A Legend Dies

At the astonishing age of 104, Luise Rainer passed away December 30 of pneumonia.  She was an icon who will always be remembered as the first star to win back-to-back Oscars.  The first Oscar she won was for a reportedly "wrenching performance" in "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936) which was followed a year later by her award winning acting in "The Good Earth" (1937.)  She was only 28 at the time.  She is not your typical Hollywood star who loved the lime light and took any role she was offered. On the contrary, she turned her back on Hollywood.  Rainer wanted to be cast in the "meaty" roles that had meaning.  In an interview she said, "I hated Hollywood.  That's why I turned my back on it." She truly was a very talented actress and said she could not enjoy her awards because she felt like it wasn't fair. "The awards meant nothing because I considered the acting was just a gift. They made my life so difficult, so clamorous."  She quit her job and turned her back on Hollywood at the peak of her career so that she could fulfill the "roles" of being a wife and a mother.   

Luise Rainer With Her Two Oscars

She moved all around and although she was not American born, I think she showed some amazing American characteristics.  She didn't let anyone tell her what to do.  When she was unhappy with her marriage she made the decision and got out of it.  She would not take the lesser roles and stayed strong with her conviction.  I think that doing what you believe in and trying to excel at it, is a strong American value and she portrayed it.  She was an amazingly talented woman who lived her life the way she wanted.  She will truly be missed.