Gene Tierney was an American actress known primarily for her time in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s, although her tumultuous personal life was often the subject of gossip columns. Her looks and presence won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, and she starred in films such as Laura, Leave Her to Heaven, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and Whirlpool. She experienced a severe tragedy in her life, and is remembered for the pain and sorrow that she endured.
Early Life
Gene Eliza Tierney was born on November 19, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was Howard Sherwood Tierney, a successful businessman, and her mother was Belle Lavina Taylor. She had two siblings, Howard and Patricia. One of her earliest roles was playing a mermaid in her elementary school’s production of Peter Pan.
Career and Achievements
In 1939, Tierney was discovered by International Pictures while visiting Universal Studios in California. She then signed on with 20th Century Fox, where she acted in films such as Heaven Can Wait and Tobacco Road. After her sixth picture with Fox, she was signed on as the lead role in the 1944 film, Laura, which launched her career and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
In 1946, Tierney starred in Leave Her to Heaven, which also earned her an Academy Award nomination. She then starred as Mrs. Muir in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Her other films during her Hollywood career include The Razor’s Edge andwhirlpool. She was also known for her performances in Broadway productions, including the musicals Carousel, The Joyful Season, and The Pink Elephant.
Personal Life
In 1942, Tierney was married to fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who was 14 years her senior. The couple separated after eleven months and were divorced in 1946. She soon remarried to petroleum millionaire W. Howard Lee, with whom she had a daughter, Daria. Tierney later had another daughter, Christina, out of wedlock with John F. Kennedy’s father, Joseph Kennedy, without Lee’s knowledge. After Leedied in 1975, Tierney married clothing manufacturer children’s wear Robert Harrison.
Tragedy and Mental Health Struggles
One of the most tragic events of Tierney’s life was the death of her daughter Daria. Tierney was forced to place her daughter in an institution in 1963 due to mental health issues, and in 2001, Tierney died of a heart attack due to sepsis, which had been caused by an infected bedsore.
Tierney’s own mental health also suffered during her life. She was diagnosed with manic depression in 1954, which caused her to take long breaks from filming. She was also prescribed heavy doses of tranquilizers, which were increasingly difficult to break free from.
Final Years
Tierney lived her remaining days in relative seclusion. She published her autobiography, Self-Portrait, in 1979, and wrote several cookbooks (which she preferred to write over her autobiography).
Death and Legacy
Tierney passed away on November 6, 1991 due to pneumonia. She was 70 years old, and three weeks away from her 71st birthday. Her funeral services were held in Newport Beach, California.
Throughout her life, Gene Tierney suffered immensely, both mentally and in physical pain. Despite her struggles, she will always be remembered as an iconic actress who made an unmistakable impact on Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s. Her legacy will live on in her films and performances.
