Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney - Actresses, Facts and Personal Life

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Gene Tierney's Personal Details

Gene Eliza Tierney was a yesteryear American film and stage actress

InformationDetail
BirthdayNovember 19, 1920
Died onNovember 6, 1991
NationalityAmerican
FamousFilm & Theater Personalities, Actresses
City/StateNew York City, New Yorkers
SpousesOleg Cassini (m. 1941–1952), W. Howard Lee (m. 1960–1981)
Known asGene Eliza Tierney
ChildrensChristina Cassini (1948-2015), Daria Cassini (1943-2010)
Universities
  • St. Margaret's School (Waterbury
  • Connecticut)
  • Unquowa School (Fairfield
  • Connecticut)
  • Brillantmont International School Miss Porter's School
Birth PlaceBrooklyn, New York City, New York
Height166
GenderFemale
FatherHoward Tierney
MotherBelle Taylor
Sun SignScorpio
Born inBrooklyn, New York City, New York
Famous asActress
Died at Age70

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Gene Tierney's photo

Who is Gene Tierney?

Gene Eliza Tierney was a yesteryear American film and stage actress. Her beauty and elegance complimented her brilliant and enthralling performances, and she became one of the leading ladies of her time. With her blue-green eyes, brown hair, and prominent cheekbones, she mesmerised audiences for years. She is best known for playing the titular role in the film ‘Laura.’ She forayed into acting with the play ‘What a Life!’ and went on to prove her acting prowess with other plays like ‘Ring Two’ and ‘Mrs O'Brian Entertains,’ garnering acclaim from both audience and critics. Her first motion picture was ‘The Return of Frank James’ where she starred opposite Henry Fonda. What followed was an array of brilliant performances in films like ‘Heaven Can Wait,’ ‘The Shanghai Gesture,’ and ‘Laura.’ Her splendid performance in the film ‘Leave Her to Heaven’ earned her an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Actress.’ Other notable films of this gifted actress are ‘The Left Hand of God,’ ‘The Razor's Edge,’ ‘Whirlpool,’ and ‘The Pleasure Seekers.’

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Childhood & Early Life

Gene Tierney was born on November 19, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, US, in the affluent family of successful insurance broker Howard Sherwood Tierney and ex-physical education instructor Belle Lavinia Taylor. Her elder brother was Howard Sherwood “Butch” Tierney, Jr., and younger sister was Patricia “Pat” Tierney.

Growing up in Westport, Connecticut, she studied at the St. Margaret's School and the Unquowa School in Waterbury and Fairfield respectively. Gene wrote poetry since her childhood and maintained such pursuit all-through her life, although intermittently. Her first poem titled ‘Night’ was published in her school magazine.

She attended Brillantmont International School at Lausanne, Switzerland, for three years and returned back to the US in 1938, and studied at the Miss Porter's School.

She visited Warner Bros. studios to meet a cousin while on a family trip to West Coast when she was offered a contract, but it didn’t materialise as her parents discouraged such proposal.

On September 24, 1938, she made her society debut. In no time she got disinterested with such society life and resolved to make a career in acting. She came under tutelage of Benno Schneider while taking acting lessons in a small acting studio in Greenwich Village.

Career

As protégée of George Abbott, Gene made her Broadway debut in 1938 in the play ‘What a Life!’ During that time she also understudied in the play ‘The Primrose Path.’

In 1939, she performed in the Broadway production of ‘Mrs. O'Brien Entertains’ as Molly O'Day, and also as Peggy Carr in ‘Ring Two.’ Both these were staged by Abbott and received kudos from critics for her brilliant performances as a newcomer.

Her father set up the ‘Belle-Tier Corporation’ to promote her acting career. In 1939, she signed a six-month contract with Columbia Pictures.

In 1940, she gave a splendid performance as Patricia Stanley in the hit Broadway production ‘The Male Animal’. As a result of this success, she featured in ‘Life’ magazine, along with Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Collier's Weekly.

She signed with 20th Century-Fox and appeared in the Fritz Lang directed western film ‘The Return of Frank James.’ She starred opposite Henry Fonda, and the film became a commercial success.

