In a Career spanning six decades, the great Katharine Hepburn had made 44 feature films and three TV pictures.
One third of her film oeuvre was made in the first decade (actually 7 years) of her career. Half of her movies were made by 1949, after which she began to appear more frequently on stage and TV.
For the most part, Hepburn played leading roles. The exception is unfortunately her very last screen role, as Warren Beatty’s grandmother in “Love Affair,” his disappointing remake of “An Affair to Remember” (made twice by Leo McCarey, in 1939 and in 1957).
Her career was launched in 1932 in “A Bill of Divorcement,” by George Cukor, who became the most frequent (10 films including two TV films) and most influential director of her career.
Hepburn had appeared with her companion Spencer Tracy in 9 features, beginning with “Woman of the Year” and ending with “Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner.”
For decades, she held the record as the most Oscar-nominated actress, with 12 nods to her credit, a record that’s been broken by Meryl Streep, who claims 14 nominations.
Hepburn is still the only actress in film history to have won four Best Actress Oscars, all in the leading category.
1930s
1932: A Bill of Divorcement
1933: Christopher Strong
Morning Glory
Little Women
1934: Spitfire, The Little Minister
1935: Break of Hearts, Alice Adams
1936: Sylvia Scarlett, Mary of Scotland, A Woman Rebels
1937: Quality Street, Stage Door
1938: Bringing Up Baby, Holiday
1940s
1940: The Philadelphia Story
1942: Woman of the Year, Keeper of the Flame
1943: Stage Door Canteen
1944: Dragon Seed
1945: Without Love
1946: Underneath
1947: The Sea of Grass, The Song of Love
1948: State of the Union
1949: Adam’s Rib
1950s
1950: The African Queen
1952: Pat and Mike
1955: Summertime
1956: The Rainmaker, The Iron Petticoat
1957: Desk Set
1959: Suddenly Last Summer
1960s
1962: Long Day’s Journey into Night
1967: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
1968: The Lion in Winter
1969: The Mad Woman of Chaillot
1970s
1971: The Trojan Women
1973: A Delicate Balance
1975: Love Among the Ruins (TV)
1976: Rooster Cogburn
1978: Olly Olly Oxen Free
1979: The Corn Is Green (TV)
1980s
1981: On Golden Pond
1984: The Ultimate Solution of Grace Quigley/Grace Quigley
1986: Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry (TV)
1990s
1994: Love Affair
