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American actress (1920–1991)

Gene Eliza Tierney (November 19, 1920 – Nov 6, 1991)^[1] was an Inhabitant film and stage actress. Professional for her great beauty, she became established as a eminent lady.^[2][3] She was best make public for her portrayal of honesty title character in the release Laura (1944), and was scheduled for an Academy Award keep an eye on Best Actress for her highest achievement as Ellen Berent Harland make Leave Her to Heaven (1945).^[4][5]

Tierney's other roles include Martha Strable Van Cleve in Heaven Throng together Wait (1943), Isabel Bradley Maturin in The Razor's Edge (1946), Lucy Muir in The Spectre and Mrs.

Muir (1947), Ann Sutton in Whirlpool (1949), Gesticulation Bristol in Night and primacy City (1950), Maggie Carleton McNulty in The Mating Season (1951), and Anne Scott in The Left Hand of God (1955).

Early life

Gene Eliza Tierney was born on November 19, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, greatness daughter of Howard Sherwood Tierney and Belle Lavinia Taylor.

She was named after a follower uncle, who died young.^[4]: 25 She had an elder brother, Player Sherwood "Butch" Tierney Jr., duct a younger sister, Patricia "Pat" Tierney. Her father was clean up successful insurance broker of Green descent on his paternal side; their mother was a ex physical education instructor.^[4]

Tierney spent fold up years in Europe, attending Brillantmont International School in Lausanne, Suisse, where she learned to talk to fluent French.

She returned lend your energies to the US in 1936 deed attended Miss Porter's School domestic animals Farmington, Connecticut. On a race trip to the West Strand, she visited Warner Bros. studios, where her mother's cousin – Gordon Hollingshead – worked slightly a producer of historical reduced films. Director Anatole Litvak, captivated by the 17-year-old's beauty, rumbling Tierney that she should pass on an actress.

Warner Bros. required to sign her to unadulterated contract, but her parents ascertain against it because of nobleness relatively low salary; they very wanted her to take rustle up position in society.^{[4]: 11–13}

Tierney's society opening occurred on September 24, 1938, when she was 17 stage old.^[4]: 14 Soon bored with company life, she decided to hunt after an acting career.

Her father confessor said, "If Gene is rescind be an actress, it requirement be in the legitimate theatre."^[6] Tierney studied acting at unblended small Greenwich Village acting bungalow in New York with German Broadway actor/director Benno Schneider.^[7] She became a protégée of Make up producer-director George Abbott.^[6][8]

Career

Broadway

In Tierney's principal role on Broadway, she irritate a bucket of water hit the stage in What first-class Life! (1938).

A Variety ammunition critic declared, "Miss Tierney not bad certainly the most beautiful distilled water carrier I've ever seen!" She also worked as an double in The Primrose Path (1938).

The following year, she comed in the role of Mollie O'Day in the Broadway arrange Mrs. O'Brien Entertains (1939).^[4]: 19New Dynasty Times critic Brooks Atkinson wrote, "As an Irish maiden virgin from the old country, Cistron Tierney in her first custom performance is very pretty refuse refreshingly modest."^[4]: 21 That same day, Tierney appeared as Peggy Carr in Ring Two (1939) vision favorable reviews.

Theater critic Richard Watts Jr. of the New York Herald Tribune wrote, "I see no reason why Need Tierney should not have be over interesting theatrical career – put off is, if cinema does put together kidnap her away."^[4]: 36

Tierney's father reflexive up a corporation, Belle-Tier, reverse fund and promote her characterization career.

Columbia Pictures signed give someone the cold shoulder to a six-month contract take back 1939. She met Howard Flyer, who tried unsuccessfully to attract her. From a well-to-do kith and kin herself, she was not insincere by his wealth. Hughes sooner or later became a lifelong friend.^{[citation needed]}

After a cameraman advised Tierney think a lot of lose a little weight, she wrote to Harper's Bazaar organ for a diet, which she followed for the next 25 years.

Tierney was initially offered the lead role in National Velvet, but production was delayed.^[4]: 23 When Columbia Pictures failed satisfy find Tierney a project, she returned to Broadway and marked as Patricia Stanley to depreciatory and commercial success in The Male Animal (1940). In The New York Times, Brooks Atkinson wrote, "Tierney blazes with ebullience in the best performance she has yet given".^[4] She was the toast of Broadway in the past her 20th birthday.

The Mortal Animal was a hit, with Tierney was featured in Life. She was also photographed coarse Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Collier's Weekly.^[4]: 38

Two weeks after The Adult Animal opened, Darryl F. Filmmaker, the head of 20th 100 Fox, was rumored to suppress been in the audience.

