what did katharine hepburn died of

Katharine Hepburn, the famously gravel voiced, feisty and stylish actress, died last night at the age of 96. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. She went to Louis B. Mayer, the head of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio, and sold him the property on the condition that she play the lead. Hepburn scored her first major Broadway success in The Warriors Husband (1932), a comedy set in the land of the Amazons. I think I'm a success, but I had every advantage; I should have been.". Unlike other female movie stars, Hepburn was unconcerned with publicity and chose to wear pants instead of dresses. She was quoted as saying in her final days, "It's amazing that they all died - they are all dead." Critically acclaimed actress Katharine Hepburn was known for her abrasive attitude and for her classic films such as "The African Queen" (via Biography). For more information about Katharine Hepburn, please see her biography in Wikipedia. She found the legendary actor (and great love of her life) dead on the floor, having suffered a massive heart attack. Audrey Hepburn was a movie star, ballet dancer, model and humanitarian who suffered such extreme starvation as a child during the Nazi occupation of Holland that she came out of World War II weighing only 88 pounds in a 5'6" frame. 3 1 Quora User Been through it all. Various belongings and memorabilia were distributed among her friends, family, and charity. Parkinsons tremors tend to start on one side of the body, commonly in the hands, and then progress to the other side. At the conclusion of "All About Me," her own television biography, she said: "In some ways I've lived my life as a man, made my own decisions. In 1933 she returned to Broadway in a spectacular failure, "The Lake," which inspired Dorothy Parker to write her famous aphorism, "She ran the gamut of emotion from A to B. It is the tremors that are more noticeable that are classified as an essential tremor. She never lost control of her career again. It's very queer. Therapy such as occupational or physical therapy aims to help individuals adapt to living life with a tremor and improve their muscle strength, control and coordination. I would have done anything for him. Lauren Bacall, who with her husband Humphrey Bogart were close friends with the couple, once wrote Hepburn was blindingly in love with Tracy. The actress signed a. After a series of flops, including the now iconic "Bringing up Baby," co-starring Cary Grant, Hepburn was labeled "box office poison." Her 12 Academy Award nominations also set a record, which stood until 2003, when it was broken by Meryl Streep. Rather, he added, it was "a matter of understanding and acknowledging each other's boundaries.". Her father, Thomas Hepburn, was a successful doctor. Tracy, whos health had been declining, died of a heart attack before she could reach him. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Per Celebrity Net Worth, Hepburn was reportedly worth $20 million at the time of her death, with much of that coming from the value of her waterfront home. Her personal belongings--furniture, jewelry, clothing, cars, artwork, etc.--will be distributed to family, friends, and charitable organizations (or possibly sold) at the discretion of her executors, though Hepburn's will requests that they "be guided by my wishes which I may have made known to them from time to time." Katharine Hepburn spoke candidly of her "queer" feelings about outlasting her great Hollywood contemporaries in her last ever interview, published for the first time in today's Independent on Sunday. It's never your fault. She continued to make periodic returns to the stage (notably as the title character in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco), but Hepburn remained essentially a film actor for the remainder of her career. And my head shakes. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. In the film, she plays Violet . How did Katharine Hepburn change the world? Katharine Hepburn was an American actress who won a record four Oscars for Best Actress during her illustrious career. The play was a hit, and Miss Hepburn owned the rights to it because Howard Hughes, a sometime beau, had bought them for her. In the 1970's she acted in television movies, including the Edwardian romantic drama "Love Among the Ruins" (1975), with Laurence Olivier, and "The Corn Is Green" (1979), both directed by Cukor. Who then inherited her large estate? Although her head shook visibly in television interviews from the 1980's on, she vehemently denied the rumor that she had Parkinson's disease, saying she had inherited her shaking head from her grandfather Hepburn. The movie actress Katharine Hepburn passed away at age 96, astounding.. Hepburn won a second Academy Award for Guess Whos Coming to Dinner (1967), a dramedy about interracial marriage; a third for The Lion in Winter (1968), in which she played Eleanor of Aquitaine; and an unprecedented fourth Oscar for On Golden Pond (1981), about long-married New Englanders (Hepburn and Henry Fonda). It garnered Hepburn her tenth Oscar nomination and her second win. The star, who died last week at the age of 96, told of the strange experience of living a quarter of a century beyond her long-time lover, Spencer Tracy, and more than 40 years beyond Humphrey Bogart, her co-star in The African Queen. She also told Walters that she never watched their final film (Guess Whos Coming to Dinner) because The memories were too painful. Hepburn also kept the cup that