Who Is Warren Beatty?
Warren Beatty made his debut as a tortured teenager opposite
Natalie Wood
in
Splendor in the Grass
(1961). His next big role was in
Bonnie and Clyde
(1967), which he also produced. The film became a colossal hit and a milestone in cinema history. Beatty was nominated for four Oscars for
Heaven Can Wait
and won one for directing
Reds
, in which he also starred. He has written, directed and starred in many films since.
Movies
'Splendor in the Grass'
In the 1950s, Beatty landed some television roles, including a recurring part on
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
. He made his Broadway debut in the William Inge drama
A Loss of Roses
in 1959. Receiving underwhelming reviews, the production quickly folded. Beatty, however, managed to give an impressive performance, raising his professional profile. He also won over the playwright who helped the young actor get his first feature film, 1961's
Splendor in the Grass
. Starring opposite
Natalie Wood
, Beatty played a wealthy teen who struggles with his love and desire for Wood's character. The film's depiction of teenage sexuality was quite daring for the times.
'Bonnie and Clyde'
Beatty's career reached a new level of fame in 1967 with his crime drama
Bonnie and Clyde
, based on the real-life thieving couple of
Clyde Barrow
and
Bonnie Parker
. Behind the scenes, Beatty took the reins as the film's producer. He worked closely with director Arthur Penn to create this now classic film. A commercial and critical hit,
Bonnie and Clyde
earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including several acting nods for Beatty, his co-star
Faye Dunaway
,
Gene Hackman
and other supporting cast members.
'Shampoo'
In the 1970s, Beatty seemed to be quite selective in his projects. He won praise for his work in
Robert Altman
's 1971 western
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
with
Julie Christie
. For 1975's
Shampoo
, he worked hard both in front of and behind the cameras. Beatty wrote, produced and starred in this story about a straight, promiscuous hairstylist and his romantic misadventures. Some believed the film to be autobiographical to some extent, given Beatty's reputation as a ladies' man.
'Heaven Can Wait,' 'Here Comes Mr. Jordan'
Teaming up with Elaine May, Beatty co-wrote 1978's
Heaven Can Wait
, which also marked his directorial debut. The remake of 1941's
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
proved to be a hit both with critics and the public. Beatty picked up Academy Award nominations as an actor, director, producer and writer for the project. At the time, he was the second person to receive nominations in these four categories for one film, following in the footsteps of
Orson Welles
and his work on
Citizen Kane
(1941).
'Reds'
A perfectionist about his work, Beatty has been known to shoot numerous takes of the same scene. He has a reputation for having a keen eye for details as well. His personality as a filmmaker is perhaps no more apparent than in one of his most ambitious works, the 1981 political epic
Reds
. In this lengthy, true-to-life film, Beatty starred as American journalist John Reed, who witnesses the rise of Communism in Russia in 1917 during the October Revolution and finds himself inspired by this new political movement. Along with Reed's love interest, political radical and journalist Louise Bryant (
Diane Keaton
), Reed tries to spread these ideals. It also featured vignettes from actual participants in the historic events detailed in the film.
Reds
brought Beatty his one and only Academy Award win. In 1982 he took home the honor for Best Director. The remainder of the decade proved to be a disappointment for Beatty, however. He teamed up with
Dustin Hoffman
for the 1987 comedy
Ishtar
, which became one of the costliest duds of its time. Modeled on the
Bing Crosby
-
Bob Hope
musical hits of the past, the film failed to find an audience.
'Dick Tracy' to 'Bulworth'
Beatty turned to the funny papers for 1990's film adaptation of the popular comic strip
Dick Tracy
with
Madonna
and
Al Pacino
. The movie seemed to garner more attention for its soundtrack than its plot. Switching to the wrong side of the law, he earned much stronger reviews for his star turn as gangster
Bugsy Siegel
in 1991's
Bugsy
. His future wife Annette Bening played his girlfriend Virginia Hill.
In 1998 Beatty returned to top form as a screenwriter and director with the political satire
Bulworth
. The film may not have been a box office hit, but it brought Beatty enormous critical acclaim. He played a senator who decides to actually tell the truth as he runs for reelection in the movie, which also features
Halle Berry
.
'Rules Don't Apply'
After 2001's
Town & Country
came and went without much notice, Beatty took time off from filmmaking. In 2011, reports circulated that he signed with Paramount Pictures for a new project. In November 2016, the Hollywood legend wrote, directed and starred as billionaire
Howard Hughes
in the romantic comedy
Rules Don't Apply
. The film features young film stars like Haley Bennett, Lily Collins, Taissa Farmiga and
Alden Ehrenreich
and Hollywood icons
Martin Sheen
,
Ed Harris
,
Alec Baldwin
,
Matthew Broderick
and his wife, Annette Bening.
Are Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine Related?
Yes, Shirley MacLaine is Beatty's older sister.
Wife Annette Bening
Though he once called marriage a "dead institution," Beatty changed his mind in 1992 when he married Annette Bening. The couple has been together for more than two decades and have four children: Stephen (born Kathlyn), Benjamin, Isabel and Ella.
Net Worth
One of Hollywood's legendary talents, Warren Beatty has received great acclaim for many of his works, from the 1961 social drama
Splendor in the Grass
to the 1998 political satire
Bulworth
. During his career, he's created a lasting legacy for his many dalliances with his leading ladies and other high-profile women before settling down with actress
Annette Bening
.
The son of a drama teacher, Beatty seemed to always possess a certain charm and charisma. At Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, he was a top football player and president of his class. He went on to Northwestern University in 1955, but he dropped out after a year to move to New York City. Focused on becoming an actor, Beatty studied with famed teacher Stella Adler. His older sister,
Shirley MacLaine
, had already enjoyed some success as a performer.