wife, Victoria. Quinn recalls, “Betty had incredible charisma. Her deep, husky voice was compelling, and she knew how to flirt. She was funny, smart, and fun to be around.”
Lauren's wit often led to unforgettable moments. Once, while preparing for a New Year’s Eve party at Quinn’s home, Lauren accidentally summoned the fire department by touching the wrong wall monitor. “The firemen all rushed up to the third floor to Betty’s room, and she was standing there in her underwear!" Quinn laughs. "The firemen were thrilled, and she thought it was hilarious!”
Romantic Trials and Tribulations
After Bogart's passing, Lauren faced challenges in her romantic life. Her engagement to Frank Sinatra ended due to a misunderstanding, and her marriage to actor Jason Robards, the father of her youngest son, actor Sam Robards, lasted only eight years. Quinn acknowledges, “She didn’t have great luck with men. I think a lot of that is because she was a really strong woman, famous, and an icon. Many men were intimidated by her.”
Work Ethic and Legacy
Despite her fame, Lauren understood the importance of hard work. Raised by a single, immigrant mother, she never took her career for granted. Quinn remembers, “She was always working or looking for work, no matter how old she was.” Over her illustrious career, Lauren appeared in nearly 50 films, performed on Broadway, and took on TV guest appearances and commercial voiceovers. “She wasn’t too proud to take a movie where she wasn’t the star,” Quinn says. “She had to support herself and her family.”
A Devoted Mother and a Strong Legacy
Lauren raised her children—Stephen Bogart, Leslie Bogart, and Sam Robards—largely on her own. “She was a devoted mother who did everything she could to help them,” Quinn says. Journalist Adam Green, a family friend, observed her struggles as a single mother. “She was tough and could be unbelievably rude to people, but it came from a place of insecurity and vulnerability. She felt the need to take care of herself and her family.”
Lauren worried about the impact of fame on her children. Her eldest son, Stephen, grappled with finding his identity beyond being Humphrey Bogart’s son. Her daughter, Leslie, chose a career as an emergency room nurse to stay out of the spotlight. Only her youngest, Sam, followed in his parents' footsteps as an actor. “Her relationship with Sam had its complications, but they clearly loved each other,” Green says. In her later years, Sam was a constant support for her.
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Passing on Wisdom to the Next Generation
Lauren, who passed away in 2014, shared her life lessons with her six beloved grandchildren. “She wanted the best, and if you weren’t doing the best, she let you know about it,” grandson Jamie Bogart says. “She was a good grandma. She was lucky to have a pretty unique life.” Lauren's advice was simple yet profound: “What matters is to live your life. To press on and to live your life.”
— Reporting by Fortune Benatar
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