In 1941, she starred in four commercially successful films, including ‘Hudson's Bay,’ ‘Tobacco Road,’ ‘Belle Starr,’ and ‘The Shanghai Gesture,’ along with the critically acclaimed film ‘Sundown,’ which failed at box-office.

She received further praise for her performance as Martha Strable Van Cleve in the 1943 Technicolor American comedy film ‘Heaven Can Wait.’ It became a blockbuster hit.

Thereafter, she landed up with the most memorable role of her career in the Otto Preminger directed and produced 1944 American film noir ‘Laura.’ She starred as Laura Hunt, a smart and gorgeous New York advertiser with a successful career, opposite Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb.

In 1999, the Library of Congress selected her film ‘Laura’ to preserve in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It was also named among the all-time 10 best mystery films by AFI.

She next featured as Ellen Brent Harland in the 1945 American Technicolor film noir ‘Leave Her to Heaven.’ The film grossed more than $5,000,000 at box-office and emerged as the highest-grossing picture of 20th Century-Fox during the 1940s, and earned her an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Actress.’

She garnered critical acclaim for playing Isabel Bradley in the December 1946 released flick ‘The Razor's Edge,’ the first film adaptation of 1944 novel of W. Somerset Maugham bearing the same title.

The Otto Preminger directed 1950 classic film noir ‘Whirlpool’ featured Gene in the starring role of Ann Sutton.

While the gorgeous diva continued with her successful film career, uncalled for events, including the birth of a deaf and mentally disabled daughter, Daria, started taking a toll on her, which resulted in bouts of maniac depression.

As a result of severe depression, her career started suffering and she had to seek psychiatric help. She had to undergo 27 shock treatments to ease such condition.

She made her comeback to films with the Otto Preminger directed 1962 American neo noir motion picture ‘Advise and Consent.’

The 20th Century Fox Motion Picture’s ‘The Pleasure Seekers’ was her last film. Other notable films of her career are the romantic-fantasy ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’ (1947); screwball comedy ‘That Wonderful Urge’ (1948); classic farce ‘The Mating Season (1951); drama ‘Personal Affair’ (1953); mystery flick ‘Black Widow’ (1954); and television movie ‘Daughter of the Mind’ (1969).

She also featured in single episodes of television series’ like ‘Toast of the Town’ (1953) and ‘The F.B.I.’ (1969); and television shows like ‘The Merv Griffin Show’ (1974), and ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ (1980).

Personal Life

She was married to costume and fashion designer Oleg Cassini from June 1, 1941 to February 28, 1952. Her first daughter with Cassini, Antoinette Daria Cassini, was born on October 15, 1943, while their second daughter, Christina "Tina" Cassini, was born on November 19, 1948.

She got married for the second time to Texas oil baron W. Howard Lee on July 11, 1960. The couple stayed in Delray Beach, Florida and Houston, Texas, till the death of Lee in 1981.

According to sources, she was also romantically associated with Prince Aly Khan, Spencer Tracy, and John F. Kennedy at different points of time.

She published her autobiography, ‘Self-Portrait,’ in 1979. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6125 Hollywood Boulevard.

On November 6, 1991, she succumbed to emphysema in Houston and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.

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Gene Tierney biography timelines