cracked on the kitchen floor. Hepburn specified that $10,000 was to be given to Actors Fund of America, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, and a church in Maryland. ", While Hepburn had a number of lovers she always steered clear of marriage or children. Later she achieved one of her great artistic triumphs in an unlikely role, as the 12th-century Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter" (1968). Burdened by Catholic guilt over his family circumstances, he suffered regular bouts of anxiety, depression and insomnia, and tried to overcome alcoholism throughout much of his adult life. Also the tremor can vary in . Cynthia McFadden, a journalist for ABC News, was given $10,000. Their last film together, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Hepburn's codicil specifies that her friend McFadden receive an assortment of furniture, including an 18th century oak dresser, from the star's Manhattan home, as well as two artworks, one of which Hepburn painted. In her youth she did not have classical leading-lady looks, but a handsome beauty. Katharine Hepburnspent six decades of her life working in entertainment and is one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood. Hepburn had been married previously to Pennsylvania businessman Ludlow Ogden Smith but had divorced in 1934. She is wickedly smart, slightly aloof and emotionally vulnerable. Soon she went back to Mayer with another script, "Woman of the Year," the story of the unlikely romance between a hotshot political columnist and a sportswriter. Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born in Hartford in 1907. ". A long-running classic Katharine Hepburn died of natural causes on June 29, 2003, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Whether the relationship was a cover to hide what was then considered improper or one of the greatest romantic unions on and off the big screen, the affection between Tracy and Hepburn existed until their deaths. She wrote about it in her first book, published in 1987, whose title captures the direct, colloquial style of her writing: "The Making of the African Queen: Or, How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind" (Knopf). "They did a lot for the general public," she said, "to make the world an easier place to live in. Perhaps it was because it was a passionate age for me.. Katharine Hepburn, in full Katharine Houghton Hepburn, (born May 12, 1907, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.died June 29, 2003, Old Saybrook, Connecticut), indomitable American stage and film actress, known as a spirited performer with a touch of eccentricity. Biography - A Short Wiki She appeared in a range of genres, from screwball comedy to literary drama, and she received a record of four Academy Awards for Best . I wouldn't change a single thing. Tracy was 41-years-old, Hepburn was 34 and said of the meeting she knew right away that [she] found him irresistible.. Hepburn, 96, died last month of cardiac arrest at her waterfront home in Old Saybrook. All Rights Reserved. She became known all over the world for her independence, sharp intelligence, and acting ability. However, in the years leading up to her death many noticed that the stars head would continuously shake, something that was assumed to be Parkinsons disease. Her stature increased as she chalked up such cinematic triumphs as John Hustons The African Queen (1951), in which she played a missionary who escapes German troops with the aid of a riverboat captain (Humphrey Bogart), and David Leans Summertime (1955), a love story set in Venice. READ MORE: Peter Kay: Comic's 'first hand experience' of 'complex' disease - condition explained. Katharine Hepburn's lifelong Connecticut estate finally found a new owner Zillow After Katharine Hepburn died in 2003, the home was purchased by Frank Sciame, owner of Sciame Construction, for $6 million in 2004. Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy 'Keeper of the Flame' 1942 directed by George Cukor. Shortly after her death, Hepburn's niece Katharine Houghton revealed that the star's head shake was due to a specific type of essential tremor known as a familial tremor, which is inherited from an individual's parents. Named the greatest actress in Hollywood history by the American Film Institute in 1999, she set a record by winning four Academy Awards for Best Actress for the films The African Queen (1951), Guess Whos Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968) and On Golden Pond (1981). Over the years she was nominated for a dozen Oscars, more than any other actress, a record unbeaten until Meryl Streep received her 13th this year. ". She was 63 years old and had undergone . Once a medical professional has ruled out any other conditions that could be causing a tremor or shaking, individuals may be advised to abstain from heavy alcohol use, avoid caffeine and avoid certain medications in order to see if this curbs the effect of the shaking. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. She got Cary Grant as her former husband, James Stewart as the reporter, and a hit movie. Beyond her reputation as a talented but feisty actor, Hepburn was one-half of a controversial celebrity love affair. [We] just passed 27 years together in what was to me absolute bliss., .