Humphrey Bogart is undoubtedly one of the most famous actors of all time. His success on the big screen throughout the 30s, 40s, and 50s made him an icon of the industry and a household name.
But before his eventual stardom, Humphrey was born in New York City on December 25, 1899. His early life was relatively standard for the time, and while his parents weren’t particularly affectionate, they did their best to ensure he got a good education.
However, Bogart didn’t excel at school as his parents had hoped. He dropped out of high school early, and with few to no options on the horizon, he joined the Navy.
During his time in the service, Bogart changed, and he became much more liberal than his conservative parents. When he returned, not only had they lost their wealth in bad investments, but they also lost Bogart’s respect.
He decided to get into show business, but not as an actor, as he believed that actors had to keep bad hours and negative press.
But just a few years later, Humphrey decided to give it a try, and although he never took acting lessons, his time on Broadway from 1922 to 1935 gave him the skills he needed to make it big.
Although he wasn’t quite a movie star yet, in those 12 years, Bogart starred in 17 Broadway productions and several movies. Sadly, during that time, Humphrey’s father passed away, his marriage to Mayo Methot was on the rocks, and he was drinking heavily.
Most people consider Bogart’s big break as his role in High Sierra in 1941. But the movie did more than put Bogart’s name on the map; it also solidified his relationship with John Huston.
John Huston made his directorial debut with The Maltese Falcon in the same year and cast Bogart as the lead, Sam Spade. The film, now considered an absolute classic, was praised by both critics and audiences around the country.
From there, Bogart continued to succeed with his stoic energy and smoldering look and voice that made him incredibly enthralling to watch. And throughout the 30s and 40s, Bogart became the star we know him as today.
Most people know Humphrey Bogart from his role as Rick Blaine in Casablanca, which premiered in 1942 with extreme success.
The film is now considered an American classic, as are many more of Bogart’s movies, including To Have and Have Not, The Treasure of the Sierra Nevada, and The African Queen.
Although Humphrey Bogart passed away on January 14, 1957, his legacy is certainly not gone. He was named the greatest male star of classic cinema, and millions of people still love to watch his incredible films.
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