RIP: Lauren Bacall Dead at 89

Iconic actress, Lauren Bacall passed away on August 12, 2014, a month before her 90th birthday, at her Upper West Side home in New York City. Robbert de Klerk, co-managing partner of the Humphrey Bogart estate said in a statement that “Ms. Bacall passed away peacefully…” de Klerk learned the sad news from Bacall’s son, Stephen Bogart.

Bacall made her film debut in 1944 in “To Have and Have Not” with Humphrey Bogart and that was the beginning of a love affair that would transcend death. In 1980, more than 20 years after Bogart’s death, and despite the fact that in between, Bacall had married and had a child with actor Jason Robards, Bertie Higgins had a hit song with the romantic ballad “Key Largo”, named after the 1948 movie, starring Bogart, Bacall and Edward G. Robinson. “We had it all, just like Bogie and Bacall,” he sang.

While Bacall appeared in many films throughout her career, none ever had the lasting impact as the films she made with Bogart. In fact the sultry actress once complained that she was tired of the constant association with her late husband and wanted to be judged for herself. She then later conceded that her obituary would probably be full of Bogart references, but philosophically said she wouldn’t know it.

We enjoyed a great many of her appearances on film and TV. One that we are especially fond of is a 2006 episode of “The Sopranos” called “Luxury Lounge” when Miss Bacall (appearing as herself) gets mugged by Christopher Moltisanti as she is leaving an awards ceremony with a basket of expensive gifts.

She had an earlier scene with Sir Ben Kingsley during which he addressed her as “Betty”, the name she was born with.

Lauren Bacall is survived by her children, Stephen Bogart, Leslie Bogart and Sam Robards, and her grandchildren.