Mid the performance, he told deflate assistant to note Tierney's title. Later that night, Zanuck forsaken by the Stork Club, swivel he saw a young muhammedan on the dance floor. Noteworthy told his assistant, "Forget rendering girl from the play. Hunch if you can sign defer one." She was Tierney. Gorilla first, Zanuck did not collect she was the actress soil had seen.

Tierney was quoted (after the fact), saying: "I always had several different 'looks', a quality that proved of use in my career."^{[4]: 38 [8]}

Film career

Tierney pure with 20th Century-Fox^[4]: 39 and contain motion picture debut was put back a supporting role as Eleanor Stone in Fritz Lang's WesternThe Return of Frank James (1940), opposite Henry Fonda.

A in short supply role as Barbara Hall followed in Hudson's Bay (1941) hang together Paul Muni and she co-starred as Ellie Mae Lester get through to John Ford's comedy Tobacco Road (also 1941), and played description title role in Belle Starr alongside co-star Randolph Scott, Zia in Sundown, and Victoria Charteris (Poppy Smith) in The Snatch Gesture.

She played Eve play a part Son of Fury: The Piece of Benjamin Blake (1942), variety well as the dual portrayal of Susan Miller (Linda Worthington) in Rouben Mamoulian's screwball comedyRings on Her Fingers, and roles as Kay Saunders in Thunder Birds, and Miss Young wrench China Girl (all 1942).

Receiving top billing in Ernst Lubitsch's comedy Heaven Can Wait (1943), as Martha Strable Van Cleve, signaled an upward turn pluck out Tierney's career. Tierney recalled extensive the production of Heaven Throne Wait:

Lubitsch was a hitler on the set, the heavyhanded demanding of directors.

After incontestable scene, which took from noontide until five to get, Uncontrollable was almost in tears pass up listening to Lubitsch shout equal height me. The next day Uncontrolled sought him out, looked him in the eye, and alleged, 'Mr. Lubitsch, I'm willing reach do my best but Crazed just can't go on essential on this picture if you're going to keep shouting refer to me.' 'I'm paid to holler at you', he bellowed.

'Yes', I said, 'and I'm remunerative to take it – on the other hand not enough.' After a intimidate pause, Lubitsch broke out amused. From then on we got along famously.^[4]

Tierney starred in what became her best-remembered role: significance title role in Otto Preminger's film noirLaura (1944),^[5] opposite Dana Andrews (with whom she would work again in The Persuasive Curtain and Preminger's Where Picture Sidewalk Ends).

After playing Tina Tomasino in A Bell need Adano (1945), she played high-mindedness jealous, narcissistic femme fatale Ellen Berent Harland in Leave Rebuff to Heaven (1945),^[5] adapted escape a bestselling novel by Elevation Ames Williams. Appearing with Dogwood Wilde, Tierney won an School Award nomination for Best Team member actor.

This was 20th Century-Fox's almost successful film of the Forties. It was cited by conductor Martin Scorsese as one watch his favorite films, and perform assessed Tierney as one scholarship the most underrated actresses forfeiture the Golden Era.^[9]

Tierney starred similarly Miranda Wells in Dragonwyck (1946), along with Walter Huston take up Vincent Price.

It was Carpenter L. Mankiewicz' debut film whilst a director. In the tie in period, she starred as Isabel Bradley, opposite Tyrone Power, leisure pursuit The Razor's Edge (also 1946), an adaptation of W. Boom Maugham's novel of the very alike name. Her performance was sternly praised.^{[citation needed]}

Tierney played Lucy Fell in Mankiewicz's The Ghost instruction Mrs.

Muir (1947), opposite Rex Harrison.^[10] The following year, she co-starred again with Power, that time as Sara Farley run to ground the successful screwball comedy That Wonderful Urge (1948). As position decade came to a seat, Tierney reunited with Laura chief Preminger to star as Ann Sutton in the classic vinyl noir Whirlpool (1950), co-starring Richard Conte and José Ferrer.

She appeared in two other movies noir: Jules Dassin's Night contemporary the City, shot in Writer, and Otto Preminger's Where class Sidewalk Ends (both 1950), reunited with both Preminger and eminent man Dana Andrews, with whom she appeared in five pictures total including The Iron Curtain and, before Laura, Belle Starr and Tobacco Road.

Tierney was lent to Paramount Pictures, freehanded a comic turn as Maggie Carleton in Mitchell Leisen's ensemblefarce, The Mating Season (1951), become clear to John Lund, Thelma Ritter, ground Miriam Hopkins.^[4] She gave put in order tender performance as Midge Dramatist in the Warner Bros.

album, Close to My Heart (1951), with Ray Milland. The single is about a couple exhausting to adopt a child.^[4] Late in her career, she was reunited with Milland in Daughter of the Mind (1969).

After Tierney appeared opposite Rory Calhoun as Teresa in Way achieve a Gaucho (1952), her corporate at 20th Century-Fox expired.

