Warren Beatty Biography

Henry Warren Beaty was born on March 30, 1937, in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. His mother Kathlyn Corinne was a teacher. His father Ira Owens Beaty had a PhD in educational psychology and worked as a public school administrator. His grandparents were also educators.

He attended ‘Washington-Lee High School’ in Arlington where he emerged as a star football player. By this time, his elder sister Shirley MacLaine had ventured into acting, which motivated him to pursue acting.

He was reportedly offered several football scholarships to college, but he declined them and chose to study liberal arts at ‘Northwestern University’ in 1954. He left the university after a year to study acting under Stella Adler at the ‘Stella Adler Studio of Acting.’

In the late-1950s, he began his acting career with some television roles, including a recurring part in ‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.’ He made his Broadway debut in 1959 in the William Inge drama ‘A Loss of Roses’ which fared badly. However, the young actor’s performance got him noticed and earned him film roles.

He appeared in his first feature film ‘Splendor in the Grass’ in 1961, starring opposite Natalie Wood. His portrayal of a wealthy but emotionally tormented teen earned him a nomination for the ‘Golden Globe Award’ for ‘Best Actor.’

He played major roles in films like ‘The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone’ (1961), ‘All Fall Down’ (1962), ‘Lilith’ (1964), ‘Promise Her Anything’ (1965), and ‘Mickey One’ (1965).

In 1967, he produced and acted in ‘Bonnie and Clyde,’ which was a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for ten ‘Academy Awards.’

The 1970s was a highly productive time for Warren Beatty; he appeared in critically acclaimed movies like ‘Shampoo’ (1975) and ‘Heaven Can Wait’ (1978). He also produced and co-directed ‘Heaven Can Wait.’

He undertook his most ambitious work in 1981. He co-wrote, produced, directed, and starred in ‘Reds,’ a historical epic film about American Communist journalist John Reed who observed the ‘Russian October Revolution.’ The film was nominated for several ‘Academy Awards’ and won Beatty the award for ‘Best Director.’

Warren Beatty was quite selective in choosing his roles and did not appear in any other major films during the 1980s. In 1991, he co-produced and starred in the crime-drama film ‘Bugsy,’ which narrates the story of mobster Bugsy Siegel and his relationship with Virginia Hill.

In 1998, he co-wrote, co-produced, directed, and starred in ‘Bulworth,’ a political comedy co-starring Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Don Cheadle, and Paul Sorvino. The film generated a great deal of controversy due to its political nature, but received a positive reception from film critics.

In 2001, he starred in ‘Town & Country’ which proved to be a box office disaster. Following this debacle, Beatty did not sign film projects for several years.

He wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the film ‘Rules Don't Apply’ in 2016, his first feature film in 15 years.

He portrayed ‘Clyde Barrow’ in the biographical crime film ‘Bonnie and Clyde,’ which went on to become one of his best known works. The film broke many cinematic taboos and was popular with the younger generation. Considered a landmark film in Beatty’s career, it became a huge commercial as well as critical hit.

He produced, co-directed, and starred in the comedy film ‘Heaven Can Wait,’ which was well received by the critics. It also performed well at the box office. The film was nominated for nine ‘Academy Awards.’

The drama film ‘Reds,’ which was co-written, produced, and directed by Warren Beatty, is considered by many to be his magnum opus. The film revolves around the life and career of John Reed, a journalist and writer who chronicled the ‘Russian Revolution’ in his book ‘Ten Days That Shook the World.’

Warren Beatty won the ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Director’ for ‘Reds’ (1981).

In 1999, he received the Academy's highest honor, ‘Irving G. Thalberg Award.’

He received the ‘Akira Kurosawa Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2002 at the ‘San Francisco International Film Festival.’

In 2007, he was honored with the ‘Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.’

In 2011, he was awarded the ‘Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award.’

Warren Beatty was known for his casanova image in his younger days. He was linked with several women, including Madonna, Serena, Mary Tyler, Jacqueline Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Janice Dickinson, Jane Fonda, Princess Margaret, and Carly Simon among others.

He tied the knot with actress Annette Bening in 1992. The couple has four children.

Beatty is a talented musician and can play the piano, drums, and guitar.