  • // 19th Nov 1920
    Gene Tierney was born on November 19, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, US, in the affluent family of successful insurance broker Howard Sherwood Tierney and ex-physical education instructor Belle Lavinia Taylor. Her elder brother was Howard Sherwood “Butch” Tierney, Jr., and younger sister was Patricia “Pat” Tierney.
  • // 1938
    She attended Brillantmont International School at Lausanne, Switzerland, for three years and returned back to the US in 1938, and studied at the Miss Porter's School.
  • // 1938
    As protégée of George Abbott, Gene made her Broadway debut in 1938 in the play ‘What a Life!’ During that time she also understudied in the play ‘The Primrose Path.’
  • // 24th Sep 1938
    On September 24, 1938, she made her society debut. In no time she got disinterested with such society life and resolved to make a career in acting. She came under tutelage of Benno Schneider while taking acting lessons in a small acting studio in Greenwich Village.
  • // 1939
    In 1939, she performed in the Broadway production of ‘Mrs. O'Brien Entertains’ as Molly O'Day, and also as Peggy Carr in ‘Ring Two.’ Both these were staged by Abbott and received kudos from critics for her brilliant performances as a newcomer.
  • // 1939
    Her father set up the ‘Belle-Tier Corporation’ to promote her acting career. In 1939, she signed a six-month contract with Columbia Pictures.
  • // 1940
    In 1940, she gave a splendid performance as Patricia Stanley in the hit Broadway production ‘The Male Animal’. As a result of this success, she featured in ‘Life’ magazine, along with Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Collier's Weekly.
  • // 1941
    In 1941, she starred in four commercially successful films, including ‘Hudson's Bay,’ ‘Tobacco Road,’ ‘Belle Starr,’ and ‘The Shanghai Gesture,’ along with the critically acclaimed film ‘Sundown,’ which failed at box-office.
  • // 1943
    She received further praise for her performance as Martha Strable Van Cleve in the 1943 Technicolor American comedy film ‘Heaven Can Wait.’ It became a blockbuster hit.
  • // 1944
    Thereafter, she landed up with the most memorable role of her career in the Otto Preminger directed and produced 1944 American film noir ‘Laura.’ She starred as Laura Hunt, a smart and gorgeous New York advertiser with a successful career, opposite Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb.
  • // Dec 1944 To Dec 1946
    She garnered critical acclaim for playing Isabel Bradley in the December 1946 released flick ‘The Razor's Edge,’ the first film adaptation of 1944 novel of W. Somerset Maugham bearing the same title.
  • // 1945
    She next featured as Ellen Brent Harland in the 1945 American Technicolor film noir ‘Leave Her to Heaven.’ The film grossed more than $5,000,000 at box-office and emerged as the highest-grossing picture of 20th Century-Fox during the 1940s, and earned her an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for ‘Best Actress.’
  • // 1950
    The Otto Preminger directed 1950 classic film noir ‘Whirlpool’ featured Gene in the starring role of Ann Sutton.
  • // 11th Jul 1960 To 1981
    She got married for the second time to Texas oil baron W. Howard Lee on July 11, 1960. The couple stayed in Delray Beach, Florida and Houston, Texas, till the death of Lee in 1981.
  • // 1962
    She made her comeback to films with the Otto Preminger directed 1962 American neo noir motion picture ‘Advise and Consent.’
  • // 1979
    She published her autobiography, ‘Self-Portrait,’ in 1979. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6125 Hollywood Boulevard.
  • // 6th Nov 1991
    On November 6, 1991, she succumbed to emphysema in Houston and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.
  • // 1999
    In 1999, the Library of Congress selected her film ‘Laura’ to preserve in the United States National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” It was also named among the all-time 10 best mystery films by AFI.

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Gene Tierney's FAQ

  • What is Gene Tierney birthday?

    Gene Tierney was born at 1920-11-19

  • When was Gene Tierney died?

    Gene Tierney was died at 1991-11-06

  • Where was Gene Tierney died?

    Gene Tierney was died in Houston, Texas

  • Which age was Gene Tierney died?

    Gene Tierney was died at age 70

  • Where is Gene Tierney's birth place?

    Gene Tierney was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York

  • What is Gene Tierney nationalities?

    Gene Tierney's nationalities is American

  • Who is Gene Tierney spouses?

    Gene Tierney's spouses is Oleg Cassini (m. 1941–1952), W. Howard Lee (m. 1960–1981)

  • Who is Gene Tierney childrens?

    Gene Tierney's childrens is Christina Cassini (1948-2015), Daria Cassini (1943-2010)

  • What was Gene Tierney universities?

    Gene Tierney studied at St. Margaret's School (Waterbury, Connecticut), Unquowa School (Fairfield, Connecticut), Brillantmont International School Miss Porter's School

  • How tall is Gene Tierney?

    Gene Tierney's height is 166

  • Who is Gene Tierney's father?

    Gene Tierney's father is Howard Tierney

  • Who is Gene Tierney's mother?

    Gene Tierney's mother is Belle Taylor

  • What is Gene Tierney's sun sign?

    Gene Tierney is Scorpio

  • How famous is Gene Tierney?

    Gene Tierney is famouse as Actress