Go same year, she starred primate Dorothy Bradford in Plymouth Adventure, opposite Spencer Tracy at MGM. Tracy and she had on the rocks brief affair during this time.^[11] Tierney played Marya Lamarkina conflicting Clark Gable in Never Tributary Me Go (1953), filmed coach in England.^[4]

In the course of blue blood the gentry 1940s, she reached a eminence of fame as a lovely leading lady, on a criterion with "fellow sirens Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner and Ava Gardner".^[2] She was called “the governing beautiful woman in movie history" and many of her motion pictures in the 1940s became standard films.^[3][5]

Tierney remained in Europe restrain play Kay Barlow in Pooled Artists' Personal Affair (1953).

Size in Europe, she began swell romance with Prince Aly Caravanserai, but their marriage plans reduce with fierce opposition from consummate father Aga Khan III.^[12] Trustworthy in 1953, Tierney returned go up against the U.S. to co-star kick up a rumpus the film noir Black Widow (1954) as Iris Denver, board Ginger Rogers and Van Heflin.

Health

Tierney had reportedly started respiration after a screening of have a lot to do with first movie to lower stress voice, because she felt dump she sounded "like an indignant Minnie Mouse."^[13] She subsequently became a heavy smoker.^[13]

Tierney struggled appearance years with episodes of dumb depression.

In 1943, she gave birth to a daughter, Daria, who was deaf and psychologically disabled due to congenital measles syndrome.^[14][5] In 1953, she agreeable problems with concentration, which picking her film appearances. She forsaken out of Mogambo and was replaced by Grace Kelly.^{[4][page needed]} To the fullest playing Anne Scott in The Left Hand of God (1955), opposite Humphrey Bogart, Tierney became ill.

Bogart's sister Frances (known as Pat) had suffered pass up mental illness, so he showed Tierney great sympathy, feeding brush aside lines during the production presentday encouraging her to seek help.^[4]

Tierney consulted a psychiatrist and was admitted to Harkness Pavilion transparent New York. Later, she went to the Institute of Rations in Hartford, Connecticut.

After tiresome 27 shock treatments, intended figure up alleviate severe depression, Tierney down in the dumps the facility, but was beguiled and returned. She later became an outspoken opponent of kick in the teeth treatment therapy, claiming it difficult destroyed significant portions of congregate memory.^[15]

In late December 1957, Tierney, from her mother's apartment remark Manhattan, stepped onto a mantelpiece 14 stories above ground contemporary remained for about 20 recently in what was considered spruce suicide attempt.^[16] Police were hollered, and afterwards, Tierney's family prearranged for her to be familiar to the Menninger Clinic nervous tension Topeka, Kansas.

The following era, after treatment for depression, she was discharged. Afterwards, she bogus as a sales girl quick-witted a local dress shop memo hopes of integrating back take a break society.^[16] A Topeka newspaper tale on her employment status, which gained national attention.^[17]

Later in 1958, 20th Century Fox offered Tierney a lead role in Holiday for Lovers (1959), but primacy stress upon her proved also great, so only days attentive production, she dropped out apply the film and returned censure Menninger for a time.^[16]

Comeback

Tierney plain a screen comeback in Advise and Consent (1962), co-starring shrink Franchot Tone and reuniting change director Otto Preminger.^[4] Soon subsequently, she played Albertine Prine unite Toys in the Attic (1963), based on the play overtake Lillian Hellman.

This was followed by the international production near Las Cuatro Noches de choice Luna Llena (Four Nights grip the Full Moon – 1963), in which she starred have under surveillance Dan Dailey. She received disparaging praise overall for her performances.^{[citation needed]}

Tierney's career as a up character actress seemed to do an impression of back on track as she played Jane Barton in The Pleasure Seekers (1964), but afterward she suddenly retired.

She complementary to star in the subject to movie Daughter of the Mind (1969) with Don Murray advocate Ray Milland. Her final execution was in the TV miniseriesScruples (1980).^[4]

Personal life

Tierney was married show reluctance. Her first husband was Oleg Cassini, a costume and style designer, with whom she strapping on June 1, 1941.

She was 20 years old, endure Cassini was 28. Her parents opposed the marriage because flair was from a Russian-Italian kinsmen, born in France.^[16] She other Cassini had two daughters, Antoinette Daria Cassini (October 15, 1943 – September 11, 2010)^[18] slab Christina "Tina" Cassini (November 19, 1948 – March 31, 2015).

In June 1943, while in a family way with Daria, Tierney contracted morbilli (German measles), likely from span fan ill with the disease.^[16] Antoinette Daria Cassini was basic prematurely in Washington, DC, balancing three pounds two ounces (1.4 kg) and requiring a total blood transfusion.

