Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born in Hartford, Connecticut on May 12, 1907 to a medical doctor and his wife. From an early age she was fascinated with the silent movies, often doing odd jobs to get the needed ticket money to go to her favorite theater and see the latest production. Katharine wanted to be an actress. She was educated at the Oxford School for Girls in Hartford and later attended Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. She had been in local school plays, but college would be something different. At first her grades did not lend themselves to the academic scenario, in fact she almost flunked out. Unless her grades improved Katharine could not participate in college plays. She then buckled down and achieved the grades she needed to attain her dream. Before long Kate, as she is fondly called, became an established member of Bryn Mawr's theater group. After leaving college, Kate began her acting career in earnest while touring with a stock company on the East Coast. It wasn't too long before the cinema beckoned.
Katharine with James Stewart and Cary Grant in "The Philadelphia Story".
At first, Paramount offered her a contract, but she turned them down flat. She felt that Hollywood was a ridiculous place for her to be. However, when RKO Pictures offered her a contract, Kate demanded $1,500 per week. RKO countered with a screen test in New York. RKO was planning the film A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT (1932) and felt Kate was the right part for Sydney Fairfield. She passed the screen test and the studio agreed to her salary "demands". Though she had never made a movie, director George Cukor felt she was right for the part. The film was a hit and it launched Kate into a career that would make her legendary. Kate's next film as Eva Lovelace in 1933's MORNING GLORY was, in short, a masterful performance. So masterful, in fact, that Kate won the first of four Academy Awards. Later that year Kate appeared in LITTLE WOMEN which was a box-office smash, breaking all records up to that time.In 1934, Kate appeared in SPITFIRE as Trigger Hicks, the illiterate tomboy who believes herself a faith healer. Afterward, she returned to her love as a stage actress. She didn't leave the silver screen patrons abandoned however. Kate filmed SYLVIA SCARLETT, BREAK OF HEARTS, and ALICE ADAMS in 1935 and A WOMAN REBEL followed by MARY OF SCOTLAND the next year. After the movie, BRINGING UP BABY in 1938, Kate hoped for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in GONE WITH THE WIND but lost out to Vivien Leigh. She stayed in her beloved Connecticut for the summer of 1939, turning down roles for both the stage and screen.
Katharine with Spencer Tracy.
She finally accepted the stage role of Tracy Lord in THE PHILADELPHIA STORY which later was parlayed into the screen version with a hit that broke all box-office records again. She was nominated for an Oscar for the role of Miss Lord, but lost to Joan Fontaine in SUSPICION. In 1942, Kate starred with the great Spencer Tracy in WOMAN OF THE YEAR. This would not be the last time they would team together. In KEEPER OF THE FLAME later that year she again appeared with Tracy. By 1947, Kate's popularity at the box-office slipped somewhat and made fewer films as a result. She did star in the hit ADAM'S RIB in 1949 with Tracy. The films she chose to make were grand one's indeed. 1951 saw her star with Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN. Kate was to make six more films during the balance of the 1950's with SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER in 1959 with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Kate was to make no films again until 1962's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.
Katharine with Lucille Ball and Ginger Rogers in "Stage Door".
Five years later she teamed up again with Spencer Tracy in GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER with Sidney Poitier. This film garnered her second Academy Award. The following year she won her third Oscar for THE LION IN WINTER which saw her tied with Barbra Streisand who played in FUNNY GIRL. A few movies and made for TV films followed in the 1970's. In 1981, Kate starred as Ethel Thayer with Henry Fonda in the hit ON GOLDEN POND which gave her a fourth Oscar. Several made for TV special followed with her last big screen appearance in LOVE AFFAIR in 1994. The longevity of this fine actress will be very hard to match. On June 29, 2003, Kate died of natural causes at the age of 96.
Biography Courtesy: Denny C. Jackson.
Katharine with Henry Fonda in "On Golden Pond.
Crystal's Favorite Katharine Hepburn Films:
Little Women (1933) - Josephine March
Sylvia Scarlett (1935) - Sylvia Scarlett
Bringing Up Baby (1938) - Susan Vance
Holiday (1938) - Linda Seton
The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Tracy Lord
The African Queen (1951) - Rose Sayer
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) - Christina Drayton
Rooster Cogburn (1975) - Eula Goodnight
On Golden Pond (1981) - Ethel Thayer
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