Olivia de Havilland, twice winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress, died. She was at home in Paris, France on Saturday when she died in her sleep at 104.
De Havilland rose to fame in the 1930s in a series of sword-and-sword adventure films with Errol Flynn, including Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood.
She had her own battles in real life. De Havilland took legal action against Warner Bros. for her seven-year contract, which the studio tried to extend as a penalty for her negative roles. She won the case in a landmark ruling that is still known today as the “de Havilland law”.
She had an Oscar nomination for her role as Melanie in Gone With the Wind, and he was the last main cast member of that classic movie still alive. She followed that performance by winning her first Academy Award in 1946. To each his own, about a mother who was seeking to recover a son whom she gave up for adoption. The second came three years later to The heiress portraying a woman manipulated by her wealthy father before succeeding.
Off-screen, de Havilland continued to fight the good fight. She fought communist sympathy in Hollywood, and testified before the House Committee on Anti-American Activities.
He continued to work in supporting film roles during the 1970s, then made his mark on television, earning a Golden Globe for his role in the television movie. Anastasia: Anna’s Mystery.
In a final legal battle, de Havilland fought a two-year action over his representation in the FX series. Fight: Bette and Joan. She requested a hearing from the Supreme Court, but was denied the opportunity to present her case.
de Havilland stated in his initial lawsuit of June 30, 2017 that the representation of Catherine Zeta-Jones’ “bitch” in Fief it damaged his “professional reputation for integrity, honesty, generosity, sacrifice and dignity.”
