Constance Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Constance Bennett
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Bennett in Rockabye (1932)
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| Born |
Constance Campbell Bennett
October 22, 1904 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | July 24, 1965 (aged 60) Fort Dix, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1916–1965 |
| Spouse(s) |
Philip Morgan Plant
(m. 1925; div. 1929)Henry de la Falaise
(m. 1931; div. 1940)John Theron Coulter
(m. 1946) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Richard Bennett Adrienne Morrison |
| Relatives | Lewis Morrison (maternal grandfather) Barbara Bennett (sister) Joan Bennett (sister) Morton Downey Jr. (nephew) |
Constance Campbell Bennett (born October 22, 1904 – died July 24, 1965) was a famous American actress and producer. She worked in movies, on stage, on radio, and on television.
Constance was a big Hollywood star in the 1920s and 1930s. For a while in the early 1930s, she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood! She often played wealthy women in her films. At first, she starred in serious dramas, but later she became known for funny, comedic roles.
People especially remember her for her main parts in movies like What Price Hollywood? (1932), Bed of Roses (1933), Topper (1937), and Topper Takes a Trip (1938). She also had an important role in Greta Garbo's last movie, Two-Faced Woman (1941).
Constance was the daughter of the famous actor Richard Bennett. Her younger sister, Joan Bennett, was also a well-known actress.
Early Life and Family
Constance Bennett was born in New York City. She was the oldest of three daughters. Her mother was actress Adrienne Morrison, and her father was actor Richard Bennett.
Her two younger sisters were Joan Bennett and Barbara Bennett. Both of them also became actresses. All three sisters went to the Chapin School in New York when they were young.
A Star's Career
After spending some time in a convent, Constance decided to become an actress. She was independent and spoke her mind. Constance was the first of the Bennett sisters to start acting in movies.
She appeared in silent films made in New York. Then, she met Samuel Goldwyn, a famous movie producer. This led to her first Hollywood movie, Cytherea (1924).
Constance stopped acting for a short time when she married Philip Plant in 1925. But after their marriage ended in 1929, she returned to movies. When "talking pictures" (movies with sound) became popular, her career quickly took off again. Her blonde hair and glamorous look helped her become very popular.
In the early 1930s, Constance was one of the most popular actresses. She often topped lists of audience favorites. In 1931, she signed a short contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This deal paid her $300,000 for just two movies, including The Easiest Way. This made her one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood.
Warner Brothers even paid her an amazing $30,000 a week for her role in Bought! in 1931. Her father, Richard Bennett, also acted in this film.
The next year, she moved to RKO. There, she starred in What Price Hollywood? (1932), directed by George Cukor. In this movie, she played Mary Evans, a waitress who becomes a movie star. The film showed the ups and downs of the Hollywood movie business.
Constance was known for being able to play many different types of roles. She starred in Our Betters (1933) and Bed of Roses (1933). She also appeared in After Tonight (1933) with Gilbert Roland, who would later become her husband.
Other notable films include The Affairs of Cellini (1934) and After Office Hours (1935) with Clark Gable. She was also famous for playing Marion Kerby in the comedy Topper (1937) alongside Cary Grant. She played this role again in the sequel, Topper Takes a Trip (1938). She also had a supporting role in Greta Garbo's film Two-Faced Woman (1941).
By the 1940s, Constance was working less in movies. However, she was very busy in radio and theatre. She even had her own radio show called Constance Bennett Calls on You from 1945 to 1946. She was also smart with her money and made good investments, which made her a wealthy woman. She even started her own cosmetics and clothing company.
In 1947, she had an important supporting role in The Unsuspected. She played Jane Moynihan, a program director who helps solve a murder mystery. In the 1950s, she appeared in As Young as You Feel (1951) with Marilyn Monroe. She also played herself in a small role in It Should Happen to You (1954).
From 1957 to 1958, Constance toured the United States in a play called Auntie Mame. Her last movie role was in Madame X in 1965. This movie was released after she passed away.
Personal Life
Constance Bennett was married five times and had three children.
Marriages
Her first marriage was to Chester Hirst Moorehead in 1921. She was only 16 years old. Her parents did not approve of the marriage because they were so young. This marriage ended in 1923.
In 1925, she married millionaire Philip Morgan Plant. They got married in Greenwich, Connecticut. Their marriage ended in 1929. Constance later had a son named Peter Bennett Plant (born 1929). She said she had adopted him.
In 1931, Constance married Henri de la Falaise, a French nobleman and film director. He had previously been married to actress Gloria Swanson. Constance and Henri started their own film company, Bennett Pictures Corp. They produced two films together: Legong: Dance of the Virgins (1935) and Kilou the Killer Tiger (1936). Their marriage ended in 1940.
Constance's fourth marriage was to actor Gilbert Roland. They married in 1941 and had two daughters, Lorinda and Christina. They ended their marriage in 1946.
Later that same year, Constance married for the fifth and final time to US Air Force Colonel John Theron Coulter. After this marriage, she spent a lot of time entertaining American troops in Europe. She received military honors for her efforts. Constance and John remained married for the rest of her life.
Death
Constance Bennett passed away on July 24, 1965, at the age of 60. She died from a cerebral hemorrhage, which is a type of bleeding in the brain. This happened shortly after she finished filming Madame X.
Because of her contributions to the military and because her husband, John Theron Coulter, became a brigadier general, she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This is a special cemetery for military heroes and their families. Her husband was buried with her when he passed away in 1995.
Legacy
Constance Bennett has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This star honors her important work in the film industry. Her star is located at 6250 Hollywood Boulevard, very close to her sister Joan's star.
See also
In Spanish: Constance Bennett para niños