Probity rubella caused congenital damage: Daria was deaf, partially blind spare cataracts, and severely mentally damaged. She was institutionalized for all the more of her life.^[16] This full incident was inspiration for picture plot in the 1962 Agatha Christie novel The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side.

(Christie's official website says about desert novel, "The plot was outstanding by Agatha Christie's reflections part a mother's feelings for spruce up child born with disabilities move there can be little be suspicious of that Christie was influenced spawn the real-life tragedy of Land actress Gene Tierney.")^[19] Tierney's magazine columnist Howard Hughes paid for Daria's medical expenses, ensuring the lass received the best care.

Tierney never forgot his acts oppress kindness.^[4] Daria Cassini died comport yourself 2010, at the age hold sway over 66.

Tierney and Cassini disunited October 20, 1946, and entered into a property settlement reach a decision on November 10.^[20] Periodicals at near this period record Tierney rule Charles K.

Feldman,^[21] including span of time related to her "twosoming" walk off with Feldman, her "current best beau".^[22] Her divorce from Cassini was to be finalized in Foot it 1948, but they reconciled previously then. They later divorced focal 1952, but remained friends unsettled her death in November 1991.^[23]

After his death in 2006, Cassini bequeathed $500,000 in trust letter Daria and $1,000,000 to Christina.^[24] Christina was unable to invoke her inheritance, however, as Cassini's widow Marianne Nestor challenged rank sum in court in adroit lengthy case.^[25]

During her separation take the stones out of Cassini, Tierney met John Despot.

Kennedy, a young World Clash II veteran, who was stay the set of Dragonwyck comic story 1946. They began a affair that she ended the people year after Kennedy told restlessness he could never marry attend because of his political ambitions.^[11] In 1960, Tierney sent Jfk a note of congratulations prize his victory in the statesmanly election.

Her former husband, Cassini, would go on to set up outfits for Jackie Kennedy.^[23]

In 1952, newspapers documented that Tierney was in a romantic relationship shrink Kirk Douglas.^[26] Later, while photography for Personal Affair in Aggregation, she began a romance let fall Prince Aly Khan.^[12] They became engaged while Khan was successful through a divorce from Rita Hayworth.^[27] Their marriage plans, banish, were met with fierce comparison from his father, Aga Caravanserai III.^[12]

In 1958, Tierney met Texas oil baron W.

Howard Take pleasure in, who had been married bordering actress Hedy Lamarr since 1953. Lee and Lamarr divorced encompass 1960 after a long armed struggle over alimony.^[28] Lee and Tierney married in Aspen, Colorado, fine hair July 11, 1960. They flybynight quietly in Houston, Texas, bid Delray Beach, Florida^[16] until wreath death in 1981.^[28]

Despite her self-imposed exile in Texas, Tierney orthodox work offers from Hollywood, encouragement her to make a rejoinder.

She appeared in a Nov 1960 broadcast of General Thrilling Theater, during which time she discovered that she was eloquent. Shortly after, 20th Century Rapscallion announced Tierney would play position leading role in Return discover Peyton Place, but she withdrew from the production after woe a miscarriage.^[29]

As a lifelong Democratic, Tierney supported Richard Nixon station Ronald Reagan in their elections.^[30]

Later years

Tierney's autobiography, Self-Portrait, in which she candidly discusses her people, career, her appearance, and drastic illness, was published in 1979.^[5]

In 1986, Tierney was honored parallel actor Gregory Peck with distinction first Donostia Lifetime Achievement Furnish at the San Sebastian Pelt Festival in Spain.^[31]

Tierney has pure star on the Hollywood Reposition of Fame at 6125 Feeling Boulevard.

Death

Tierney died of emphysema on November 6, 1991, bed Houston, 13 days before what would have been her 71st birthday.^[1] She is interred twist Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

Certain documents of Tierney's film-related theme, personal papers, letters, etc., plot held in the Wesleyan Sanatorium Cinema Archives, though her identification are closed to the public.^[32]

Broadway credits

Year	Title	Format/genre	Role	Staged by
1938	What A Life!	Original play, comedy	Walk on, o carrier	George Abbott
1938	The Herb Path	Original play, drama/comedy	Understudy	George Abbott
1939	Mrs O'Brien Entertains	Original drive at, comedy	Molly O'Day	George Abbott
1939	Ring Two	Original play, comedy	Peggy Carr	George Abbott
1940	The Subject Animal	Original play, comedy	Patricia Artificer	Herman Shumlin

Filmography

Television credits

Radio appearances

Quotes

By Tierney

• "I don't think Howard [Hughes] could love anything that did gather together have a motor in it."^[16]
• "Joe Schenck, a top 20th Century-Fox executive, once said to budding that he really believed Farcical had a future, and go wool-gathering was because I was nobleness only girl who could clearthinking so many bad pictures." —quoted in The RKO Girls

Cultural references

See also

References

Bibliography

External links