From Brooklyn model to Hollywood icon: the dramatic life of Susan Hayward
In short: Born Edythe Marrener, Susan Hayward transformed from a struggling model into one of Hollywood's most acclaimed dramatic actresses. Over a career spanning decades, she earned five Academy Award nominations and a win for her visceral portrayal of a death row inmate, all while navigating a turbulent personal life and health struggles.
Born in Brooklyn in 1917, Edythe Marrener began her career as a fashion model before heading to Hollywood in 1937. After failing to land the role of Scarlett O'Hara, she signed with Warner Bros., where agent Max Arnow rebranded her as Susan Hayward. Her early years were marked by bit parts and unbilled roles, but she eventually broke through with a significant performance in the 1939 hit Beau Geste. By the late 1940s, she had established herself as a formidable dramatic talent, earning her first Academy Award nomination for her role as an alcoholic in the 1947 film Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman.
Hayward’s career was defined by her ability to portray complex, often troubled women. She received critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations for performances in films like My Foolish Heart, With a Song in My Heart, and I'll Cry Tomorrow. Her pinnacle came in 1958 with I Want to Live!, where she played death row inmate Barbara Graham. The performance was so powerful that some critics labeled it one of the greatest in Hollywood history, and it secured her the Academy Award for Best Actress. Notably, she negotiated 37% of the film's net profits, a testament to her standing in the industry.
Beyond the screen, Hayward’s life was marked by intense personal challenges. A 1954 divorce from her first husband, Jess Barker, led to a suicide attempt in 1955. However, she later found stability in a happy marriage to Georgia rancher Eaton Chalkley. Following his death from a brain tumor in 1966, Hayward’s acting career slowed significantly. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in the early 1970s and made her final public appearance at the 1974 Academy Awards, where she presented an award despite her failing health. She passed away in 1975, leaving behind a legacy as a resilient and intensely dedicated performer.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Susan Hayward
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