She followed him to the kitchen but heard a glass shatter and then a loud thud before she got there. Often away on location, she helped encourage the idea that they were not a couple and lived completely separate lives. History reports that she died in her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, from natural causes. Such ease together in front of the camera often had fans assuming Hepburn and Tracy were simply playing themselves. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. She was 96 years old. She became an outspoken proponent of liberated womens fashions and was known to ruffle feathers with her preference to wear pants at a time when it was considered taboo for a woman to do so. She was 63 years old and had undergone . She played sharp-witted, sophisticated women with an ease that suggested that there was a thin line between the movie role and the off-screen personality. Katharine Hepburn was an American actress of film, television and stage. Rather than appear in a film called "Mother Carey's Chickens," she bought out her contract with R.K.O. Many said she had suffered from Parkinson's Disease which she maintained was not the case. Though he was devoted to his son and daughter, Tracy and his wife lived separately. We lived a life which he liked. He was 89. She won an Academy Award for her role as Eva Lovelace, the naive aspiring actress who learns a tough lesson about survival, in the 1933 film "Morning Glory," only her third movie. Miss Hepburn often said Tracy was the best actor she had ever known and compared him in complimentary terms to a baked potato: solid, substantial stuff. ". Katharine graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1928. According to TCM, Katharine Hepburn died on June 29, 2003 at the age of 96. Their last film together, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" READ MORE: Peter Kay: Comic's 'first hand experience' of 'complex' disease - condition explained. She was a fair match in toughness for John Wayne in the western "Rooster Cogburn" (1975). Katharine Hepburns father was a wealthy and prominent Connecticut surgeon, and her mother was a leader in the womens suffrage movement. Advertisement She nonetheless made an impressive movie debut in George Cukors A Bill of Divorcement (1932), a drama that also starred John Barrymore. Rather, he added, it was "a matter of understanding and acknowledging each other's boundaries.". In 1938 she appeared on a list of actors labeled "box-office poison" in a poll of movie exhibitors. Katharine Hepburn's Death - Cause and Date Born (Birthday) May 12, 1907 Death Date June 29, 2003 Age of Death 96 years Cause of Death Cardiac Arrest Profession Movie Actress The movie actress Katharine Hepburn died at the age of 96. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Hepburn refused to work with John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn: The star suffered from a tremor most people thought was Parkinson's, Jane Fonda says 'competitive' Katharine Hepburn 'didn't like' her, Rob Mallard: The Corrie star's 'uncontrollable' health condition, Parkinsons disease symptoms: Early indications of the condition, Essential tremors cause an individuals head, hands and other body parts to shake uncontrollably, Hair loss: Three hair-care habits found to be responsible for permanent hair loss, Diabetes: The anti-diabetic supplement shown to slash blood sugar levels by 36% in minutes, Joanna Lumley health: 'I'm never ill' - star's health secret she has followed for 40-years, Stroke symptoms: Condition may trigger essential tremor, Magic three-hour treatment brings hope for tremor sufferers, Casualty actor Derek Thompson on his 'murderous' condition, Tremors occur when you move and are less noticeable when you rest, Certain medicines, caffeine or stress can make your tremors worse, Tremors may improve with ingestion of a small amount of alcohol (such as wine). Secondly, Primidone controls the actions of neurotransmitters. She was extremely thin all her life. Nearly 25 years after her death, Audrey Hepburn is still celebrated for her classic movies, her philanthropy and her delicate, gamine glamour. A lot of people think that she died of colon cancer as it is often mistakenly called. Biography - A Short Wiki. tags: change , life , self. Miss Hepburn's age gave the role the trappings of a farewell to movies, but if she moved more slowly than before, in demeanor she was as game and modern as she had ever been, even venturing an unprintable line about ducks. Possessing a distinctive speech pattern and an abundance of quirky mannerisms, she earned unqualified praise from her admirers and unmerciful criticism from her detractors. She became known all over the world for her independence, sharp intelligence, and acting ability. