CONSTANCE BENNETT , AMERICAN ACTRESS BORN OCTOBER 22, 1904

CONSTANCE BENNETT , AMERICAN ACTRESS
 BORN OCTOBER 22, 1904

Born October 22, 1904 in New York City, New York, USA
Died July 24, 1965 in Fort Dix, New Jersey, USA  (cerebral hemorrhage)
Birth Name Constance Campbell Bennett
Height 5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Bio (2)

Independent, outspoken Constance Bennett, the first of the Bennett sisters to enter films, appeared in New York-produced silents before a chance meeting with Samuel Goldwyn led to her Hollywood debut in Cytherea (1924). She abandoned a burgeoning career in silents for marriage to Philip Plant in 1925; after they divorced, she achieved stardom in talkies from 1929. 

The hit Common Clay (1930) launched her in a series of loose lady and unwed mother roles, but she really excelled in such sophisticated comedies as The Affairs of Cellini (1934), Ladies in Love (1936), Topper (1937) and Merrily We Live (1938). Her classy blonde looks, husky voice and unerring fashion sense gave her a distinctive style. In the 1940s she made fewer films, working in radio and theatre; 

shrewd in business, she invested wisely and started businesses marketing women's wear and cosmetics. Loving conflict, she feuded with the press and enjoyed lawsuits. Her last marriage, to a U.S. Air Force colonel, was happy and gave her a key role coordinating shows flown to Europe for occupying troops (1946-48) and the Berlin Airlift (1948-49), winning her military honors. Still young-looking, she died suddenly at age 60 shortly after completing the last of her 57 films.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Often described as the most beautiful of the Bennett sisters with her blonde hair and blue eyes, Constance Bennett was the daughter of actor Richard Bennett and actress Adrienne Morrison. Her sisters were Joan Bennett and Barbara Bennett. She was educated at Miss Shandor's school, Mrs. Merrill's school and Mme. Balsan's Finishing School, Paris. Her hobbies: bridge, living in France and good books.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Dave Curbow <Curbow@apple.com>

Spouse (5)

Brig. Gen. John Theron Coulter (22 June 1946 - 24 July 1965) (her death)
Gilbert Roland (20 April 1941 - 20 June 1946) (divorced) (2 children)
Henri de la Falaise (22 November 1931 - 14 November 1940) (divorced)
Philip Morgan Plant (3 November 1925 - 14 December 1929) (divorced) (1 child)
Chester Hirst Moorehead (16 June 1921 - 17 January 1923) (annulled)

Trivia (20)

Most references give Constance's birth year wrongly as 1905, corrected to 1904 by sister Joan in her autobiography. Her age at death accordingly was 60, not 59 as usually stated.
Her 1931 contract with Warner Brothers, $300,000 for 2 films, made her the highest-paid film player up to that time and reportedly inspired tax legislation aimed at the film industry.
Her stage acting debut: Noël Coward's "Easy Virtue", 1940.
She sang with her own voice in films, on stage, and in a nightclub act 1956-1962 in which she parodied early rock-n-roll.
She was a daughter of Richard Bennett and Adrienne Morrison.
She had two daughters with her fourth husband, Gilbert: Lorinda Roland and Gyl Roland. She also had an adopted son, Peter Bennett Plant (born 1929, adopted 1930).
She died from cerebral hemorrhage in Walston Army Hospital at Fort Dix, NJ.
As a Brigade General's wife and in recognition of her work for the Berlin Airlift, she is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, beside her husband, Brigadier General John Theron Coulter. Specific interment location: Section 3, Lot 2231-A, Grid P-13.
Granddaughter of Rose Wood and the stage actor Lewis Morrison, birth name: Morris W. Morris (1845 - 1906).
Aunt of Morton Downey Jr. and Melinda Markey.

She was a sister of Barbara Bennett and Joan Bennett.
Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6250 Hollywood Boulevard, a short distance from the star of her sister, Joan Bennett.
Grandfather, Morris W. Morris (stage name Lewis Morrison), was of English and wealthy Spanish ancestry. Constance's sister, actress Joan Bennett, discussed this, in detail, in her 1970 autobiography "The Bennett Playbill".
Accepted the role of Ellie Andrews in It Happened One Night (1934), but later turned it down when Columbia Pictures would not allow her to produce the film herself. Claudette Colbert was then given the part and went on to win the Best Actress Oscar for her performance.
She was a mother-in-law of Dan Barton and sister-in-law of Morton Downey.
She was a very active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee and donated her time and money to many liberal causes (such as the creation of the United Nations) and political candidates (including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Henry Wallace, Adlai Stevenson, and John F. Kennedy) for most of her adult life.
Bennett was married to the Marqus de la Falaise de la Coudray, who had previously been married to her chief rival at Pathe Studios, Gloria Swanson.

She was sued by portrait artist Willy Pogany for his fee after painting a portrait of the star. She complained that he had thickened her waist and thighs.
Enjoyed the reputation of being a very able poker player.
Was considered in her heyday to be one of the most smartly dressed women in Hollywood, A film magazine in 1941 claimed she had spent a quarter million on her wardrobe that year, a charge denied vehemently by the actress.

Personal Quotes (3)
I'm a lot more sartorial than thespian. They come to see me and go out humming the costumes.
[on Marilyn Monroe] There's a broad with her future behind her.
[Asked how she maintained her youthful appearance and enormous drive.] If there's a secret to it, it's working like a beaver to be happy. What I mean is I've always been interested in everything I did, or else I wouldn't do it. When you're that interested in anything, you're happy.

Salary (3)

Bought! (1931) $30,000 /week
Two Against the World (1932) $150,000 /4 weeks work
Law of the Tropics (1941) $10,000