This day in history: Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall dies at 89

Nourhan SandoukWed, August 12, 2026 at 9:56 AM UTC

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Lauren Bacall, known for roles in movies like The Big Sleep, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Fan, and The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Born on September 16, 1924, in New York, Lauren began as a fashion magazine cover model and supplemented her income with jobs as a theatre usher and a hostess at the Stage Door Canteen before landing her debut film role in To Have and Have Not.

On set for that film, Bacall developed her trademark gesture, “The Look,” and met Humphrey Bogart, who was also acting on that same film.

Bacall and Bogart soon fell in love. Bogart was married at the time, but within months he divorced his wife and married Bacall.

The marriage put a hold on Bacall’s career. She once said, “I think many directors never thought of me except as Bogie’s wife. That doesn’t lead to a great career, and I certainly did not fight for a career. So I guess you win some and you lose some. It was by choice.”

During her marriage, Bacall appeared in only a few films. The couple co-starred in three more movies, and had two children together.

In 1957, Bogart died of lung cancer. After a while, she got engaged to Frank Sinatra for only about one month, and then Bacall went back to the theater.

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At the beginning of the ‘60s, Bacall got married again, this time to Jason Robards Jr., and Bacall was able to play major roles in a few films.

She and Robards were divorced in 1969, and, shortly after, Bacall played the lead role in the Broadway musical Applause.

On August 12, 2014, Bacall passed away from a stroke at her home in New York City.

The Humphrey Bogart Estate posted this message on their Facebook page: “With deep sorrow for the magnitude of our loss, yet with great gratitude for her amazing life, we confirm the passing of Lauren Bacall.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”