Tallulah Bankhead

Tallulah Bankhead
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Name	Tallulah Bankhead
Caption	Bankhead in 1931
Birth name	Tallulah Brockman Bankhead
Birth date	31 January 1902
Birth place	Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Death date	12 December 1968
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1918–1967
Spouse	John Emery, 1937, 1941

Tallulah Bankhead. Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an iconic American actress of the stage, screen, and radio, renowned for her distinctive husky voice, flamboyant personality, and sharp wit. Her career spanned nearly five decades, during which she achieved legendary status for her performances in Noël Coward's Private Lives and Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. A figure of immense charisma and controversy, her life offstage often rivaled her theatrical triumphs for public attention.

Early life and family

Born into a prominent Alabama political family, she was the daughter of William B. Bankhead, who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the niece of United States Senator John H. Bankhead II. Her mother, Adelaide Eugenia "Ada" Sledge, died from complications of childbirth weeks after she was born, a tragedy often cited as a profound influence on her life. She was largely raised by her paternal grandmother in Jasper, Alabama, and later by an aunt in Montgomery, Alabama, after her father's remarriage. She attended several schools, including Mary Baldwin College and later a convent school in New York, but her ambition was firmly set on the Broadway stage from a young age, leading her to enter a movie magazine beauty contest at age fifteen to fund her move to New York City.

Stage career

Her stage career began with minor roles in New York before she achieved major success in London's West End during the 1920s, where she became a celebrated star in a series of plays. She returned to the United States as a major theatrical force, delivering her most acclaimed performances on Broadway. Her portrayal of the predatory Regina Giddens in Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes in 1939 was a career-defining dramatic triumph. She later won critical acclaim for her comedic performance in Noël Coward's Private Lives in 1946 and received a Tony Award for her role in the 1950 revival of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. Her powerful presence and unique vocal delivery made her one of the most compelling actresses of her generation.

Film and radio career

Although primarily a stage actress, she appeared in several notable films, including a starring role in Alfred Hitchcock's World War II thriller Lifeboat in 1944, for which she received strong reviews. Her other film work includes The Devil and the Deep with Gary Cooper and Charles Laughton, and Die! Die! My Darling!. She found tremendous success in radio, becoming a popular host and guest star; her program The Big Show, a 90-minute NBC variety show broadcast from 1950 to 1952, featured major stars like Fred Allen, Marlene Dietrich, and Groucho Marx and showcased her sharp ad-libbing skills to a national audience.

Personal life and public persona

Famed for her hedonistic lifestyle, she was a central figure in the social scenes of New York City, London, and Hollywood. Her open bisexuality, tumultuous relationships, and battles with addiction to alcohol and pills were widely reported. A renowned wit, her acerbic remarks and scandalous behavior were staples of gossip columnists like Walter Winchell and Louella Parsons. She was known for her lavish parties, her trademark phrase "dahling," and for often appearing in public without underwear, cementing her reputation as a rebellious and fearless personality who defied the conventional morals of her time.

Later years and death

In her later years, she continued to perform on stage and made frequent television appearances on programs such as The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour and Batman, often parodying her own extravagant image. Her health declined significantly due to decades of emphysema and other ailments linked to her heavy smoking. She made her final Broadway appearance in 1964's The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore. She died of double pneumonia complicated by emphysema on December 12, 1968, in St. Luke's Hospital in New York City. Her remains were returned to Jasper, Alabama, and interred in the Bankhead family plot.

Legacy

Tallulah Bankhead is remembered as a quintessential and groundbreaking star whose influence extended beyond her performances. She is cited as an inspiration by later performers like Bette Davis and has been portrayed in films and plays, including in the Tony Award-winning musical Tallulah. Her voice and persona are frequently impersonated, and her name remains synonymous with a particular brand of theatrical, outspoken glamour. The Tallulah Bankhead Theatre in Jasper, Alabama, stands as a tribute to her enduring cultural impact.