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. she asked. The actress also bequeathed $10,000 each to the Actors Fund of America, the Motion Picture and Television Fund, and an Episcopal church in Maryland where her grandfather was a rector. She had hip-replacement surgery and operations on both her shoulders, but she remained spry. Katharine Hepburn, the actress whose independent life and strong-willed movie characters made her a role model for generations of women and a beloved heroine to filmgoers for more than 60. David Teather in New York. However, users have reported numerous side effects when using the drug, sedation being one common side effect. Katharine Hepburn, Me: Stories of My Life. She also appeared on Broadway in 1976 in "A Matter of Gravity," by Enid Bagnold, and in 1981 in "The West Side Waltz," by Ernest Thompson, who had written "On Golden Pond. Tracy, a devout Catholic, was married and refused to divorce his wife due to his religious beliefs. Her final role was in 1994's "Love Affair," when Hepburn was 87 years old. "Dick" Hepburn . In later years she spoke openly about her life and career, especially in her 1991 autobiography, "Me: Stories of My Life" (Alfred A. Knopf). Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that the movements caused by an essential tremor can affect the head, hands, voice or legs with most individuals affected aged 65 or older. Miss Hepburn is survived by a brother, Dr. Robert H. Hepburn, and a sister, Margaret H. Perry, both of Canton, Conn.; four nieces; and nine nephews. Hepburn, who once described Tracy as tortured, said that all she wanted was for him to be happy, safe, comfortable. They were not in the bed department at all, according to Scotty Bowers, an ex-hustler and male madam to the stars of old Hollywood. In fact, in 1928 she married Ludlow Ogden Smith, a member of a wealthy Pennsylvania family. For an individual who has a close relative that suffers from an essential tremor, there is a 50 percent likelihood that a child will inherit the gene responsible for the condition. He became the love of her life. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. This beta blocker is effective in 40 percent to 50 percent of patients but is less useful in reducing head and voice tremor. She recalled their last years together, when he was ill and had trouble sleeping, and she would sit on the floor by his side and talk. On screen, Hepburn often portrayed headstrong, strong-willed characters who stood up for themselves, which also defined her off-screen persona. 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. "Must be wonderful, like a long sleep. Live About states that this was partly due to her introverted and tomboyish nature. Kathryn Hepburn died of natural causes at the age of 96. He and Louise Treadwell married in 1923 and had two children, one of whom was deaf. Like. Edit. She won the Oscars for best actress for her performances in Morning Glory (1933), Guess Whos Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981). In Long Days Journey into Night (1962), an adaptation of Eugene ONeills acclaimed play, Hepburn was cast as a drug-addicted mother. Updates? She was a versatile actress and played prominent roles in theater, films, and TV series. 3. The Hepburns made sure to educate their children about important political and social subjects and sports. Unlike other children at the time, she was brought up to be outspoken and open-minded. When Treadwell received the call, she said to Hepburn, I thought you were only a rumor. Treadwell came to meet the coroner and the media was told Hepburn showed up hours later, after the body was gone.. Audrey Hepburn's marriage did not last long, and both husbands were divorced. On June 29, 2003, Katharine Hepburna four-time Academy Award winner for Best Actress and one of the greatest screen legends of Hollywood's golden eradies of natural causes at the age of 96, at her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In 1932, she starred in her first onscreen role in "A Bill of Divorcement." 11 Suddenly, Last Summer (1959) Columbia Pictures. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then. (Katharine Hepburn), Acting is the most minor of gifts. 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. Tracy would never publicly acknowledge or articulate his feelings for Hepburn, a position that would only fuel the myths that would flourish around their relationship. They led separate lives long before their divorce in 1934, but they remained friendly. [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. I honestly dont know, she replied. 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. The disease progresses over time which can lead to more and more disability. Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that happens when nerve cells in the brain don't produce enough dopamine. Essential tremor affects about 5% of people over age 50. The cancer spread into the lining of her small intestine. Alongside attempts at keeping his relationship with Hepburn out of the media, Tracy was also battling inner demons. He manages to bring her down a peg; she never minds. Hughes proposed to Hepburn more than once, and in 1938, gave her a diamond and emerald engagement ring. Biography explains that she stepped away from the silver screen and returned to her Broadway roots, where she starred in "The Philadelphia Story." She ate a lot of fruits and vegetables and avoided processed foods. And in "On Golden Pond" (1981) she starred opposite Henry Fonda as a feisty older woman coping with her husband's failing memory and insisting that they should go on and live life to the fullest. In her will, Hepburn also specified that she did not want a funeral. In comments that, at times, tread a thin line between and morbid reflection and black humour, she adds: "I think I've lived longer so that they have had lots of time to die! Her mother was a well-known and passionate suffragette (supporter of women's right to vote); her physician father was a creative pioneer in the field of sexual hygiene. On the day of the service, she followed the procession in her car but turned around right before arriving at the church. