Constance Bennett

Overview

Born
October 22, 1904 · New York City, New York, USA
Died
July 24, 1965 · Fort Dix, New Jersey, USA (cerebral hemorrhage)
Birth name
Constance Campbell Bennett
Height
5′ 4″ (1.63 m)

Mini bio

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>

Family

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Trivia

She was a sister of Barbara Bennett and Joan Bennett.
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 died from cerebral hemorrhage in Walston Army Hospital at Fort Dix, NJ.
As a Brigadier 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.
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.

Quotes

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.