"Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924 in New York City. Her father was a salesman and her mother a secretary. They divorced when she was five. Bacall originally wanted to be a dancer, but later became enthralled with acting. After high school, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and was rewarded for her hard work with some small parts in off-Broadway productions. Once out of school, Bacall tried out modeling and appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. The wife of director, Howard Hawks spotted the picture and arranged with her husband to have Bacall take a screen test. As a result, she was given a part as Marie Browning in To Have and Have Not (1944), a thriller opposite the great Humphrey Bogart, when she was just 19 years old. Thus began one of Hollywood's greatest love stories. Bogie and Bacall married in 1945. Although devastated from Bogart's died in 1957, Bacall continued to star in big pictures. She won two Tony awards for her roles in Applause (1970) and Woman of the Year (1981)." - Evan Smith, Texas Monthly Talks, Broadcast 3.24.05