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Lauren Bacall dies aged 89

August 13, 2014

American film and stage actress Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89, the Bogart Estate has confirmed. The legendary actress was one of the leading ladies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

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Image: picture alliance / Mary Evans Picture Library

The Bogart Estate confirmed Bacall's death on its verified Twitter account on Tuesday:

According to entertainment news website TMZ, Bacall suffered a massive stroke Tuesday morning at her home.

Bacall was married to fellow Hollywood star Humphrey Bogart until his death in 1957. She also famously starred in several films with Bogart including her breakout performance in 1944's "To Have and Have Not," at the age of 19. It was in this film that she cooed to Harry 'Steve' Morgan, played by Bogart: "You know how to whistle, don't you Steve? You just put your lips together and blow."

The line cemented her sultry bombshell status and was also pronounced the 34th greatest movie quote of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI).

Bacall is well known for her roles in "Key Largo," "Designing Woman," "The Big Sleep" and "The Mirror Has Two Faces," for which the veteran actress received an Academy Award nomination in 1996. In 1953, she starred opposite fellow starlets Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable in "How to Marry a Millionaire."

She also dazzled on stage, winning two best actress Tony Awards for her roles in "Applause" in 1970 and "Woman of the Year" in 1981. She received an honorary Oscar in 2009.

Born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924 in New York City, she was the only child of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Romania. Raised by her mother, she eventually took her mother's maiden name, Bacal, modifying it slightly.

Bacall had three children - two from her marriage to Bogart, and one from her eight-year marriage to late actor Jason Robards, whom she divorced in 1969.

hc/lw (Reuters, AFP)