Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart Facts
| Sign | Capricorn |
| Born |
Dec 25, 1899 New York City, NY |
| Died |
Jan 14, 1957 Los Angeles, CA |
| Age | Died at 57 |
| Total Facts | 72 |
On June 24th, 2006, a section of West 103rd Street in the Upper West Side of New York City was renamed "Humphrey Bogart Place" in his honor. He had grown up at 245 W. 103rd Street (which is now public housing), and a plaque was put there to commemorate the event.
Pictured on a 32¢ US commemorative postage stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series, issued 31 July 1997.
Played chess by mail with GIs during WWII.
Ranked #1 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest screen actors.
Ranked #9 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Related to screenwriter Adela Rogers St. Johns; his grandfather and her grandmother were brother and sister.
Salary for 1942: $114,125.
So as to not look short next to co-stars like Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, through most of the shooting of Casablanca (1942) (and in a few of his other films) Bogart wore platforms under his shoes that added nearly 5 inches of height to his frame.
Starred with his wife Lauren Bacall in the syndicated radio program "Bold Venture" (1951-1952). His character's name was Slate Shannon.
The "Bogart Lisp" has been the subject of much speculation. However, it is now believed that it was natural and not the result of a combat injury (other stories attribute it to a drunken bar fight or an attack by a prisoner he was transporting while serving as a Shore Patrolman) during his US Navy service in WW I. His son, Steve Bogart, has the same speech impediment as his father.
The older of two children with Lauren Bacall, Stephen H. Bogart, discussed his relationship with Bogie in 1996 book, "Bogart: In Search of My Father".
There is some dispute as to how Bogey's lip injury occurred. One story is that when Bogart was in the Navy, a prisoner he was escorting attempted to escape and hit Bogart in the face with his shackles. Bogart, fearing that he would lose his position and be severely punished for letting a prisoner escape, chased down the man and brought him successfully to the Portsmouth Naval Prison. However, because the surgeon who stitched up his face did not do a very good job, Bogart was left with his trademark lisp. Another version has it that he caught a large wood splinter in his lip at the age of 12, but the combat story is more exciting - a legend, indeed.
Thomasville Furniture launched a line of classic furniture which draws inspiration from Bogart's films, known as The Bogart Collection.
Though a poor student, he was a lifelong reader. He could quote Plato, Pope, Ralph Waldo Emerson and over a thousand lines of Shakespeare. He admired writers, and some of his best friends were screenwriters.
Warner Bros. produced a parody of Casablanca in the homage Carrotblanca, a 1995 Bugs Bunny cartoon. The 'cast' included Bugs Bunny as Rick, Daffy Duck as Sam and Pepe Le Pew as Captain Renault.
Was an outstanding chess player. At a time when many stores had a professional chess player who could be challenged by anyone, Bogie would challenge and win almost every game. The challenger would pay 50 cents. If he won, he got $1.00. Many stores wanted Bogie to turn pro, but he declined because he was making more money as a non-pro. Eventually he did turn pro and would beat 40 or more people a day. (Source: Paul Harvey, Jr.'s, "The Rest of the Story.").
Was best friends with John Huston.
Was nicknamed "The Last Century Man" because he was born on Christmas Day 1899 (based on the popular belief that the 19th Century ended in 1899, not 1900 as it really was).
Was of English, Dutch, Spanish and Welsh heritage.
Was producer Hal B. Wallis' first choice as Burt Lancaster's co-star in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). The role was eventually played by Kirk Douglas.
We're No Angels marked the last time Humphrey Bogart worked with director Michael Curtiz.
While he was married to fiery actress Mayo Methot he discovered that she suspected him of cheating on her - he wasn't - and had hired a private detective to follow him. Bogart found out the name of the agency the PI worked for, and called them up. When he reached the man's boss he said, "You got a man on my tail. Would you check with him and find out where I am?".