RIP: Luise Rainer Dies at Age 104

Actress, Luise Rainer who would have turned 105 on January 12, 2015, has passed away at the age of 104 at her home in London. Her daughter, Francesca Knittel Bowyer, confirmed that the cause of death was pneumonia.

Rainer began her acting career in Europe under the direction of Max Reinhardt, performing Pirandello and Shaw. She came to American in 1935 after being spotted by an MGM scout. Two years later, she won the Best Actress award for her performance in “The Great Ziegfeld” (1936) in the role of Anna Held. The film also starred William Powell and Myrna Loy.

The following year, her portrayal of O-Lan, the long-suffering peasant wife of “The Good Earth” won her a second Best Actress trophy. The only other actress who has ever matched her back-to-back Best Actress achievement is Katharine Hepburn. It would turn out to be the highlight of her career. Unhappy with the roles that she was getting, she returned to Europe and acted sporadically.

Luise Rainer married two times. Her short-lived union with playwright Clifford Odets lasted only three years. In 1945 she married wealthy New York publisher, Robert Knittel, who passed away in 1989. Rainer is survived by their daughter, Francesca, two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.

In 2003, the actress appeared in this 75th reunion of Oscar winners. She was seated between Jack Palance and Julia Roberts in this video. The event was hosted by another 2-time Oscar winner, Olivia de Havilland, to whom Luise Rainer has just passed the torch of oldest living Best Actress.