Susan Hayward

Susan Hayward was born Edythe Marrener in Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1917. Her father worked in transportation, and she lived a relatively comfortable childhood, though she showed early signs of ambition. She attended public school in Brooklyn and graduated from a commercial high school designed to teach students practical skills. Initially planning to become a secretary, she shifted course after beginning to model for photographers in the New York City area. By 1937, with her beauty fully developed, she moved to Hollywood when a nationwide search was underway for an actress to play Scarlett O'Hara in *Gone with the Wind* (1939). Though she—like many others—was passed over in favor of Vivien Leigh, Susan would go on to establish her own place in Hollywood. In 1937, she appeared in a small role in *Hollywood Hotel* (1937). She continued in minor parts throughout 1938, playing roles such as a coed, a telephone operator, and an aspiring actress. While she was dissatisfied with these roles, she understood the need to "pay her dues." In 1939, she landed a more substantial part as Isobel Rivers in the successful action film *Beau Geste* (1939). In 1941, she played Millie Perkins in the unconventional thriller *Among the Living* (1941), a film that first demonstrated her dramatic abilities. She then portrayed a Southern belle in Cecil B. DeMille's *Reap the Wild Wind* (1942), one of the director's major successes, once again proving her acting skills. Following this, she starred with Paulette Goddard and Fred MacMurray in *The Forest Rangers* (1942), playing the tough character Tana Mason. While films such as *Jack London* (1943), *And Now Tomorrow* (1944), and *Deadline at Dawn* (1946) continued to highlight her talent, she still sought a more substantial role. She found it in 1947, earning her first of five Academy Award nominations for her portrayal of Angelica Evans in *Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman* (1947). Though she was considered a strong contender, she lost to Loretta Young for *The Farmer's Daughter* (1947). In 1949, she was again nominated for *My Foolish Heart* (1949), but once more faced stiff competition, losing to Olivia de Havilland for *The Heiress* (1949). With two Oscar nominations under her belt, Susan became a respected figure in the industry. Better scripts began to come her way, and she became more selective, seeking out quality productions. Her careful choices led to a third nomination in 1953 for *With a Song in My Heart* (1952). Later that year, she portrayed Rachel Donaldson Robards Jackson in *The President's Lady* (1953), delivering a powerful performance as the embittered wife of Andrew Jackson, who died before he took office as U.S. President. After a fourth Academy Award nomination for *I'll Cry Tomorrow* (1955), Susan began to question whether she would ever win the Oscar. Her wait was short. In 1958, she gave what many consider her career-defining performance as Barbara Graham, a real-life California woman convicted of murder and sentenced to death, in *I Want to Live!* (1958). Her portrayal of the doomed woman was widely praised, and she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. After this role, she appeared in about one film per year. Her final theatrical film was *The Revengers* (1972). Susan had been diagnosed with cancer, and she died from the disease on March 14, 1975, in Hollywood at the age of 57.