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Katharine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy 'Keeper of the Flame' 1942 directed by George Cukor. And while moviegoers enjoyed her performances in homespun entertainments such as Little Women (1933) and Alice Adams (1935), they were largely resistant to historical vehicles such as Mary of Scotland (1936), A Woman Rebels (1936), and Quality Street (1937). Hepburn would eventually meet and fall in love with Spencer Tracy on the set of Woman of the Year. He is commonsensical, down-to-earth and deeply decent. In that role, the on-screen and off-screen Hepburn seemed to meld as easily as they had in her youth. She added, laughing, "Sometimes I wonder myself.". Tracy, whos health had been declining, died of a heart attack before she could reach him. They lived together in a cottage owned by a director friend but kept separate addresses on paper so the public wouldnt find out. While filming Woman of the Year in 1942, she began an enduring intimate relationship with her costar, Spencer Tracy, with whom she would appear in films such as Adams Rib (1949) and Pat and Mike (1952); both were directed by Cukor. In her autobiography (1991) Hepburn stated her birth date as 1907. Critically acclaimed actress Katharine Hepburn was known for her abrasive attitude and for her classic films such as "The African Queen" (via Biography). A forthright woman in Hollywood who appeared to require nothing from men, Hepburn was often labeled a lesbian; while Tracys alleged yet hidden homosexuality was presented as another factor contributing to his depression and alcoholism. He once recalled of her screen test: "She was unlike anybody I'd ever seen or heard. History reports that she died in her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, from natural causes. The actress signed a. One of the great love stories from classic Hollywood centers on the not-so-secret affair that Katharine Hepburn was reported to have had with Spencer Tracy, her frequent co-star in such beloved. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Hepburn was the daughter of a respected Hartford, Connecticut surgeon and suffragist mother. The movie actress Katharine Hepburn passed away at age 96, astounding.. It's amazing how many of them have died, isn't it?" / General Photographic Agency/Getty Images . From early childhood Hepburn was continually encouraged to expand her intellectual horizons, speak nothing but the truth, and keep herself in top physical condition. She also authorized her executors, if they so choose, to pursue publication of her "manuscripts, letters or other personal papers or records." Here's Who Inherited Katharine Hepburn's Money After She Died. Hepburn once again became a Hollywood darling. Im really a standard brand like Campbells tomato soup or Bakers chocolate. (Katharine Hepburn), If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. (Katharine Hepburn), Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. A love relationship as complicated as it was devoted, the bond between screen greats .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy stretched across three decades and nine films including Woman of the Year and Guess Whos Coming to Dinner. Spender Tracy died in 1967, and Katharine survived him for several decades before her own death in 1996. However, Hepburn's idyllic childhood came to end when she encountered the scene of her older brother Tom's suicide. Howard was the most purely passionate relationship of my life. She was first noticed professionally in her role as Antiope in the play "The Warrior's Husband," a Greek fable in which she entered by descending a narrow staircase, carrying a stag over her shoulder. View history. In a July 7 court application, McFadden, one of Hepburn's executors, estimated that the star's personal property was worth $800,000 and valued the "gross taxable estate" at $10 million. Her father, Dr. Thomas Norval Hepburn, was a Hartford surgeon and a pioneer in fighting venereal disease. He just considered it a kid who was wildly ambitious or something.". Eventually, Hepburn was accepted into Bryn Mawr College and discovered acting. The cerebellum controls muscle coordination, and when communication is disturbed symptoms connected with motor coordination can occur. Katharine Hepburn, the actress whose independent life and strong-willed movie characters made her a role model for generations of women and a beloved heroine to filmgoers for more than 60 years, died yesterday at her home in the Fenwick section of Old Saybrook, Conn. She was 96 and also had a home in Manhattan. However, Hepburns much-publicized return to Broadway, in The Lake (1933), proved to be a flop.