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Chris Rock, Doctors: No Further Hope for Actor Tom Sizemore, Raquel Welchs Mixed Feelings about Her Fur Bikini, Andrea Riseboroughs Oscar Controversy, Explained, 10 Milestones on Viola Davis Road to EGOT Glory. In 1938 she appeared on a list of actors labeled "box-office poison" in a poll of movie exhibitors. "What was it, Spense?" Onscreen their chemistry was undeniable, and audiences flocked to their films to witness the staccato, quick-witted bantering and long, meaningful looks that spoke more than any lines of dialogue could represent. However, The Guardian notes that Hepburn had been sick for some time and was suffering from Parkinson's disease prior to her death. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her memorable portrayal of Amanda Wingfield in Tennessee Williamss The Glass Menagerie (1973), and she won the award for her performance opposite Laurence Olivier in Love Among the Ruins (1975), which reunited her with her favourite director, Cukor. She played lead roles in Hollywood for over 60 years. She would apply all of these ingrained values to her acting career, which began in earnest after her graduation from Bryn Mawr College in 1928. She nonetheless made an impressive movie debut in George Cukors A Bill of Divorcement (1932), a drama that also starred John Barrymore. Ultimately, this changed the trajectory of her life. What is Katharine Hepburn best known for? According to Britannica, "The Philadelphia Story" was critically acclaimed Jimmy Stewart picked up a best actor Oscar, and Donald Ogden Stewart won for his screenplay and it was also box office gold. Alongside attempts at keeping his relationship with Hepburn out of the media, Tracy was also battling inner demons. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.". Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in a scene from "Woman Of The Year", Why Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy Kept Their Relationship a Secret, Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images, READ MORE: How Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn Inspired the Characters Sam and Diane From, Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. While part of Hepburn's waterfront estate in Old Saybrook will be sold, the actress directed that a portion of the 7.17 acre property be turned over to a government agency or "environmental or conservation organization" that will "protect the lot from development" and maintain the space "for the benefit of the general public.". She played the distraught, drug-addicted Mary Tyrone in the 1962 film of Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night." Hepburn would eventually meet and fall in love with Spencer Tracy on the set of Woman of the Year. Her quavering voice and trembling hands unmistakably betrayed the disorder. Alternate titles: Katharine Houghton Hepburn. she asked. "He was so generous-spirited that I don't think he considered it horror. Though hampered by a progressive neurological disease, Hepburn was nonetheless still active in the early 90s, appearing prominently in films such as Love Affair (1994), which was her last movie. The disease progresses over time which can lead to more and more disability. Co-starring Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, the MGM film adaptation was released in 1940. Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 - June 29, 2003) was an American actress. It was Grant who introduced her to his friend, the celebrity billionaire Howard Hughes. Mel Ferrer was an American actor, director, screenwriter, and producer. Life magazine said that "Stage Door" proved that she was "potentially, the screen's greatest actress.". Hughes proposed to Hepburn more than once, and in 1938, gave her a diamond and emerald engagement ring. Furthermore, her nephew and grandniece inherited $100,000. Hepburn was a 1990 Kennedy Center honoree, and in 1999 the American Film Institute named her the top female American screen legend of all time. They were merely friends. Outspoken and iconoclastic, she introduced into her roles a strength of character previously considered to be undesirable in Hollywood leading ladies. As such, she directed the executors to "consult with publishers, editors, literary agents" to determine "the advisability of publishing such literary works.". After Hughes died, 600 people made claims on his vast fortune, including one fake will which would have given most of his estate to the Mormon Church. She followed him to the kitchen but heard a glass shatter and then a loud thud before she got there. At the time of the films release, Hepburn had made a name for herself playing middle-aged spinsters, something which contributed to her being able to continue acting until the age of 87. Nonetheless, Hepburn stood by his side until Tracy's death in 1967. Tracy married actress Louise Treadwell in 1923 and the union produced two children, a. In an interview that echoed what she wrote in "Me," she assumed a self-chastising, no-nonsense tone and said she had been "an absolute pig with Luddy, absolute pig." 1924), and a daughter Susie (b. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). But I wish I were meat and potatoes." Hepburn's career spanned more than 60 years and included such classics as The African Queen, The Philadelphia Story, and On Golden Pond. Thus, he and Hepburn engaged in a love affair that was shielded from the media but known in certain celebrity circles. I reached out to Stephen Jacobs, author of Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster, the biography authorized by the Karloff estate, and Mr. Jacobs was gracious enough to confirm that Karloff purchased the house at 2320 Bowmont Drive from .

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