Miss Colbert was born in Paris and brought to the United States as a child three years later. Born Lily Claudette Chauchoin, she went to High School in New York. She was studying at the Art Students League when, in 1923, she took the name Claudette Colbert for her first Broadway role in 'The Wild Westcotts'. Her most noteworthy stage vehicle was the 'The Barker' in 1927. Her first film was a silent 'For the Love of Mike (1928)' directed by Frank Capra. Made on a shoestring, the movie was a flop, and she vowed that it would be her last film role. "I only left Broadway when the crash came. The Depression killed the theater, and the pictures were manna from heaven". Miss Colbert had her first film success in 1929, in 'The Lady Lies'. Her early notable films were all box-office hits and included 'Cleopatra (1934)', in which she played the title role enticingly. She had her greatest triumph playing a runaway heiress, with enormous charm, opposite Clark Gable in Frank Capra's film comedy 'It Happened One Night (1934)'. The film won her an Academy Award. By 1938, her keen ability in business made her the highest paid star in Hollywood. But by 1950, her star had begun to wane. She returned to the stage in 1956 when she replaced Margaret Sullavan during the spring and summer in the comedy 'Janus'. Appearances in other Broadway productions followed, including 'The Marriage-Go-Round'. Besides the stage, Miss Colbert did TV specials and had a supporting role in a notable miniseries, 'The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (TV)', in 1986. In addition to the Oscar, she won a Golden Globe award for 'The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (TV)' and a Life Achievement award from the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in 1989. Colbert married actor Norman Foster in 1928 although they never lived together and were divorced after seven years. She married surgeon Dr. Joel Pressman soon after and remained married until his death in 1968. In recent years Miss Colbert divided her time between an apartment in New York and a 200-year-old plantation house in Speightstown, Barbados, where she entertained such guests as Frank Sinatra and the Ronald Reagans. She remained on Barbados after her stroke in 1996.

SPOUSE:

Dr. Joel Pressman (1935 - 1968) (his death) Norman Foster (1928 - 1935) (divorced)