Fay Bainter

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Fay Bainter

Role / Field:

Acclaimed American actress known for her roles in Golden Age cinema and stage productions.

Born:

1893-12-07

Died:

1968-04-16

Century / Era:

1893s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Fay Okell Bainter (December 7, 1893 – April 16, 1968) was an American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938) and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other notable films include Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), Woman of the Year (1942), State Fair (1945), and The Children's Hour (1960) Bainter was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F. Bainter and Mary Okell. Bainter made her first appearance on stage in 1908 in The County Chairman at Morosco's Burbank Theater, which was at 548-550 South Main Street, in Los Angeles, California. In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress.

Career & Major Achievements

Her Broadway debut was in the role of Celine Marinter in The Rose of Panama (1912). P. G. Wodehouse, reviewing Turn to the Right in Vanity Fair in 1916, wrote, "Miss Bainter's advent from nowhere and her instant success form the season's biggest sensation." She appeared in a number of successful plays in New York, such as East Is West, The Willow Tree, and Dodsworth. In 1926, she appeared with Walter Abel in a Broadway production of Channing Pollock's The Enemy. MGM persuaded her to try films and her movie debut was in This Side of Heaven (February 1934). Also in 1934, she appeared in Dodsworth on Broadway and in the film It Happened One Day.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Bainter quickly achieved success in the movies, and in 1939, she became the first performer to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year, contending for both Best Actress for White Banners (1938) and Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938), winning for the latter. In 1940, she played Mrs. Gibbs in the film production of the Thornton Wilder play Our Town. In 1945, she played Melissa Frake in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical State Fair. She was again nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Children's Hour (1961). Bainter has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1893 (1893-12-07): Birth of Fay Bainter — Acclaimed American actress known for her roles in Golden Age cinema and stage productions.
2. 1908: 1908 Milestone — Bainter made her first appearance on stage in 1908 in The County Chairman at Morosco's Burbank Theater, which was at 548-550 South Main Street, in Los Angeles, California.
3. 1910: 1910 Milestone — In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress.
4. 1912: 1912 Milestone — Her Broadway debut was in the role of Celine Marinter in The Rose of Panama (1912).
5. 1916: 1916 Milestone — Wodehouse, reviewing Turn to the Right in Vanity Fair in 1916, wrote, "Miss Bainter's advent from nowhere and her instant success form the season's biggest sensation.
6. 1926: 1926 Milestone — In 1926, she appeared with Walter Abel in a Broadway production of Channing Pollock's The Enemy.
7. 1934: 1934 Milestone — MGM persuaded her to try films and her movie debut was in This Side of Heaven (February 1934).
8. 1937: 1937 Milestone — Other notable films include Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), Woman of the Year (1942), State Fair (1945), and The Children's Hour (1960) Bainter was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F.
9. 1938: 1938 Milestone — She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938) and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
10. 1939: 1939 Milestone — Bainter quickly achieved success in the movies, and in 1939, she became the first performer to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year, contending for both Best Actress for White Banners (1938) and Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938), winning for the latter.
11. 1945: 1945 Milestone — In 1945, she played Melissa Frake in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical State Fair.
12. 1961: 1961 Milestone — She was again nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Children's Hour (1961).
13. 1968 (1968-04-16): Passing & Historical Legacy — Fay Bainter passed away on 1968-04-16, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Fay Bainter

True or False: “Fay Bainter won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel, which was released in 1938.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938), the text confirms she actually won that award.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Szent-Györgyi — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Pioneering Hungarian biochemist, Nobel laureate for Vitamin C and muscle research.
• Alexander Cunningham — Contemporary (Died in 1893) (1893): Pioneering British archaeologist and founder of the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Alfred Rosenberg — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Baltic German Nazi philosopher and convicted war criminal, key ideologue of the Third Reich.
• Abrar-ul-Haq — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Esteemed Pakistani singer, philanthropist, and former politician from Punjab.
• Adam McKay — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Acclaimed American filmmaker known for satirical comedies and high-profile adaptations.
• Ajay Devgn — Contemporary (Born in 1968) (1968): Veteran Indian actor and filmmaker known for diverse roles in Hindi cinema.
• Aaron Carter — Shared historical date (12-07 · Born) (1987): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi — Shared historical date (12-07 · Born) (903): Influential Persian astronomer known for expanding Ptolemaic models and stellar catalogs.
• Akon — Shared historical date (04-16 · Born) (1973): Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, and influential figure in world music.
• Alexey Pajitnov — Shared historical date (04-16 · Born) (1955): Pioneering computer engineer and video game designer, best known for creating Tetris.
• 1893 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1893
• December 7 (12-07) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 7
• 1968 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1968
• April 16 (04-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on April 16

Frequently Asked Questions about Fay Bainter